PepsiCo acquires V Water, a vitamin water brand in a growing category in the UK. The brand was launched in 2005 and now has a range of six flavors. All products are made with spring water, and have no artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors or preservatives. The V Water range contains a number of added vitamins, minerals and herbal extracts including Vitamin C, Zinc, Selenium and Ginseng.
Garrett Quigley, general manager, PepsiCo UK and Ireland, says, "V Water provides us with a strong platform for expansion into a fast growing market, and reflects PepsiCo's global commitment to transforming our portfolio of products and extending our range of healthier beverages. The UK is a key market for us, and we are extremely excited about developing a relationship with V Water in the UK, which will enhance and contribute to the long-term growth of the V Water brand."
The acquisition fits nicely into PepsiCo's transformation strategy, which is focused on launching and acquiring new products that reflect consumer demand for healthier, nutritious food and drink. The purchase of V Water follows PepsiCo's recent announcement of plans to acquire Russia's largest juice company, Lebedyansky, and the 2007 purchases of US-based Naked Juice and, with bottling partner Pepsi Americas, Sandora, the leading juice company in Ukraine.
The company also announced that it has reached an exclusive bottling agreement (EBA) with Britvic plc to manufacture, sell and distribute the V Water products in Great Britain. Britvic is PepsiCo's exclusive bottler in Great Britain for the Pepsi, 7Up and Gatorade brands. The addition of the V Water brands to the portfolio is said to further strengthen a close and long-standing PepsiCo-Britvic relationship.
