Northern Ireland's Water Within wins first business in China

Northern Ireland's Antrim Hills Spring Water has won its first business in China for artesian spring water.

The company, based at Ballyclare in county Antrim, is supplying its Water Within and Drip'n' Drop brands to Hanscent, a leading distributor with bases in Shanghai and Ningbo.

The contract, likely to be worth around £500,000 this year, follows the company's participation in the Hotel China trade show last year.

The business in China was announced by Antrim Hills Spring Water Operations Director Peter Geary, who said: "This is an immensely important contract for the business because it gives us a very strong presence in a marketplace where demand for premium quality water is developing very strongly because of concerns about water quality there.

"Our objective is to build on this business by working closely with the distributor to develop further opportunities in this very exciting marker.

"Taking part in Hotel China enabled us to meet and show our products to Hanscent, a leading distribution business which has bases in Shanghai and Ningbo and services customers in many parts of China.

"Discussions about the contract began at the show and led to an initial agreement to supply water for Hanscent's premium business and retail clients in key centres.

"What helped win the business for us is our artesian spring well which provides all the water for our extensive range of 100 per cent natural spring and flavoured products.

"The water from our unique artesian well is naturally filtered by the basalt rock formations of county. Antrim and bottled by us without any additives whatsoever," he added.

Formed in 1989, Antrim Spring Water is a family-owned and managed business which currently employs 12 people in a state-of-the-art processing plant near Ballyclare.

The company also supplies natural spring and flavoured water to major retailers in the United Kingdom and other international markets. It has also developed a sports drink.