Coca-Cola Continues to Flatten Topo Chico’s Sparkling Appeal With New Hard Seltzer

Topo Chico Hard Seltzer is hitting U.S. shelves in the first half of 2021

Coca-Cola is gearing up to launch its first hard seltzer in the U.S., CNBC reports. Available in 2021, this will be in the form of a Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, thus boozing up the cult favorite sparkling mineral water in an attempt to chase consumer tastes for low-cal, low-carb, low-ABV drinks like White Claw and Truly.

This foray into hard seltz is also notable because Coke hasn’t dabbled much in alcohol in recent history, having sold off its wine business in 1983, per the Wall Street Journal. This will be the first time in decades that the beverage giant sells alcohol in the U.S. — and what a fitting time to do so.

And in other news…

• With movie theaters and other popcorn vendors largely closed, farmers have ended up with a surplus of unsold corn kernels. [The Takeout]
• New Orleans-based Dixie Brewing Company is inviting the public to suggest new names for its beer in response to the past few months’ protests against racial inequity. [USA Today]
• In three or four generations’ time, maybe all our great-great-grandkids will have left to remember us are cryogenically frozen avocados. [Modern Farmer]
• Fancy a new pair of shoes with your groceries? Six locations of the Midwestern supermarket chain Hy-Vee are opening DSW shoe outlets inside their stores. [NPR]
• Pizza to the Polls, a nonpartisan grassroots organization, is prepared to send thousands of pizzas to feed voters stuck in long lines at the polls this year. [CNN]
• At least one challenge in the upcoming season of The Great British Bake Off includes a cake shaped like the bust of Charles Darwin. [Vulture]
• Noodles & Company joins other chains such as Cava, Starbucks, &pizza, and Ben & Jerry’s in giving its employees paid time off to vote (caveat: Noodles & Co. is only granting one hour — on top of flexible scheduling — which is not a lot of time for a pandemic in which many polling locations will be closed!). [NRN]

Update: September 23, 11:20 a.m.: This post has been updated with new information about Noodles & Company’s flexible scheduling on Election Day.

• All AM Intel Coverage [E]