According to reports in the Indian media, bottled water producer Bisleri International is planning to launch an enhanced water product within one year. Bisleri International Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Chauhan said: “We are certainly working on enhanced water. We want to give something more than just flavoured water, which will offer health benefits to customers.” The exact details of the product are yet to be finalised. However, it is clear that Bisleri, which claims around 30% share in the Indian bottled water market, will be looking at developing a product that gives it an edge over competitors. It’s apparently working closely with people from the flavours segment, ayurvedic extract manufacturers, vitamins and minerals experts. The exact formulation may not yet have been finalised, but the “King of Bottled Water” Chauhan is clear that he wants to enter this category and so his company has almost completed working on the packaging for the enhanced water. In 2007, Bisleri International launched Bisleri Natural Mountain water, changing its familiar corporate colours from blue to aqua green, and will invest a large amount of money in marketing and advertising. Its mountain water is bottled at plants in Himachal and Uttaranchal, and the company is apparently looking to set up at least four more plants during the next year.

*Legal disputes between Danone and Wahaha are to be settled out of court after the French and Chinese governments intervened. Danone has now dropped legal proceedings against Wahaha in China, but cases in other countries are still pending. * The Wahaha Joint Venture Company was established in 1996 as a food and beverage joint venture company between the Hangzhou Wahaha Group, the largest beverage producer in China, and Danone, one of the world’s largest food conglomerates. The dispute between French Groupe Danone and Chinese Wahaha became public in April 2007. The main accusations concern Wahaha setting up a parallel production and sales operation for the same products made by the joint venture (JV), however this is a simplification of the issues involved. General Manager Zong Quinghou had been running the government-owned Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co Ltd since its foundation in 1987 and became an important minority shareholder when the company went from being a state-owned enterprise to a private venture. Since then, the joint venture with Danone has grown, accounting for 8% of Danone sales, contributing €100 million to the top line and in excess of 5% of total net profit. In 2006, Zong agreed to a deal worth almost €400 million, allowing Danone to buy a majority stake in the non-joint venture operations. However, Zong has since had regrets, as Danone has contended that the Wahaha trademark belongs to the joint venture. While Danone has been winning lawsuits outside China, Wahaha has won all cases settled by Chinese courts. The biggest blow to the French group has been the “patriotic” verdict handed down by the Hangzhou Arbitration Commission, stating the Wahaha trademark belonged to its Chinese partner. According to the panel ruling, the trademark had failed to be transferred to the venture in 1999 when the agreement signed by the two groups expired. Zong has had offshore assets of ten companies frozen, and faces at least 20 other lawsuits and arbitrators in five countries, including cases against his wife and daughter who run two of the main companies. What could have been considered a losing battle by some and a never-ending saga by others, may have reached a turning point in November when French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited China. During a presidential dinner in Beijing, Sarkozy met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Danone Chairman Franck Riboud. In an attempt to encourage resolution, the two governments put pressure on both companies to work towards a speedy and amicable solution. This prompted Wahaha and Danone to release a joint statement where they agreed to suspend all legal proceedings and begin a more constructive dialogue. The consequences of the disagreements have so far cost Danone €19 million a month in sales. However, as soon as there was news of resolution, its shares went up 5%. The joint venture has in the past been used as an example for companies wishing to gain a foothold in the Chinese market. The example has now broadened to include some of the risks involved and will hopefully be completed with solutions on how to solve problems like those facing Danone and Wahaha.

Reuters reported that Axfood AB has decided to acquire Vi-butik in Solna Centrum. The takeover is expected to take place in April 2008, and the store will be converted into Hemkop. Axfood AB is one of the largest food retailers in Scandinavia listed on the stock market.

How long have you known about the Perrier brand? As long as I can remember, I’ve always known the Perrier brand, and especially those bottles. What do you think of when you hear the name 'Perrier'? Bubbles, sparkling, green, refreshment, thirst quenching, and also the fact that Perrier is good for your health. Not to mention: “Perrier, c’est fou!”. A few ads have really stuck with me, particularly the one with the lion by Jean-Paul Goude. Why did you decide to work with Perrier? Perrier is well known throughout the world and it’s also a French drink, just as Paul & Joe is a French brand. On top of that, Perrier evokes freshness, which is the key word for Paul & Joe. It’s the perfect combination. What do the two brands share? The sparkling, fresh, timeless aspect, a fusion of classic and modern styles ... the fact that you never get tired of them, that you always want them and they’re always renewing themselves. Perrier is a drink that people always need and always want, a bit like Paul & Joe. Why do you think these designs fit in with the Perrier brand? The animal drawings and the green colour code are synonymous with freshness and nature, so they fit in completely with people’s image of Paul & Joe and of Perrier. The partnership seemed fairly obvious to me. By adding gold, I wanted something that would clash, shock people, be right on the edge of ‘too much’, while still reflecting the current trend towards anything shiny and ostentatious. We’re entering a period of celebration, complete entertainment and exuberance, the opposite of the minimalist tendencies of 10 years ago. Why link Paul & Joe to an international brand like Perrier, which is distributed in more than 100 countries? Because I was very happy to see the Paul & Joe brand on cafe terraces around the world through these decorated bottles. It was a challenge, a real point of pride and a project that I loved from the start. How did it all start for the Paul & Joe brand? First of all, those are the names of my children, who are now 13 and 16. It started 10 years ago with a desire to create a different idea of men’s fashion – something that strayed from the typical codes at the time, which were grey, austere and minimalist. I revamped this boring style for men by adding fabrics, colour, prints and freshness. The brand moved into women’s fashion because of requests from customers. How has Paul & Joe contributed to the fashion world? Paul & Joe adds a different touch with its pretty fabrics, its clothes that are easy to wear every day, and never too serious. It’s a bit of a half and half approach – very feminine and yet masculine at the same time. It’s this style and freshness that has earned recognition for Paul & Joe in France and abroad. Apart from France, where is the brand the most recognised? The brand is well known in Asia, particularly in Japan. It’s also visible in England and in the US, where we have entered a partnership with the Target chain.

30 million litres of bottled water, enough for 150 million glasses, were distributed last summer to residents in the Midlands when floods cut people off from their homes and tap water supplies. This is more than the entire UK bottled water market 30 years ago. The figure was released by specialist food and drink consultancy Zenith International as part of its annual UK market review. "Bottled water has been a huge success story because of its convenience and health benefits," said Zenith Chairman Richard Hall. "It's hard to imagine how hundreds of thousands of people would have coped without it after last summer's flooding." Back in 1980, the total UK market amounted to 30 million litres, amid general scepticism about the idea of paying for bottled water. Now, the market has grown to more than 2,000 million litres, with half of that coming from consumption on the go, such as in offices and cars as part of today's increasingly busy lifestyles. "30 years ago, it would have been impossible for bottled water to meet this extra demand. Fortunately, although climate change was the cause of the problem, bottled water has a very low carbon footprint since all bottles are 100% recyclable, and much of the rescue relief was provided locally," continued Richard Hall. "In 2006, one in 30 households experienced an interruption in their tap water supplies across the country, so the availability of bottled water is becoming increasingly important," added Zenith Market Intelligence Director Gary Roethenbaugh. "The other advantages, of course, are that you know exactly where a natural mineral or spring water has come from and it will not have been treated chemically in any way."

American dairy company Kemps has launched two new milk products: Kemps Plus Healthy Lifestyle and Kemps Plus Healthy Kids, containing the MEG-3 EPA/DHA ingredient from Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC). Kemps is said to be the first company to launch a fresh milk product in North America containing the healthy food ingredient, and has placed the MEG-3 logo on the packaging so consumers are aware that the product contains Omega-3 from fish oil. The two new milks each contain 32mg of MEG-3 per 236ml serving. Each serving of Kemps Plus Healthy Lifestyle also contains 50% more calcium than regular 1% milks, whereas each serving of Kemps Plus Healthy Kids contains 50% more calcium than regular 2% milks and is an excellent source of vitamin C. Kemps Vice President of Marketing Rachel Kyllo said: “Kemps Plus delivers relevant and unique new benefits to the milk category in the Upper Midwest. We are pleased to be partnering with Ocean Nutrition to deliver important new benefits to our consumers.” ONC Executive Vice President of Marketing Ian Lucas added: “Omega-3 EPA and DHA are known as cradle-to-grave nutrients because they are so vital to overall good health, whether you are 1 or 101. Even though Omega-3 EPA and DHA have so many health benefits, many people are not getting enough of it in their diet. Ocean Nutrition is excited to partner with a premium dairy brand such as Kemps Plus.”

*Mains-fed cooler company PHS Waterlogic has set up an all-inclusive rental package designed to appeal to cooler buyers who may have been put off by the perceived cost and complexity of supply agreements. * Totalcare aims to provide customer with unlimited pure, filtered, chilled water without the added responsibility and costs of cooler servicing and maintenance. “There are many water cooler suppliers out there, but buyers need to check their small print,” said PHS Marketing Manager Ruth Phillips. “Will all suppliers ensure that their coolers are properly maintained? And what happens in the event of a breakdown? Check the support offered and any extra charges that may be applied. We're setting ourselves apart with Totalcare which is intended to establish industry best practice, with complete transfer of risk and maintenance costs away from the buyer.” The package comprises a mains-fed cooler of the customer’s choice with cold or hot and cold water, delivery, installation and maintenance by trained PHS service engineers. Its cost includes twice yearly planned preventative servicing, including all parts and labour, and a callout and repair service, which is available the next working day. If the cooler cannot be repaired on-site, a replacement unit will be provided. The service is facilitated by a 24-hour, seven days a week manned customer service centre. Package rates start from £6.88 (€9) per week for the Waterlogic 2000 mains-fed cooler, and go up to £10.57 (€14) a week for the Waterlogic 3000 with UV filtered hot and cold water.

BAWLS Guarana announced a year-long partnership with IMG Fashion as the Official Energy Drink of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. BAWLS is keeping fashion’s elite caffeinated with its refreshing, citrus-infused flavour at five of the world’s most anticipated fashion shows for 2008. BAWLS will enjoy exclusive sampling rights throughout the autumn and spring fashion week shows in New York and Los Angeles, as well as the series’ Miami Swim show in July. BAWLS will make its first stop of the series at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York at Bryant Park on February 1-8.

SoNu Beverages has signed a distribution agreement with Banko Beverage Company, gaining access to the Pennsylvanian market. The move comes as SoNu launches its eponymous vitamin-enhanced flavoured bottled water brand on 30 January 2008. SoNu Chief Operating Officer Scott Abramson said: "Our goal is to make SoNu Water the leader and cornerstone of Banko Beverage Company's non-alcoholic division." A representative of Banko, Terry Heffner, added: "Taking on SoNu Water was a no-brainer for us. The product's designer packaging and high-quality formulation, coupled with the company's service strategy and smart marketing programmes, provide a recipe for a profitable relationship." In November 2007, SoNu Beverages had already partnered with the distribution company Two B's to expand its presence into the New York City and Long Island areas in the US. Abramson added: “Two B’s fleet of over 18 SoNu-branded trucks, an expanded force of experienced sales representatives solely dedicated to SoNu, and their long-standing relationships servicing more than 14,000 key accounts, will provide SoNu Beverages with the necessary tools and a unique opportunity to build significant brand exposure.”

French company Delo has launched a new product range dubbed the 'booster-cap' to spice up our daily water quota and provide a dose of wellness at the same time. Launched in December 2007, the booster-caps combine the "vitality of water and the power of herbs", blending together a range of herbs into a rich liquid format for mixing with water. Each of the five variants boasts a different health or wellbeing focus. The herbs and plant extracts are gathered and then flash-processed to reduce oxidation and preserve their individual properties. The caps are designed to be screwed on to any 50cl bottle filled with water, whether natural, filtered or simply tap water, releasing the liquid contents, which are then mixed into the water. The company recommends consuming one booster-cap daily, ensuring an "immediate effect and in-depth results". The caps are described as "compact, playful, universal and great for on-the-move", ensuring consumers can enjoy them anytime, anywhere! The range was developed by Michèle Gay in conjunction with pharmacists and phytotherapists (specialists in the use of plants or plant extracts for medicinal purposes – particularly those that are not part of the normal diet). The 100% organic range consists of five variants: Energy offers an "energising taste and stimulating effect", comprising guarana, acerola and ginseng; Sexy provides a "tropical taste and fizzy effect", and blends ginger, galangal, cardamom and bee balm; Balance boasts a "refreshing taste and wellbeing effect" through a blend of peppermint, nettle, ash tree extract and French vanilla; Destress provides a "fruity taste and relaxing effect", featuring hawthorn, orange blossom, walnut and calamint together with verbena; Fitness brings a "smooth taste with a lightness effect" through a combination of yerba-mate, green tea, mango, kiwi, litchi, rosemary and liquorice. Product founder Marguerite Deperrois commented to functional drinks that the response to the launch has been excellent both at a distributor and consumer level, and that additional formulas are already in the pipeline, together with an online advertising campaign. Delo hopes to expand distribution to major European capitals in the near future. The recyclable caps can also be bought through the company website. Also available are 50cl mixer bottles for making up your Delo fortified-water at home.

There is further evidence of Groupe Danone’s disenchantment with its joint ventures in China after the French food and beverage giant withdrew from its JV with a second Chinese dairy producer – and the long-running dispute between Danone and its Chinese beverage partner Wahaha dragged on into a new chapter. Danone said it had agreed with the country’s top dairy company, Mengniu, to end their year-old deal to sell yogurt in Inner Mongolia, Beijing and Ma’anshan. According to Danone, the co-operation had not developed as planned. However, Mengniu will continue to work with Danone as a co-packer and distributor. In October, Danone also sold back its 20% stake in Shanghai’s Bright Dairy, and ended a 15-year brand and technology agreement with the company. Meanwhile, there is still no sign of the Wahaha dispute being settled. In the latest development, Danone is being sued for $1.4 million damages by Wahaha’s labour union, which represents about 7,000 workers in the group’s joint ventures with the French company, and a further 10,000 workers in non-JV operations. The union accuses Danone of holding shares in rival companies, and harming Wahaha’s reputation by “distorting facts” through the media. Danone dismissed the complaints as “groundless,” and said it hoped to reach an “amicable solution.” The Wahaha dispute began when Danone accused the group’s founder, Zong Qinghou, of using other companies to sell products rightly owned by the JV (which is 51% owned by Danone). Zong denied the charge, and in turn accused Danone of trying to take control of the Wahaha brand, a market leader in bottled water, tea and other beverages. Danone was “shocked” by the ruling of a Chinese arbitration tribunal, earlier this December, that Zong was entitled to use the brand outside the JV. Although Danone refuted the tribunal’s finding, the company offered to suspend its own legal actions against the Wahaha group, and appealed to Zong to make a move towards reconciliation. “We urge all the parties to avoid taking any actions which will further intensify or complicate the situation,” said Danone in a formal statement. In November, Danone’s management said that its troubles in China had changed its view of how to grow in such emerging markets. In future, it is expected the company will seek to set up or acquire its own operations, rather than going into business with a local partner. Danone has just entered the Chinese baby food sector through the Dumex brand, which it acquired with its takeover of Dutch manufacturer Numico.

In the UK, PHS Waterlogic is supplying Monmouthshire County Council and facilities management company Monitor FM with mains-fed water coolers. Owned and operated by Monmouthshire and Torfaen County Borough Councils, Monitor FM said that the decision was taken first and foremost with environmental benefits in mind. “We constantly strive for environmental improvement on behalf of Monmouthshire County and Torfaen County Borough Councils,” said Facilities Manager at Croesyceiliog County Hall, Garth Brookfield. “We recognise the need for environmentally sustainable action across every aspect of our work, and we judge everything we do by stringent environmental standards. “With PHS Waterlogic mains-fed coolers, we were able to maintain our commitment to reducing the carbon emissions of our operations without sacrificing the quality of water supplied to our employees.” Monitor FM was awarded Green Dragon level 5 certification in 2005, the highest level of environmental standard programme in Wales, indicating continual environmental improvement. The company has implemented an objective of a 15% reduction in energy use across its operations, in addition to its sustainable procurement policy already in place. Further factors such as water quality and good customer service also influenced the councils’ choice of water cooler solution, along with the option to purchase the coolers outright and sign up for a total care package. “When we initially specified the coolers, purity and quality of the water were the major factors of our decision, outside the environmental issues,” explained Building Surveyor for Monmouthshire County Council, Lyn Moore. “Now, we wouldn’t be without them. The quality is excellent and the service is hassle free, with all repairs, cost of parts and twice yearly service included.”