Nestlé Waters - Introduction

Introduction

20 rue Rouget de Lisle
Issy les Moulineaux
F-92793 Cedex 9
France
Telephone: +33 1 41 23 38 00
Fax: +33 1 41 23 69 00
Web site: http://www.nestle-waters.com

Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Nestlé S.A.
Incorporated: 1992 as Nestlé Source International; 1996 as Perrier-Vittel S.A.
Employees: 27,600
Sales: CHF 8.0 billion (EUR 5.2 billion) ($6.2 billion) (2004)
NAIC: 312111 Soft Drink Manufacturing

Nestlé Waters is the world's leading producer of bottled waters for both the small-format (PET) retail and large-format HOD (Home and Office Delivery) circuits. The company, the Water Division of foods giant Nestlé, has nearly 110 production plants in 33 countries providing sales and distribution to more than 130 countries and, with sales of CHF 8.0 billion ($6.2 billion) in 2005, represents some 10 percent of its parent company's total sales. Whereas HOD contributes approximately one-third of sales, the company's small-format, branded bottles represent its fastest-growing segment, particularly in markets such as South America, Asia, and the United States. Nestlé Waters is also one of Nestlé's fastest-growing divisions, particularly since the launch of its two "multiple-site" water brands, Pure Life and Aquarel. These brands acquire their water from local market sources, rather than from a specific spring, enabling Nestléto lower its bottling, transportation, and logistics costs. Nestlé Waters also markets five international brands: flagship Perrier; two high-end Italian waters, Acqua Panna and S. Pellegrino; Vittel, the company's first bottled water; and Contrex, which Nestlé Waters markets as a "weight-loss" water (due to its high magnesium and calcium content). Although sales of these brands are significant, the multiple-site and international brands combine to generate just one-third of Nestlé Waters' total sales. The bulk of the group's revenues comes instead from its impressive portfolio of local brands, which include Valvert (Belgium); Sainte-Alix, Carola, Hepar, Quezac, Opalia (France); Rhenser Mineral-burnnen, Rietnauer, Klosterquelle (Germany); Korpi (Greece); Theodora (Hungary); Aqua Claudia, Ulmeta, Lora Recoaro, Levissima (Italy); Buxton, Ashbourne (United Kingdom); and Ice Mountain, Deer Park, Poland Spring, Arrowhead, Calistoga, Zephyrhills (United States), among many others. Altogether, Nestlé Waters' portfolio includes nearly 80 brands, giving the company a 17 percent share of the global market.