Alkaline88’s Growth Accelerates into First Quarter Fiscal 2022

Rhea-AI Summary

The Alkaline Water Company (NASDAQ: WTER) announced that its Alkaline88 3-Liter and 1-Gallon bottles will be added to five warehouses of Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), enhancing distribution to over 1,100 member companies and 3,000 locations across 28 states. This strategic addition aligns with a reported sales growth of 39.6% year-over-year in the last four weeks. The independent grocers channel, accounting for $253.6 billion in national sales, presents significant growth potential for the company.

Positive

• Alkaline88 sales grew 39.6% year-over-year in the last four weeks.
• Expanding distribution through AWG enhances market reach to over 3,000 grocery locations.

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• None.

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and CSE: WTER) (the “Company”), the country’s largest independent alkaline water company, is pleased to announce that its bulk 3-Liter and best-selling 1-Gallon bottles will be added to five warehouses of Associated Wholesale Grocers (“AWG”), the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets. AWG serves over 1,100 member companies and over 3,000 locations throughout 28 states. Alkaline88^® will be added to AWG’s warehouses in Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.

“The addition of Associated Wholesale Grocers’ (AWG) five strategically located warehouses, comes at the perfect time for our company. Our supply chain has never been stronger, and our sales continue to accelerate in all channels,” said Ricky Wright, President and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company. “The 12 week SPINS ending June 13, 2021, for total U.S. Mulo, Food and Natural Channels, shows Alkaline88 sales have grown 33.7% year-over-year. More exciting is that in the last 4 weeks we have accelerated to 39.6% year-over-year growth. Much credit is due to our outstanding sales team and their outstanding efforts. With Associated Wholesale Grocers, Alkaline88 has another opportunity to even further accelerate our growth for the remainder of fiscal 2022.”

“The addition of Alkaline88^®’s 3-Liter and 1-Gallon SKUs to AWG’s warehouses is great news for the company,” continued Mr. Wright. “The independent grocers channel is huge, and it accounts for a whopping $253.6 billion in national sales. Per the June 2021 study by the National Grocers Association (NGA), independent grocers now account for 33% of the overall U.S. grocery sales up from 25% nearly a decade ago. With our products being delivered to the AWG, the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, we will be readily available to independent grocers throughout the U.S.”

Alkaline88^® is known for its superior hydration with a perfect 8.8pH balance. The brand was developed to deliver a Deliciously Smooth™ taste that encourages consumers to drink more and fully hydrate. The Company is dedicated to purity, quality, value, and taste. The water’s ingredient deck is simple, easy to understand, and free of buffers. Alkaline88 ionized water contains just two ingredients that customers trust — purified water and Pink Himalayan Rock Salt.

The Alkaline Water Company is The Clean Beverage Company™ making a difference in the water you drink and the world we share.

The Alkaline88^® flagship brand of premium alkaline water is now available in 75,000 stores across all trades in the U.S. For more information, visit www.thealkalinewaterco.com.

About The Alkaline Water Company:

Founded in 2012, The Alkaline Water Company (NASDAQ and CSE: WTER) is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its flagship product, Alkaline88^®, is a leading premier alkaline water brand available in bulk and single-serve sizes along with eco-friendly aluminum packaging options. With its innovative, state-of-the-art proprietary electrolysis process, Alkaline88^® delivers perfect 8.8 pH balanced alkaline drinking water with trace minerals and electrolytes and boasts our trademarked label “Clean Beverage.” Quickly being recognized as a growing lifestyle brand, Alkaline88^® launched A88 Infused™ in 2019 to meet consumer demand for flavor-infused products. A88 Infused™ flavored water is available in six unique all-natural flavors, with new flavors coming soon. Additionally, in 2020, the Company launched A88 Infused Beverage Division Inc., which includes the Company’s CBD water and flavor-infused water. For the Company’s topical and ingestible offerings, A88 Infused Products Inc. includes the Company’s lab-tested hemp-extract salves, balms, lotions, essential oils, bath salts, powder packs, oil tinctures, capsules, and gummies.

To purchase Alkaline88^® and A88 Flavor Infused products online, visit us at www.alkaline88.com.

To learn more about The Alkaline Water Company, please visit www.thealkalinewaterco.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

About Associate Wholesale Grocers:

Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation's largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving over 1,100 member companies and over 3,000 locations throughout 28 states from 8 full-line wholesale divisions. The consolidated sales for AWG are approximately $9.7 billion. In addition to its cooperative wholesale operations, the company also operates subsidiary companies which provide certain real estate and supermarket development services, print and digital marketing services, and health and beauty care, general merchandise, specialty/international foods and pharmaceutical products.

For more information, visit: awginc.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements.” Statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: that with Associated Wholesale Grocers, Alkaline88 has another opportunity to even further accelerate the Company’s growth for the remainder of fiscal 2022; and that the Company will be readily available to independent grocers throughout the U.S.

The material assumptions supporting these forward-looking statements include, among others, that the demand for the Company’s products will continue to significantly grow; that the past production capacity of the Company’s co-packing facilities can be maintained or increased; that there will be increased production capacity through implementation of new production facilities, new co-packers and new technology; that there will be an increase in number of products available for sale to retailers and consumers; that there will be an expansion in geographical areas by national retailers carrying the Company’s products; that there will be an expansion into new national and regional grocery retailers; that there will be an expansion into new e-commerce, home delivery, convenience, and healthy food channels; that there will not be interruptions on production of the Company’s products; that there will not be a recall of products due to unintended contamination or other adverse events relating to the Company’s products; and that the Company will be able to obtain additional capital to meet the Company’s growing demand and satisfy the capital expenditure requirements needed to increase production and support sales activity. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, governmental regulations being implemented regarding the production and sale of alkaline water or any other products; additional competitors selling alkaline water and enhanced water products in bulk containers reducing the Company’s sales; the fact that the Company does not own or operate any of its production facilities and that co-packers may not renew current agreements and/or not satisfy increased production quotas; the fact that the Company has a limited number of suppliers of its unique bulk bottles; the potential for supply-chain interruption due to factors beyond the Company’s control; the fact that there may be a recall of products due to unintended contamination; the inherent uncertainties associated with operating as an early stage company; changes in customer demand and the fact that consumers may not embrace enhanced water products as expected or at all; the extent to which the Company is successful in gaining new long-term relationships with new retailers and retaining existing relationships with retailers; the Company’s ability to raise the additional funding that it will need to continue to pursue its business, planned capital expansion and sales activity; and competition in the industry in which the Company operates and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and Canada. Although the Company believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions will prove to be accurate. Readers should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the reports and other documents the Company files with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, and on the SEDAR, available at www.sedar.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210722005288/en/

FAQ

What recent distribution changes has Alkaline Water Company (WTER) announced?

Alkaline Water Company announced the addition of its 3-Liter and 1-Gallon Alkaline88 bottles to five warehouses of Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG).

What is the significance of the partnership with Associated Wholesale Grocers for WTER?

This partnership significantly boosts WTER's distribution capabilities, reaching over 1,100 member companies and expanding its presence in the independent grocers market.

How much have Alkaline88 sales grown recently?

Sales of Alkaline88 have grown 39.6% year-over-year in the last four weeks.

When will Alkaline88 products be available in AWG warehouses?

Alkaline88 products will be added to AWG’s warehouses in Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.