*Acquisitions company Heckmann, headed by Richard Heckmann, is set to purchase China Water & Drinks for approximately $625 million. On completion of the sale, the Chinese company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Heckmann. * Mr Heckmann said that the acquisition marked the foundation of a global water company, citing the importance of the product and the potential for growth in a Chinese market which has not yet reached saturation point. China Water & Drinks ranks fifth among competitors in the country, where consumption of bottled water grew at a compound annual growth rate of 17.5% between 2002 and 2007, which is the fastest rate of growth worldwide, and double the rate of growth in the US. Through its production facilities in Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, Feixian, Changchun, Nanning and Shenyang, China Water & Drinks produces and distributes bottled water to fourteen provinces and regions in China. Besides its Darcunk and Darquan bottled water product, the company also supplies purified water to both local and international beverage brands such as Coca-Cola and Uni-President and provides private label bottled water for companies such as Sands Casino, Macau. Richard Heckmann is founder of water company US Filter, which was sold for $6.2 billion in 1999.More news on China Water & Drinks and the Chinese bottled water market can be found in the latest issue of Water Innovation magazine.

** Norwegian company **SmartSeal has launched a trademarked Spill-control Active Closure for non-carbonated beverages and flexible packaging. According to SmartSeal, the no-spill pouch fitment solves the spill problem related to beverages in flexible packaging while at the same time providing the consumer with premium functionality and user convenience in a lightweight and environmentally friendly package solution. The active closure opens automatically when you drink, and closes immediately afterwards, making it a no-spill solution. The active closures are ideal for on-the-go beverage consumption and childrens applications, adding differentiation to any brand. The SmartSeal SIP is manufactured and sold by sustainable flexible packaging company IPN Group.

Buchanan Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in water dispenser company Aqua Vital Quell- und Mineralwasser GmbH from the Owner and Founder, Peter Lázár, for an undisclosed amount. Neuss-based Aqua Vital provides and maintains mineral water dispensers in Germany and Hungary, with around 30,000 dispensers currently set up in commercial buildings such as offices, department stores, pharmacies and other outlets. The company was founded in 1999 and employs a staff of 150. The new deal with Buchanan will see the Founder retain some control over the firm, taking on the position of Managing Director. Commenting on the deal, Peter Lázár stated in "Buchanan we found a strong partner that supports further expansion of our business in the best way." Jörgen Linde, who will also be promoted to the position of Managing Director as a result of the deal, said that the new shareholder arrangement will allow Aqua Vital to "fully exploit the growth opportunities given in the market". Buchanan Capital Partners stated that it focuses its private equity activity on owner-managed growth companies" within German speaking countries.

Dutch built in appliance specialist has introduced the ATAG CaféMax coffee machine to its existing range ATAG has worked with their commercial vending team to bring the best in automatic coffee making to the home. Speed and ease of use are key to appliances such as these, as well as maintenance free operation. With this in mind ATAG has introduced original features such as the unique cappuccino milk container that is fully removable (with spout) for easy cleaning; it can also be stored in the fridge between coffee brewing sessions. ATAG's new coffee machine is fully automatic, with bean hopper for grinding the beans, or pre-ground coffee or instant coffee. It also has a pump pressure 15 bars, ideal for making the 'crema' on the top of an espresso (the steam meets the coffee at the perfect speed). Cappuccino lovers will be pleased to know that there is a fully automatic cappuccino function; the strength of coffee may be adjusted. ATAG UK Business Development Director Ellis Bardsley commented on the new product: "There is a definite increase in demand for coffee machines by top end consumers. A sense of individuality is paramount with the search for specialist appliances that personalise the kitchen and make a lifestyle statement. We also believe that these products will be installed in a variety of locations outside the kitchen too. ATAG's coffee machine doesn't require plumbing so it is very flexible and can be sited anywhere. It is ideal for the kitchen, study, home office, dining room, family room and even the bedroom. A perfectly brewed cup of coffee, espresso, latte or cappuccino, upon demand is hard to resist. It creates a sense of luxury and ATAG's versatile CaféMax coffee machine with its ability to be located beyond the kitchen is an attractive one for the consumer today."

By Magdalena Kogutowska Inventor and Chairman of the Red Bull energy drink company has something to smile about. After 12 years of not being able to sell in France and recently having had to change its recipe in order to gain access to the French market – it looks like Red Bull has finally been given the go-ahead to sell the original drink as it was meant to be. According to recent reports, and also confirmed by Red Bull, an agreement between the French Minister of Finance, Christine Lagarde, and Dietrich Mateschitz was formed on 15 May. "Effective immediately" it allows the energy giant to sell its popular drink on French soil using the previously banned ingredient taurine, rather than the replacement, arginine, it had to use up until now. The Austrian company intended to sue the French government for €300 million in compensation, but as the French gave in, the court case never happened. In 2004 the European commission challenged the ban after Red Bull complained France was inhibiting imports. However, although the European Court of Justice ordered France to lift the ban unless it could prove the health risk, it also said that the French government had the right to ban Red Bull. Lagarde explained the change of heart was due to the fact that the beverage was already sold in 25 out of 27 EU countries (it is banned in Denmark and Norway). The French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) has published several warnings against Red Bull, claiming that excessive consumption of taurine can lead to behavioural problems.

**UK water cooler supplier business 4 Aces took to the road recently to experience the true needs of its customers. **4 Aces Managing Director Chris Penn arranged to spend the day with an Angel Spring's delivery driver to find out which products are really useful for the distributor's customers. Chris Penn explained: "The day was suggested as suppliers can sometimes lose track of which products our customers really want. "The most important part of any business which services an end user is the person delivering the final goods, so in the water cooler industry this means the delivery drivers themselves. So I thought it would be useful to follow one these guys to see what their typical day is like and how we can work together to increase business." Chris and long-serving Angel Spring's driver Andy Gomm set out early from the Chiltern Hills depot, headed for the heart of London's financial sector, Canary Wharf. The lorry was loaded up with 45 water drops. "The speed of delivery was exceptional given the parking and access difficulties in London," Chris added. "The number of customers who actually looked forward to their delivery was unreal. Many of them knew Andy and were glad to see him as their bottle counts were low following the recent mini heat wave." Chris also noted the abundant opportunities for up-selling bottles and ancillary items. Customers responded well to suggestions as to how they could improve their water deliveries, especially by carrying bigger floats through installing racks where possible. "It was a mild day with little sunshine poking through the city clouds so we were spared the sunshine rush but I can feel it coming," Chris added. "Good luck to Andy when it does as he has his hands full from what I saw!" 4 Aces has also boosted its product line and customer service as well as performing top of its class in the supplier audits. The company recently added an 8oz PP and PS cup to compliment choice for customers. The 8oz cup now sits alongside the super sized 9 oz and the smaller 7 oz size. "We realised the need for a size in between for customers less concerned about the water consumption a 9oz gives but more worried about its higher price versus the 7oz," Chris explained. The cup is available in ice blue and packed 10 x 100 and 20 x 100. The company also now offers a cup collector and a new sugar cane cone, which is aimed at the more environmentally conscious consumer. In an effort to boost penetration on cup and cone sales, 4 Aces has now appointed a telesales executive to concentrate solely on this area. 4 Aces also boosted its Supplier Audit score to a faultless 100% pass in 2008. "This was a direct result of the 4 Aces team's hard work to ensure we stay on top of our game. "We are serious in the business of beverage packaging and recognise that a good supplier will attract a good customer. Most of our customers are expected to reach a level of quality so we should too," Chris added.

Rivella, a "healthy and natural soft drink" containing lactoserum, has undergone an image makeover in order to redefine brand. Along with a redesigned logo, Rivella has also worked with PET Engineering on its packaging of the entire PET line (four containers, from 33cl to 1.5-litre). "The main difficulty from a technical point of view," said Marco Hroncich, PET Engineering’s planner in charge of the project, "was the elevated carbonation of the product. In order to support the five bars of pressure, we've developed a petaloide base with marked ribbings to guarantee the easy handling of the container, as well as facilitated the filling and logistics." "Our Italian partner has developed approximately 20 successive proposals, improving more and more the technical and visual characteristics of the bottles," said a Rivella spokesperson. "As soon as we confirmed the design, they supplied the complete family of mock-ups in Plexiglas. This has allowed us to test in-hand the look and appeal of the bottle, in timings much shorter than those of normal prototyping. This was useful for the marketing department, who were able to touch and feel the bottle in order to valuate the impact that could have had on the public." More about Rivella Rivella contains lactoserum (called milk serum in Switzerland). This is the best of what milk has to offer: valuable minerals after lipids and protids have been removed. In addition, Rivella contains no preservatives or artificial colours. Rivella comes in three varieties: the original version, a low-calorie beverage and a variety 'aromatized' with green tea extracts.

The National Farmers' Union has welcomed UK supermarket chain Morrisons' announcement that it's to extend its support for British agriculture in a move towards taking greater responsibility for its dairy farmer suppliers. The move, which will see Morrisons offer regional milk to local consumers at no extra cost, together with the creation of a Morrison's producer group, and steps to increase returns to dairy farmer suppliers through its two liquid milk processors, Dairy Crest and Arla, is seen as a step in the right direction by NFU dairy board chairman Gwyn Jones. He said: "I support Morrison's for seeking to inject some further confidence and profitability into the dairy sector. With milk production declining in the UK Morrison's is sensibly seeking to secure their supply of milk. "The NFU Vision for the dairy industry supported moves by retailers to get closer to dairy farmers in order to break down the barriers of mistrust, create clearer market signals and generate better transparency. In this respect today's announcement is significant and welcome. "There is no doubt the dairy industry has experienced something of a roller-coaster ride in the last 12 months. While supply and demand dynamics are changing for the better, milk production still continues to fall and there are risks of much greater volatility in commodity markets ahead."

Nearly 80 companies involved in food, drink and tobacco manufacturing have been honoured at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Occupational Health and Safety Awards (RoSPA) in the UK. The sector winner was Devro (Scotland) Ltd of Glasgow, with Dairygold Quality Feeds – Lombardstown Feed Mill, County Cork, commended. Other food, drink and tobacco companies won 25 silver awards, 29 gold awards, 13 gold medals, six President's awards and one order of distinction. Yeo Valley Farms Ltd (Four Sites) won a QSA Level 5 Diamond Award in recognition of its high performance when its health and safety management system was audited. RoSPA Chief Executive Tom Mullarkey, said: "Our sector awards are about recognising the 'best of the best' in UK business and overseas as well. This year the level of competition for entrants to be selected as overall winner in their sector has been as intense as ever. Winners have had to demonstrate not just real director-level leadership, sound procedures, access to professional advice and thorough workforce involvement; they have also had to show how health and safety performance has been pursued throughout the business as a key objective. "Other organisations which have yet to raise their game in this vital area have much to learn from them. And those higher-performers that may still be sceptical about the value of health and safety awards need to cast their doubts aside and put themselves to the test." The awards, sponsored by NEBOSH, were presented over three days (May 13-15) of gala dinners and ceremonies at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel and attended by nearly 3,000 people. Lord Jordan of Bournville, RoSPA Deputy President, Vice-President Lord Brougham and Vaux as well as RoSPA Chief Executive Tom Mullarkey made presentations.

*Rexam has created a unique can for Finnish brewery Olvi using a 360º embossing technique that gives the can and the brand a completely new look, feel and improved shelf stand out. * Olvi has used the technique on its cider brand Fizz Cooler and it has become the first brand the cider category to be using it. 360º embossing was launched by Rexam in Europe in 2007 and has been used by drinks companies across a variety of categories. Customers can choose from a wide range of different patterns to suit their brand. Olvi chose a ‘golf ball’ design, which gives the can a punctured appearance. Not only does the can look different, creating increased shelf impact and visual stimulation, but it feels different, giving improved grip and encouraging consumers to drink straight from the can. As well as using Rexam's 360º embossing, the Fizz Cooler cans use Illustration Impact – a Rexam printing technique. Illustration Impact gives enhanced colour definition and allows photo like images to be printed on cans. The Fizz Cooler can is available in retail outlets across Finland and is aimed at females in the 25-40 age group. An outdoor and print campaign is supporting the launch as well as online advertising. "As a brand, FIZZ Cooler is positioned as a refreshing and cool drink, and we believe that the golf ball embossing design reflects the image well,” said Fizz Cooler Product Group Manager Juha Wathen. “We wanted to create a completely new look for the brand and achieve shelf stand out as well as a competitive edge. Whilst a number of beer brands have chosen the embossing technique, the cider industry has seen very little in can shaping," Wathen added. "Rexam's leading global position enables the company to deliver a broader range of value added products" said Rexam Beverage Can Sector Director Tomas Sjölin. "This is another example of how we are listening to our customers and responding with packaging solutions that help them build their brands and bottom lines."

*Plans are now well underway for the EBWA European Water Cooler Trade Show in Athens - the only European event this year dedicated to bottled water and point of use coolers. The 14th EBWA European Water Cooler Trade Show will be held from 27-29 October 2008 in Athens, Greece. * Following the success of the 12th EBWA European Water Cooler Trade Show in Italy in 2006, this event is the second, more informal industry show in the EBWA's programme held in the year between major trade fairs. Greater affordability makes it easier for smaller supplier companies from both the bottled water and POU cooler sectors to exhibit, giving the bottler and distributor customers access to a broader range of service providers. The event will be held at the five star Athens Hilton, one of the city's leading hotels, which is centrally situated and has spectacular views of the Acropolis. **Fresh ideas at the trade show **Sponsored by Capsnap, the table top trade show will take place on 28 and 29 October. Exhibitors booked so far include: Activewhere, ASE Packaging, Baribua, Bericap, Blackhawk Molding, Capsnap, Database Workshop, Dieau-Edafim, Ebac, Greif, Hesse Europe, Hodmeter, Hygienic Solutions, Krystal Kritis, LabelsPlus, Lamaplast, Mistral Constructeur, MTN Products, Oasis, OP, Ovio Corporation, Picsa, Polymer Solutions, Promec, R Bardi, Schoeller Arca Systems, SIGMA Home Products, SIP Technologies, Waterlogic and Waterservice. **In focus - conferences and workshop sessions **Conference sessions will be held on 28 and 29 October, with representatives from both the Greek Ministry of Health and Ministry of Economic Development invited to attend. Presentations will cover health and hydration, the environment, market development and high growth opportunities. Among the workshops will be sessions on environmental facts about coolers, how to respond to the media, improving business performance, new technologies and approaches to managing seasonal pressures. There will also be the opportunity for food and drink handlers and managers to take part in the EBWA Hygiene awareness course, which is mandatory for all European water cooler distributors. **A Greek welcome **The social highlight of the event will be an industry dinner held at nearby Monastiri, a traditional Cretan restaurant, for an evening of authentic Greek food, entertainment and dancing. For information about how to exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Louise Gascoigne on +44 (0) 1225 327942 or .Also visit <<1>">www.zenithinternational.com/events]<1> for full exhibitor pack and floor plan. <1>: http://www.zenithinternational.com/events

*The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) and Danone have launched a year-long campaign called ‘Optimum Health and Nutrition’, focusing on the link between nutrition and digestive health. * This campaign is part of a three-year partnership between WGO and Danone to help raise awareness of digestive disorders and the importance of maintaining good digestive health. Millions worldwide suffer from digestive disorders which can seriously impact well-being and quality of life. Overall, digestive disorders are associated with considerable discomfort, disability, disruption of family life, high healthcare costs, and time lost from work and other productive activities. In Europe, approximately 40 to 80 million people are affected by digestive disorders and projected costs are €5.1billion, while in the US, they account for 13% of all hospitalisations and nearly $24billion in costs*. According to Professor Eamonn Quigley, President, World Gastroenterology Organisation: “This year, we celebrate our 50th anniversary and have chosen to highlight the crucial topic of nutrition and digestive health. Digestive disorders affect a significant percentage of the population and can lead to serious conditions such as colon cancer. "We believe that nutrition is integral to digestive health – and overall health – and within nutrition, daily probiotics can play a major role in improving digestive health. Working jointly with Danone, a world leader in food nutrition, we hope to increase awareness of digestive disorders and help people improve their digestive health through easily implemented nutritional and lifestyle changes.” Dr Nigel Hughes, Vice President R&D, Groupe Danone, says: “This partnership demonstrates the commitment of Danone to improving nutrition and digestive health. Most digestive disorders are caused by poor or inadequate nutrition. The WGO has recently released nutritional guidelines including the daily consumption of probiotics and we hope more healthcare professionals will include probiotic foods with proven health benefits, such as Activia yogurt, in the management of people with digestive disorders.” Over the next three years, Danone and the WGO will continue to work together to raise awareness of digestive disorders and help make fellow healthcare professionals, the general public and governments more aware of issues – local, national and global – relating to nutrition and, especially, as they relate to digestive health and disease. In addition, a scientific board series of studies will be carried out annually to determine the prevalence of digestive disorders worldwide and provide clear nutritional recommendations based on local habits and disorders. * Guarner F, et al. Map of Digestive Disorders , 2008.