The rise of "Dirty soda" drinks in Canada

Jeremy Gaunt, owner of Sip Soda Co. in Sherwood Park, Alta., says the idea for the so-called “dirty soda” came to him two years ago while waiting in a parking lot in Idaho to pick up his kids’ school supplies and seeing customers flocking to a truck selling sodas made with cola, cream and fruit flavors.

After a few sips, Gaunt became enamored with the drink, and when he couldn’t find a similar one in Alberta, he opened his own store to bring the popular drink to Canada.

While the dirty soda trend is still new, the colorful, fizzy drinks with catchy names are quickly catching on in Canada, popping up at summer festivals, chain restaurants and on social media.

Industry experts say the drinks are part of a broader shift in drinking habits as consumers seek out unique, fresh, and more Instagrammable beverages instead of traditional coffee.

A major factor in the popularity of dirty soda in Canada is the popularity of the reality show “The Secret Life of Mormon Wives,” in which stars are often seen drinking the drinks or visiting the Swig chain of stores, which made the drinks popular among Mormon communities that don’t drink alcohol, coffee, or tea.

Inspired by the show and their home experiments, two British Columbia sisters, Michaela and Brooklyn Cantlon, have launched the Pop Culture Dirty Soda mobile store, which has been selling the drinks at events across the Lower Mainland since May.

Dirty soda is priced higher than regular soda and is decorated with toppings like syrup, whipped cream, strawberry foam or marshmallows, which has attracted young consumers.

Experts predict that these drinks could increase the market share of carbonated soft drinks and quickly become one of the most popular drinks in Canada.

Both Gwent and the Cantlon sisters are not worried about the entry of big competitors like Crumbl and McDonald's, and see the competition as a sign of success and an incentive to improve further.

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