PURE AND PRECIOUS
Tucked away in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), buried beneath Table Mountain sandstone, flows aQuellé's exceptionally pure and precious spring water. The water is drawn from an underground spring. Undisturbed and unpolluted. Nature's gift.
BOTTLING PLANT
Due to the incredible increase in the demand for aQuellé, it has been necessary to continuously expand the bottling plant and transport facilities. The plant has expanded froma mere 280 square meters in 1998 to 10 000 squaremeters to date. The latest extension of 5000 squaremeters was completed in 2007. Numerous advanced machines have been installed including a new filler,mixing system, blow-moulder and palletizer.
To prevent contamination of the natural spring water, boreholes have been sunk from which the water is pumped to the adjacent bottling plant where it is filtered with a unique filtration system to ensure the highest level of purity.
In the bottling plant, aQuellé makes use of unscramblers and airveyors to eliminate contamination of the packaging. All bottles and caps are rinsed with filtered, ozonated water. The aQuellé product is flavoured, carbonated and bottled in a completely sterile environment. The plant is equipped with the latest filling technology. Flow-meter technology is used to avoid cross-contamination of product. In addition, all filling stations are located in laminar-flow.
For each variant, aQuellé has a matching coloured cap with the trademark 'Q' engraved onto it - not only attractive on shelf, but helps you recognize your favourite flavour right away!
After being labeled and shrink-wrapped, the product is palletized and ready for distribution to all aQuellé's customers across South Africa.
HISTORY
From being a local beverage player in KZN, aQuellé has grown to become a leading brand in the bottled water category in South Africa.
The aQuellé flavoured range is available in 500ml and 1.5L in eight variants -Naartjie, Litchi,Marula, Lemon, Strawberry, Honey Melon, Peach Lite and Youngberry Lite. The Still natural spring water range is bottled in 500ml, 750ml with flip-top cap, 1.5L and 5L and the Sparkling natural spring water in 500ml and 1.5L. aQuellé also has amega thirst quencher, the 5L - economical and conveniently fitted with a comfortable handle.
aQuellé's Still Flavoured range was launched in summer 2009. The chic new bottle sets the tone for the three exciting flavours of delectable Orange, succulent Raspberry and crispy Apple. All are enriched with added vitamins to guarantee your day gets that extra boost. The range is available in thirst-quenching 500ml bottles.
EMPLOYEES
The majority of the people employed at the plant come out of the local community. Management ensures workers are trained in the fields of machine operations, quality control and good manufacturing processes on an ongoing basis. Employees are provided with the opportunity to further their knowledge and expertise by attending advanced courses. In addition, aQuellé provides bursaries for tertiary education to its employees.
MARKETING
aQuellé's presence and affiliation with major sporting events has always been an important part of its brand building strategy. Each year the company actively supports outdoor events all over the country. Through this participation, aQuellé promotes a fun, wholesome lifestyle and allows thousands of competitors to enjoy an ice-cold aQuellé on the ideal occasion.
Major sponsorships aQuellé is involved in are:
aQuellé Mudman Series (aQuellé, along with four KZN schools, plays hosts to the exciting off-road multisport adventure racing, primarily aimed as a fundraiser for the hosting schools).
aQuellé Spar Knockout Soccer Tournament (The aim of this sponsorship is to involve the community in promoting and developing amateur soccer in KwaZulu-Natal.)
Other sponsorships include, to name just a few ,Karkloof MTB Challenge, Illovo Eston MTB Challenge, Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk, aQuellé Endurocross, Sani 2 C and strong support of local schools, communities and upliftment projects.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
aQuellé is a community based organization that has the interests if its people at heart. The company is involved in a broad spectrum of community projects including the support of a HIV/Aids care center, a local feeding scheme for orphaned children and bursaries to dozens of school children in the area. aQuellé also provides fresh drinking water to the local community.
ENVIRONMENT
aQuellé's state-of-the-art equipment fromworld leaders in the beverage industry ensures that the plant operates with efficient machinery, thereby saving electricity and water. aQuellé blows its customized 500ml carbonated range bottles in-house, eliminating transporting of blown bottles and consequently reducing the carbon footprint. In addition, the modern fleet of trucks is carefully maintained to uphold safety standards and achieve optimum fuel efficiency; backhaul loads are also arranged to optimise operations. aQuellé subscribes to SANBWA's environmental standards which support recycling initiatives
such as those initiated by PETCO whereby a cash contribution is made to PETCO for each PET bottle purchased by aQuellé. Furthermore, any waste PET in the bottling plant is ground and sent to recyclers for re-use.
THE FUTURE
aQuellé constantly focuses on ensuring its long term sustainability.
Various initiatives are in place to achieve this:
Constantly monitoring the local and international markets to keep abreast with trends, innovation and consumer preferences.
Ongoing research and development is a key component of the company.
Investigating the possibilities of establishing a PET recycling initiative with the local community.
Ongoing community involvement and upliftment projects.
Finding locally manufactured ingredients to substitute imports.
Full Name of Company: Ekhamanzi Springs (Pty) Ltd t/a aQuellé Industry Sector: Manufacturing Services / Products: Bottled water Date Established: 1998 Auditors / Accountants: Myburg & Smith Bankers: ABSA, Standard Bank Advertising Agency: TBWA
KEY PERSONNEL Managing Director: Arno Stegen General Manager: Ruth Combrink Plant Manager: Nico Bosman Human Resources: Themba Skhakhane Marketing Manager: Suzelle Stegen Warehouse Manager: Gladson Songelwa
CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: Silverstream Farm, Kranskop, South Africa Postal Address: Private Bag 260,Kranskop,3268,KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Tel: +27 (0)32 481 5005 Fax: +27 (0)32 481 5006 E-mail: mail@aquelle.co.za Website:http://www.aquelle.co.za
