Acqua Panna is packaged in a variety of sizes in both plastic and glass bottles. According to sommeliers, Acqua Panna is best paired with “light” wine and “delicate” foods.

The Acqua Panna we sampled came in a 25.3 fluid ounce clear plastic bottle with a beautifully crisp white label with a bright orange crest and logo. The bottle has a silver twist-off cap adorned with the Acqua Panna crest.

After the first sip of Aqua Panna, you can sense its difference from other waters. The minerals give the water a smooth, rich mouthfeel with no off-flavors or after-tastes. We sampled Acqua Panna with a riesling, and it paired well with the light, sweet wine. Acqua Panna would go well with any delicate dish or dessert.

Summary: Acqua Panna natural spring water is clean, smooth, and artfully packaged to deliver a premium water drinking experience. Perfect for a special occasion, or everyday drinking, Acqua Panna takes spring water to another level of quality and taste.

For more information visit Acqua Panna‘s website.

Since then, Perrier has continued to build on an iconic brand with product and flavor innovations, including one of its latest releases, Perrier Pineapple carbonated mineral water. Perrier Pineapple comes in a 250ml slim can perfect for grabbing on the go.

Subtly Sweet Natural Pineapple

Perrier Pineapple delivers Perrier sparkling water’s classic quality with a deliciously light hint of natural pineapple flavor. We loved the natural sweetness of the pineapple balanced with the non-sweet tang of the carbonated mineral water. The beverage contains no calories, and zero sweeteners, making it an excellent choice for healthy hydration. Perrier Pineapple is enjoyable on its own and would also make an exciting mixer for an alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktail or smoothie.

Summary: Perrier Pineapple is a refreshing tropical take on the classic Perrier bottled mineral water brand. The natural flavor provides just the right amount of subtle sweetness without adding unwanted calories or artificial ingredients.

For more information visit Perrier’s website.

Murakami is the latest artist to have fun restyling the iconic and vibrant PERRIER brand. The PERRIER x MURAKAMI collaboration continues the long-standing creative relationship between PERRIER and great artists. Over its 150-year history, the brand has collaborated with some of the world’s most influential artists, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Bernard Villemot, Raymond Savignac, Carlu and Jean-Gabriel Domergue, all of whom created trailblazing posters and artworks for the brand.

Murakami’s signature smiling flowers will bring an extra pop of color and joy to the iconic green PERRIER bottles, in screen-printed glass formats. Some bottles will also feature Murakami’s most beloved characters, Kaikai and Kiki, who will also appear alongside PERRIER in a 30-second animated film, produced with Murakami. Additional product formats, including cans, will launch in early 2021.

Murakami is considered one of the most important Japanese artists of our generation, and even, Japan’s superstar artist. Drawing from traditional Japanese paintings, sci-fi, anime, and the global art market, Murakami creates paintings, sculptures and films populated by repeated motifs and mutating characters of his own creation. His wide-ranging work embodies an intersection of pop culture, history, and fine art, merging the commercial and fine art realms and flattening the distinction between high and low culture.

While he is most popularly associated with the smiling flower motif and bright, playful imagery, Murakami’s wider body of work often engages with challenging, serious themes, communicated through a highly intricate and multi-layered pictorial language.

“Takashi Murakami is one of the most prominent contemporary living artists in the world. He has succeeded in creating art that is both accessible and deeply considered, with a flair for what is most fresh and most pertinent to the widest audience.

The vibrancy and delight of Murakami’s work is the perfect match for PERRIER, a brand that has invested for over a century in creativity to bring out a differentiating brand spirit, tinged with its unexpected, crazy and original personality. The brand has inspired and collaborated with some of the world’s most famous and distinguished artists, such as Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Raymond Savignac and Bernard Villemot, who have each in their own way established a touch of artistic irreverence, providing them a space of expression in the identity of PERRIER.

We hope that this collaboration, inspired by the pop and colorful universe of Takashi Murakami and the creative spirit of PERRIER, will increase the accessibility of art for an even broader global audience.”

Paul Cordina, Global Communication Manager, PERRIER

“When PERRIER first approached me, I felt extremely lucky to have the opportunity to collaborate with this sparkling water brand with such a long history. It held many positive associations for me – for example, when I was 32 and started living in New York, I used to drink PERRIER a lot. Even further back, though, I have another very strong memory: I was on the first romantic date of my life at age 18 with a girl two years my senior. We went to a place in Ginza and I ordered a bottle of PERRIER, mistaking it for alcohol. I remember it all so clearly – especially how confused I felt when I didn’t feel any alcohol effects after drinking many glasses!

PERRIER for me is closely associated first with the color green – of course! – and then, with the pleasant bubbling sound of carbonation. I’m grateful to be part of the brand’s expanding views and future-facing concepts through this collaboration.

I also wonder if today, when we can no longer unthinkingly hug, kiss, or shake hands, perhaps the stimulating sensation of the PERRIER bubbles on our tongues will be even more heightened, as one of the enjoyable tactile experiences still available to us! I am delighted to be part of this collaboration with PERRIER and I hope that together, we can heighten that sense of relationship further, sharing a little more joy and hope for the future.”

Takashi Murakami

Source: Perrier

Sports drinks can be high in sugar, so the benefits often don’t outweigh the negatives. Recover 180, however, claims to have three times the electrolytes, yet only half the calories of “other leading sports drinks.” The lighter nature of the drink is mainly due to the unique plant-based ingredients like milk thistle and ginseng, which are intended to fight inflammation and flush toxins while providing the consumer with more energy.  The result is a sweeter taste without feeling overly sugary.

Blood Orange

I tried this flavor last because I’m typically not a fan of orange drinks; they always make me feel like I’m drinking a breakfast drink at the wrong time of the day. I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite enjoyable and less acidic than most orange-flavored drinks. The flavor isn’t overwhelming, and the drink doesn’t feel watered down. Not as sweet as the other two flavors, Blood Orange is a surprisingly refreshing alternative.

Citrus Flavor

I generally enjoyed this drink, but I was initially taken back by how sweet it was. A little like lemonade that didn’t quite find the right balance of powder and water, it was tasty, but it was something I was going to need some time to drink. I ended up liking it, but I’m not convinced it’s something I would want to drink right after exercise.

Acai Berry

Acai berries are a powerful antioxidant but also prove to have some decent flavor. Like the other flavors of Recover 180, Acai Berry tends to be on the sweeter side, but it feels more appropriate when drinking something berry flavored. More refreshing than the citrus, but not as flavorful as the orange, Acai Berry is a good drink for immediate recovery or something to drink in a more casual situation after a long day.

Summary: Recovery 180 provides three viable options for a hydrating and healthy sports drink. While all drinks taste good, there’s nothing particular about the taste that stands out above anything else. Recover 180 is an enjoyable sports drink whose most significant upside is the health benefits.

For more information visit Recover 180’s website.

The campaign will kick off on September 8, 2020 and continue through the entire Coastal Cleanup month of September, with other key dates including National Clean Up Day on September 19 and Climate Week slated for September 21-27. Participating brands want to address the continued climate crisis, help offset the pandemic plastic surge, and celebrate a “renewed normal,” all while incentivizing people to participate in safe clean-up efforts with eco-friendly products that are good for the planet.

“We are so excited to announce the launch of our campaign with many amazing brands who share our mission to protect the planet,” said Daryn Kuipers, CEO of Boxed Water. “Yes, there’s a lot going on in the world, but the environment is critical to our health and wellbeing. We are relishing the reprieve the great outdoors offers us right now. Let’s repay the favor, and keep our coasts, oceans, rivers and lands clean and free of plastic pollution.”

The participating brands are contributing more than $10,000 to Ocean Blue Project, a grassroots, community-driven nonprofit to clean and care for our oceans, lakes and rivers.

Consumers can indicate their clean-up pledge via a landing page launching on September 8 on boxedwater.com and enter for a chance to win “clean up kits” which will include a water subscription from Boxed Water Is Better, ChicoBag reusable snack bags, produce bags, and To-Go Ware bamboo utensils, TOMS’ earthwise eyewear rooted in earth-friendly materials, Nécessaire’s climate neutral The Hand Cream, and Toad&Co’s 100% organic cotton graphic tees  designed in partnership with artist Daren Thomas Magee.

Consumers are encouraged to use these goods for their own socially distanced cleanups or “plogging,” a movement originating in Europe, that combines jogging (hiking and walking too) with picking up litter.

“Our ability to mitigate the climate crisis requires that we rally as a community, activating our individual and collective powers to make a difference,” noted Rob Koenen, Chief Marketing Officer at Boxed Water. “We can each flex our muscles with actual clean-up efforts, shared knowledge and expertise, purchase power and social awareness efforts. I am proud that these brands banded together during this significant month for the planet.”

Ocean Blue Project’s mission is to rehabilitate and conserve the world’s oceans, beaches, and rivers through beach and river cleanups. Boxed Water began a partnership with Ocean Blue Project in 2018, committing to clean 3,000 miles of beaches across the country.

Source: Boxed Water

Austin-based Waterloo was founded in 2017 and has quickly become one of the fastest-growing and largest independent sparkling water brands in the United States, with distribution in over 13,000 retail doors, including Whole Foods Market, Costco, Target, Kroger, Walmart, Publix, H-E-B/Central Market and others. The investment will provide Waterloo with additional operational resources, brand-building expertise, and capital to grow its business by accelerating its product and marketing innovation.

“We’re very proud of the company we’ve built so far, the distinct consumer appeal of our products and the tremendous support of our retail distribution network,” said Jason Shiver, CEO of Waterloo. “Choosing the best partners for Waterloo was critical to continuing our momentum and we’re confident that Flexis Capital, Eurazeo and JW Levin will provide deep brand-building experience and industry relationships that will be key to accelerating our growth, while Moore Strategic Ventures’ financial acumen will add firepower to our capabilities. We also want to thank our co-founding partners at CAVU Venture Partners for their support to date.”

As part of the transaction, Stephen Sadove will join Waterloo’s board as Non-executive Chairman and Jerry Levin will join as a Director. The two are Founding Partners of JW Levin Management Partners and have decades of operating and board experience in the consumer, beverage and retail industries.

“We’re extremely impressed with the brand that Jason and his team have built in less than three years,” said Stephen Sadove. “They are a sophisticated, experienced management team and have quickly established Waterloo as a best-in-category flavored sparkling water and a key beneficiary of consumers’ increasing demand for healthier alternatives to traditional soft drinks. We’re excited to work with this team to continue to strengthen the Waterloo brand and broaden its distribution.”

Louis Friedman, Managing Partner of Flexis Capital, added, “Jason Shiver and Jeff Arnold have a history of success developing category-leading brands, and are deploying a similar playbook at Waterloo as they executed to help grow SkinnyPop and Amplify Snack Brands and achieve a sale to Hershey for $1.6 billion. We’re incredibly excited to partner with them as the company embarks on its next stage of growth, tapping into new channels and reaching a broader audience across the U.S.”

Jill Granoff, CEO of Eurazeo Brands, said, “Sparkling water is a large and resilient category, with sales of $4 billion in the U.S. alone growing by double digits annually. Waterloo has experienced phenomenal growth and strong consumer loyalty since launching in 2017, and is well positioned to capture additional market share under the company’s impressive leadership. We look forward to joining forces with Flexis Capital, JW Levin and Moore Strategic Ventures, and partnering with Jason and his team to drive further success.”

Source: Waterloo Sparkling Water

Waterdrop Microdrinks come in various flavors, including Relax, Boost, Defence, Focus, Glow, Youth, Clean, Zen, Vibe, Nero, and Love. They are sold in 12-packs, with each serving of one cube ready to be dissolved in 400-600 ml of water. The ingredients include natural fruit and plant extracts, with various vitamins and minerals.

Youth Microdrink

We sampled the Youth Microdrink product, which comes in a compact white box with bright yellow and orange illustrations of the ingredients and flavors inside. Youth Waterdrop Microdrink contains Ginseng and Dandelion extract that is balanced with peach and ginger. Each serving contains Vitamin C, Niacin, Biotin, only 4 Kcal, and no sugar.

Upon adding the cube to the water, we noticed a unique and robust aroma with a hint of ginger and citrus. The first sip is sweet, followed by a hit of sourness. It reminded us a bit of the Vitamin C tablets sold over the counter at the pharmacy. Although this flavor wasn’t the most appealing to us, we are intrigued by the concept and excited to try the other flavors.

In addition to the Microdrinks, Waterdrop sells a variety of stylish bottles, sets, and accessories, all designed to make drinking water more fun and trendy.

Summary: We love the innovation and marketing behind Waterdrop. The company has found a way to rejuvenate and reignite excitement around water while also introducing an eco-friendly packaging alternative. The convenience, simple ingredients, and beautiful, smart packaging make Waterdrop an appealing addition to anyone’s daily routine. The Youth flavor was a little heavy on Vitamin C for our tastes, but it is just one of many Waterdrop flavors to try.

For more information visit Waterdrop’s website.

The Drifter Pack is inspired by the Drifter community, the group of brand fans who have rallied around Spindrift over the last several years. In true Spindrift spirit, the Drifter Pack is designed to be shared. Each pack bought on drinkspindrift.com is “buy one, gift one free” so the sparkling water tasting experience can be enjoyed together, safely from a distance, with friends and family across the country.

“We hear it all the time: ‘I’m obsessed with Lemon and Grapefruit, but I’ve never tried Strawberry or Half and Half.’ So it’s these curious, loyal fans who inspired us to create the Drifter Pack. This is a fun way for fans to try and share all our flavors while helping them discover a few new favorites,” shared Bill Creelman, founder and CEO of Spindrift.

To enhance the fun of trying all 11 different flavors, each Drifter Pack is equipped with a tasting guide to prompt discussion and considerations of aroma, color, tasting notes, mouthfeel and overall flavor. Spindrift hopes fans will share their flavor feedback so they can incorporate these opinions and learn from fans as the brand continues to innovate.

It may be ambitious to drink all 12 cans in a day (of course, it has been done), but once taste testers have sampled them all and found their favorites, Spindrift wants to hear about it. Share a photo with your favorite flavor, and tag @drinkspindrift on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Add the tag #DrifterFam to be entered to win a three-month supply of your favorite Spindrift flavor(s). Starting in August, three lucky winners will be randomly selected each month until December 31, 2020.

Source: Spindrift

Available now, Fruity Water is packaged in the first Tetra Pak carton with a paper straw in the U.S., and sold in packs of eight, twenty-four, and thirty-two. The packaging is vibrantly colored and features sassy fruit characters. The product comes in three kid-friendly flavor varieties – Apple, Watermelon and Tropical Twist – making it an exciting and flavorful hydration option for kids.

“As a mother of four, I know that teaching kids to love drinking water can be a challenge, and many children gravitate towards high calorie, sugar-sweetened beverages,” said Yumi Clevenger-Lee, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer of Nestlé Waters North America. “Parents not only want their kids to be healthy, but they also want them to be happy, which is why we’re excited to introduce a new flavored water designed specifically for kids that makes drinking water fun and more enjoyable.”

Teaching kids not only to consume less sugar, but also to drink more water, is critical to fighting obesity, which affects about 13.7 million U.S. children and adolescents aged 2-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This highlights the importance of water-based, versus sugar-sweetened beverage options for kids. Fruity Water makes water the ideal choice for every on-the-go occasion, from the classroom to field trips, backyard cookouts and family road trips, and helps parents keep their kids hydrated and happy.

“As part of our commitment to help Americans lead healthier lives, we are always listening to consumers and developing products to meet their needs for health and convenience,” said Clevenger-Lee. “One specific need parents shared with us was for a healthy drink that would fit in kids’ lunchboxes, which is why we are launching Nestlé Pure Life Fruity Water in a Tetra Pak.”

Fruity Water will be promoted through a digital and social media campaign launching this month. The campaign, appearing online and across social channels, aims to reach health-minded parents looking for innovative, convenient and zero-sugar options for their kids.

Source: Nestlé Waters North America