Te Waihou Reserve water (pronounced Tea-Why-Ho) or ‘The New Water’, which launches locally this week, has already secured interest from key export markets, including Australia, Europe, Asia and the US.
Ed Baggaley, general manager of Aquasplash, the company behind Te Waihou Reserve, says there are a number of opportunities in the bottled water market in New Zealand and offshore.
“We’ve created a bottled water brand that fits with the fine dining experience in both presentation and taste,” he said. “Te Waihou Reserve will only be available ‘on premise’ to protect exclusivity and price premium, and ensure our trade partners grow with us.”
Te Waihou Reserve harks from the Putaruru region. The water is from The Blue Spring, one of New Zealand’s most revered sources of spring water. Rich in silica, Te Waihou Reserve is a relatively low-mineral water.
Baggaley says the company has invested in a state-of-the-art bottling plant which lies at the source and is certified by the Australasian Bottled Water Institute, meeting all of the rigorous standards it sets in place. The bottling facility has a capacity of 200,000 litres a day.
Te Waihou is presented in a slimline bottle similar to a premium wine bottle, offering easy-grip pouring and protecting against spillage. The distinctive branding on still and sparkling bottles means it’s easy to distinguish between the two varieties, reducing the number of bottles incorrectly opened and improving bottom-line profit. The Wine Style Stelvin Closure completes the alignment with fine wines, and positions the brand at the premium end of the market.
Te Waihou Reserve comes in 300ml, 500ml, 750ml and 1-litre glass bottles. It also comes in a 500ml PET to answer the demand of prestige hotels. The 1-litre still or sparkling bottle will retail at $8-12 depending on the style of restaurant.
Baggaley says fine wine distributor Eurowine will have the exclusive distribution of Te Waihou Reserve locally.
“We’re excited to announce Eurowine as our choice of distributor,” said Baggaley. “We believe that Eurowine’s distribution of the brand completes the premium offering from source to table.”
“In the rapidly changing hospitality market, there has been an increasing demand for bottled water,” said Brett Newell, MD of Eurowine. “We’re pleased to have finally identified a brand such as Te Waihou Reserve that can stand alongside our very special portfolio.”
Source: Aquasplash
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