• Incubator for Alkaline88® Brand Extension and Product Innovations

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (TSXV and OTCQB: WTER) (the “Company”), with products bottled under the trademark Alkaline88® that are available in over 40,000 retail locations across the U.S., including 39 of the Top 50 Grocers in the U.S., is pleased to announce the formation of A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc., a wholly owned Nevada corporation (“A88 Infused”). A88 Infused will focus on brand extension and product innovations in the healthful water category.

“We are excited to announce the launch of our new A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc. Our national success with Alkaline88® and expertise gained in the enhanced water segment makes A88 Infused a logical step in Alkaline88®’s brand evolution. We have partnered with industry leaders and experts to develop healthful products using the technology currently used by Alkaline88® as their foundation,” stated Richard A. Wright, President and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company Inc.

“Consumer demand for enhanced and functional beverages is at an all-time high. Over 83% of consumers want some sort of nutritional or functional benefit in their water. A88 Infused is capitalizing on this trend with the planned launch of four new products centered around growing trends in the beverage space. A88 Infused is uniquely positioned to dominate these emerging beverage markets through our already established nationwide footprint of Alkaline88®,” stated Richard A. Wright, President and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company Inc.

New Products Coming Soon to Market Will Include:

  • Hemp-derived CBD infused Alkaline88® water
  • Naturally Flavored Alkaline88® water
  • Natural Sparkling Alkaline88® water
  • Alkaline88® infused with Natural Vitamins and Minerals

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d70d94f-53ac-4d65-b54e-7beb91ef510b

“We expect these new products to be all natural and plant derived. Each of the four initial areas were chosen based on our current customer demand, consumer demand, and market potential. Each new product line is already in various stages of development. Management feels the formation of A88 Infused will hasten their speed to market while maintaining our momentum with our lead product, Alkaline88®. On October 17th of this year, CBD will be legal throughout all of Canada and is already legal in the U.S. We feel it is imperative that our hemp-derived CBD infused Alkaline88® water, along with each of the other products planned, be available for purchase throughout Canada and the U.S. We hope to be announcing many milestones over the next few months as we expand our brand offerings.  Each product line was chosen based on our belief that consumers will embrace an infused Alkaline88® healthful product line. A brief overview of our current vision is outlined below,” concluded Mr. Wright.

Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol (CBD) 10 mg Infused Alkaline88® Waters

Our hemp-derived CBD infused Alkaline88® water, which will be bottled in the 500 ml size with dosage of 10 mg of hemp-derived CBD per bottle, fits squarely within the growing CBD market trend. Throughout 2018 we have been investigating and analyzing beneficial partnerships in the Hemp based CBD market and have made great progress. The Hemp Business Journal projects that the worldwide CBD market will grow from $202 million last year to $2.1 billion by 2020, and Greenwave Advisors Matt Karnes believes that the worldwide CBD market will reach nearly $3 billion by 2021. Consumer interest in CBD has risen to all-time highs as researchers explore the potential medical benefit of cannabidiol.

Natural Flavored Alkaline88® Waters

Akaline88® has been working for over 12 months with a major flavor house to develop all-natural flavors for a late 2018 or early 2019 launch.  Flavored water is considered by many US consumers to be healthier than soft drinks, and contain less calories as compared to carbonated drinks and juices. According to Statista, 5.9 million US households will have flavored water drinks in 2018.  In addition, per a Beverage Marketing 2017 report, wholesale dollar sales of flavored water products increased from $10.3 million in 2006 to $58.3 million in 2016.  Growth rates have accelerated significantly in the past three years. The essence water segment is expected to double to $118 million in 2021.

Natural Sparkling Alkaline88® Waters

Alkaline88® has made it a company objective to become the first and best tasting natural sparkling alkaline water. From 2011 to 2016, carbonated water grew 70.4 percent by volume and flavored water grew 59.5 percent. During the same time period, still water grew only 29.9 percent, while sweetened beverages, like soda, declined 8 percent by volume. Nearly 574 million gallons of sparkling water — $6.1 billion worth — were sold in the U.S. in 2016, the last full year of data, according to Beverage Marketing. And that figure was expected to reach 790 million gallons and more than $8.5 million in 2017, compared to just 263 million gallons and $2.6 billion in 2011.

Alkaline88® infused with natural vitamins and minerals

Per Statista, consumer preferences in water includes not only flavor and sparkling but also natural and GMO free. Alkaline88® has been exploring various water-soluble plant derived vitamins and minerals as a way to deliver the benefits of vitamins and minerals within a water beverage. Our primary focus so far has been directed towards natural vitamin combinations that support energy and vitamin B-12 infusions. We believe that each of the above categories and certain stand-alone products can be developed with the exciting emerging technologies and will allow us to be leaders in this emerging trend.

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (TSXV and OTCQB: WTER) has developed an innovative, state-of-the-art, proprietary electrolysis process that produces healthy alkaline water for a balanced lifestyle. The Company is focused on the business of distributing and marketing for retail sale of its cost-effectively packaged Alkaline88® water beverage products. Visit: www.thealkalinewaterco.com.

About Alkaline Water Products

Alkaline88® is a premier 8.8 pH balanced bottled alkaline drinking water enhanced with trace minerals and electrolytes. The product offers consumers the unique opportunity to purchase alkaline water in conveniently packaged 500-milliliter, 700-milliliter, 1-liter, 1.5-liter, 3-liter and 1-gallon sizes. The Alkaline Water Company Inc. is currently in the midst of a national mass-market expansion program, where the product is already available for consumer sales at a growing number of major retail locations across many parts of the United States. Learn more about the science behind alkaline water by visiting www.thealkalinewaterco.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 the Company will dominate the emerging beverage market with the launch of their new products; that consumers will embrace an infused Alkaline88 healthful product line; and that the Company can develop new products to be leaders in the emerging trend of enhanced water products.

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; that 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 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; 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.

The Alkaline Water Company Inc.

Richard Wright

President and CEO

480-656-2423

investors@thealkalinewaterco.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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