23 May 2008 - The UK press reports that Coca-Cola's flavoured, vitamin-enhanced water drink "Glaceau Vitaminwater" was launched in London on Monday. The launch marks the brand's first entry into Europe since it was acquired by Coca-Cola in May 2007 for USD 4.2 billion.
In March, Cathryn Sleight, Marketing Director of Coca-Cola Great Britain said: "We are very excited about giving people in Britain the chance to drink this fantastic and great-tasting product this summer. We believe that GLACÉAU vitaminwater is a very special brand and will be as popular here, as it has become in the US since it was launched eight years ago."
In the UK market, Glaceau Vitaminwater comes in 6 flavours and costs GBP 1.69 for a 500ml bottle.
The Coca-Cola Company's previous water drink launch in the UK was in 2004.
The company introduced its popular Dasani brand. However, food safety authorities found a concentration of bromate in the water that could be considered harmful if consumed in large quantities, which led to Coca-Cola recalling approximately 500,000 bottles and pulling Dasani from the UK market in March 2004.
Dasani was the best-selling bottled water brand in the US in 2007 with wholesale dollars sales of USD 1.6 billion – in other words 13.9% of US bottled water sales last year, reported FLEXNEWS.
