Philadelphia, PA - Herbal Water, the leader in
herbal infused flavored water, is excited to announce its strategic
collaboration today with Sunsweet Growers. In addition to an equity
investment in Herbal Water, Sunsweet will collaborate in the
marketing, sale and distribution of Ayala's Herbal Water® to help
meet increasing consumer demand in the strong and growing market of
healthy flavored waters.
In announcing the new alliance,
pediatrician and Herbal Water creator and founder Dr. Ayala said,
"Consumers today are more health conscious than ever. They want
natural and organic products and Sunsweet and Herbal Water both
recognize this increasing demand. Our new partnership taps into
that growth to lead the Naturally Enhanced Flavored Water
category".
According to a recent survey published in Beverage
Digest, carbonated beverage volumes are now at their lowest
levels in the country since 1997. In consumers' enthusiastic search
for healthier options, the global rate of consumption of water more
than doubled between 1997 and 2005. Purified water is currently the
leading global seller, and natural spring water, purified water and
flavored water are the fastest-growing market segments.
Herbal Water, a company that debuted in the market in 2007,
infuses organic culinary herbs in pure water to make an all-natural
calorie free and additive free drink. Herbal Water has garnered a
string of awards and rave reviews from food critics across the
country and enjoys a growing fan base.
Sunsweet, one of America's oldest and most respected brands and
the world's largest handler of dried tree fruits, is recognized for
its premier product quality standards worldwide. In addition to
nearly 100% market presence in major US food stores, Sunsweet
produces, ships and promotes dried fruit and juices globally. These
capabilities will greatly enhance Herbal Water's production,
logistics and distribution scope and efficiencies for the benefit
of both companies, their customers, and Herbal Water
consumers.
In discussing the company's strategic investment in Herbal Water,
Sunsweet's Global EVP of Marketing & Sales Dane Lance said,
"Our Company has always been committed to delivering the highest
quality, natural and wholesome fruits and juices that not only
taste great, but are also healthy. This is why our new partnership
with Herbal Water makes sense. Herbal Water's corporate vision and
its unique line of herb infused water fit the healthy
whole-foods-from-the-earth philosophy upon which our company was
founded."
Concluded Dr. Ayala, "We are thrilled to be working with one of
the country's best known and highly respected providers of whole
natural foods, and we look forward to a thriving partnership where
we can jointly deliver the highest quality delicious offerings to
consumers seeking a healthy lifestyle."
About Sunsweet:
Established in 1917, Sunsweet Growers, a farmer-owned cooperative,
is the world's largest handler of dried tree fruits, including
prunes, apricots, and mangos. Sunsweet represents more than
one-third of the global prune market and processes more than 50,000
tons of prunes a year. Sunsweet also produces and bottles premier
branded juices, teas and waters for global consumption. For more
information please visit www.sunsweet.com.
About Herbal Water:
Herbal Water is the manufacturer of Ayala's Herbal Water, an
innovative herb infused USDA Certified Organic flavored water with
zero calories, no preservatives, no colors, no artificial
ingredients and no sweeteners. The company was founded in 2007 with
a core principle that both wellness and great tasting products can
come from the same source - natural ingredients such as herbs. For
more information please visit www.herbalwater.com
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EDITOR'S NOTE: To interview Dane Lance or Dr. Ayala and for more
information, please contact Nicole Erdosy at 610-668-4000 / nerdosy@herbalwater.com