UGANDA – Crown Beverages Limited (CBL), Uganda’s oldest beverage company, has introduced a new brand of water- Aquafina, a water brand of one of the largest multinational food, snack, and beverage corporations, PepsiCo.

Aquafina was first launched in the USA in 1994 and over the last two decades, it has expanded into Asia, the UAE, and, most recently, Africa.

With this new launch by CBL, Uganda has become the third country to be allowed by PepsiCo International to bottle the Aquafina brand, after Nigeria and Egypt, according to Paddy Muramiirah, CEO of Crown Beverages Limited.

Uganda’s first international water brand joins CBL’s raft of other equally popular brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mirinda Fruity, Mirinda Orange, Mirinda Pineapple, Mirinda Green Apple, Evervess Tonic, Sting Energy Drink, and Nivana Water that comes in two varieties, still and sparkling.

According to Mr. Muramiirah, Aquafina’s reputation lies in its high-quality process of purifying and bottling as well as its great consistent taste.

He explained that the water brand is purified through a rigorous purification process, including reverse osmosis and other filtering and purification methods, that remove minerals such as chlorides, salts, and other substances that can affect a water’s taste.

While other brands of bottled water may also have similar purification steps such as reverse osmosis and ozonation, Aquafina also undergoes another process called demineralization- an extensive purification process that is designed to remove trace compounds.

“Demineralisation removes all these trace compounds, and then the vital minerals for the body are reintroduced in sufficient levels for the human body and as per standards approved by bodies, such as the US Foods and Drug Administration (FDA). This enrichment process ensures that Aquafina delivers goodness and consistency in taste and quality.”

“At Aquafina, we understand that when you pay for bottled water, you expect consistent purity and great taste. That’s why we have significantly invested in a state-of-the-art production plant to ensure that every bottle of Aquafina guarantees pure water and perfect taste consistently every time you open an Aquafina. Anytime, anywhere,” Muramiirah elaborated.

Uganda’s bottled drinking water sector has been growing unprecedentedly, forecasted to reach US$323.01 million, an increase of CAGR of 10.62% per annum for the period 2020-2025.

Currently, there are over 100 registered players, with an estimated total turnover of 400 billion Uganda Shillings (US$110m).

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