Springcool aims to expand business outside Northern Ireland

Springcool, a leading Northern Irish producer of a refreshing range of Irish spring water and sugar-free juices, is showcasing its range of natural products in the United Arab Emirates as part of a new export growth strategy.

The company, based at Ballymena in county Antrim, has been supplying products since 2007 and is aiming to build on existing business with major retailers such as Tesco in the United Kingdom and Jumbo Supermarkets in the Netherlands for its successful portfolio of natural spring waters, flavoured waters and juices. It has also won business in Nigeria.

In addition to being sugar-free, Springcool's products are free from artificial colourings and flavourings and are produced using natural water from the company's own deep spring well. Springcool is targeting the growing 'free-from' market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The company is showing its spring water and juices on the Northern Ireland Naturally stand S2-G40at the Gulfood exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the UAE from 23-27 February.

Springcool products are available in 250ml plastic bottles and can be provided to customers in a four-pack format. The range comprises Cool Water branded Irish spring water in still and two flavours - Strawberry and Lemon, and Lime. The company's Cool Crush brand juices are available in Orange and Apple as well as Blackcurrant.

Ciaran Doherty, Springcool managing director, says: "Our decision to introduce the products to the United Arab Emirates is based on the success we are already enjoying with our sugar-free and natural spring waters and fruit juices in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

"Consumers are increasingly looking from soft drinks which, while sugar-free and natural, provide a really satisfying taste experience.

"Our products have been created to meet the growing market for 'free-from' soft drinks, especially those which are sugar-free, and all use fresh and clean water from a natural spring on our factory site in Ballymena, located in predominantly rural county Antrim, one of the cleanest and greenest parts of Northern Ireland.

"Our brands are now well-established and popular in the United Kingdom with consumers conscious of the need to reduce sugar. Our aim is to develop a market opportunity that we've identified in the UAE and other parts of the Middle East.

"Springcool soft drinks are all produced in an ultra-modern processing plant operating to the highest hygiene and safety standards. This means that customers can count on the quality, heritage and provenance of Springcool soft drinks," he adds.