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THE EMERGENCE OF VALUE-ADDED WATER
Access Natural Water, which is part of the Access Group that includes listed Access Engineering (Rs20.5 billion revenue), introduced bottled mineral water called Alkafresh with a pH of nine, “to cater to the growing popularity of alkaline water as an antioxidant,” says Shanil Perera, a Director heading operations at the company.
Biofeedback therapist Avanti Senanayake has a detox programme that includes drinking plenty of water, but tap water won’t do. She uses ionised water in her Shia Pink Angel labelled natural juices and flavoured waters.
NDurance manufactures Yeti Isotonic, flavoured water packed with electrolytes and B-vitamins to help people rehydrate and recover faster after a workout.
PET Bottle, the company behind Olu Water, believes in keeping it plain and simple. “People love the taste of natural water,” a spokesman for the company says. Sales are growing 50% annually, albeit from a low base since operations commenced in 2015.
(L-R)
Shia Pink Angel – A Japanese-built water filtration and ionization device removes acids and impurities and alkalizes tap water.
Yeti H2O – A mineral water bottled by NDurance. The company also manufactures Yeti Isotonic: the formula was developed by the company’s co-founder Dilshan Balasuriya, a Cambridge PhD in Molecular Neuro Pharmacology. The isotonic water mimics the natural balance of salts and sugar in blood.
Olu Water – The company sources mineral water from a spring below 250 feet of bedrock in a rainforest in Hatton.
Alkafresh – Minerals added to spring water to boost antioxidant properties.
Shia Pink Angel