Designer Water

High-end water bottle pays homage to art deco

2011-06-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

High-end water bottle pays homage to art deco

June 15, 2011 2:08 PM

posted in: water media | innovative media | water brands

Published in Packaging World Magazine, September 2007 , p. 149 Written by Kassandra Kania, Contributing Editor
(view full article on: Packaging World: News, Trends and Innovations)

AquaDeco overcomes glass bottle manufacturing and filling challenges using a bottle design the founder created before the company even started.

Which comes first: the product or its packaging? Usually it’s the product, but in the case of start-up beverage company AquaDeco, the bottle for its imported water came before the company even started. Arnold Gumowitz, a real estate businessman and art collector with a penchant for art deco buildings, sketched a bottle with an art deco structural shape and offered his design to a gin company. The company turned it down but suggested he use the bottle for water instead. Gumowitz liked the idea, and in 2004 he started AquaDeco, a company that sells bottled water imported from Muskoka Natural Spring Water, Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. To bring Gumowitz’ sketches to life, New York, NY-based AquaDeco worked with Flowdesign (www.flow-design.com). The 750-ml bottle stands tall, resembling an art deco building with fanned out fins that taper down to a stair-stepped base. Flowdesign also designed a brand name logo, which is silver hot-stamped on a clear, 2-mil, pressure-sensitive film label on the front of the bottle. The 2-mil clear film labels are supplied by WS Packaging Group (www.wspackaging.com). The rear label is six-color UV flexo-printed on both sides. The outside back label contains text while the inside back label shows a mountain image surrounded by a blue glow that is visible when viewed through the front label panel. Once the design was complete, AquaDeco had a new challenge on its hands: finding a company technically capable—and willing—to make the bottle. “We looked in India, China, and Czechoslovakia for someone to produce it cost effectively,” says Evan Cooper, vp of operations. “They couldn’t produce it because of the design. It’s so heavy, and because it’s wide at the top and tapers down to the base, there was a lot of glass on the upper part of the bottle.” The company had molds made and samples run, but each time the bottles collapsed into the base as soon as they were removed from the machine. “The other problem,” says Cooper, “was the quality of the glass. A lot of the samples out of China and India were greenish and dirty looking,” he says. “They didn’t evoke images of pristine water.” Finally, AquaDeco found a company called Steklarna Hrastnik (www.steklarnahrastnik.si/opal/en) in Slovenia, known for producing one of the clearest glasses in the world, according to Cooper. “The Slovenians were able to come up with the optimal wall thickness and weight of glass,” he says. Once AquaDeco had its bottles, the next challenge was filling them. “We approached co-packers, but they weren’t willing to modify their lines for this bottle,” says Cooper. “We also approached manufacturers of filling lines. They took a look at the bottle and said it wasn’t worth it to come up with modifications to their lines.” Eventually, the company found Filler Specialties (www.filler-specialties.com) willing to produce a line to fill the bottles. The filler/capper is a GWFS-93 nine-head, three-capper monobloc. Filler Specialties produced bottle-handling change parts and provided a rinser from McBrady Engineering (www.mcbradyengineering.com) as well as a conveyor system. The bottle’s rectangular shape makes it difficult to fill, so the line has to be run at a slow speed. “We’re looking to rollouts of about 50,000 bottles a month, until we can find a line to run it at production speeds,” says Cooper. Filler Specialties integrated labeling equipment from WS Packaging Group to apply the labels to the bottles. The bottle’s plastic and chrome-plated decorative cap was custom-designed in China and manually popped over a standard tamper-evident plastic cap from O-I (www.o-i.com). “During filling, no one could put on and torque the overcap,” says Cooper, “so we decided instead of modifying the capping equipment, we’d go with a standard plastic top for a glass neck bottle.” The decorative overcap is slightly flared at the base so when turned, the tamper-evident band is broken. In February 2007, the bottle won a gold medal at the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting show. The retail price for the water is approximately $6 to $8 per bottle. It is sold by distributors such as Southern Wine and Bev Max.

Suppliers MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
O-I Toledo, OH 419/247-7265 Profile | www.o-i.com
W/S Packaging Green Bay, WI 800/340-3424 ext. 6231 Profile | www.wspackaging.com
Filler Specialties Inc. Zeeland, MI 616-772-9235 Profile |
Flowdesign, Inc. Northville, MI 248/349-7520 Profile | www.flow-design.com

capper, filler, bottle, base, molds, label panel, aquadeco, glass, line, production, copacker, manufacturer, images, pressure sensitive, flexo, rinser, monobloc, change parts, conveyor, torque

Boreal Water Private Label Sample

2011-03-04T07:38:00.001-08:00

Boreal Water Private Label Sample a photo by www.borealwater.com on Flickr.

Pairing Chocolates with Spring Waters

2011-01-11T06:31:00.000-08:00

In Mexico hot chocolate is made with water, not milk.* Water is brought to a boil and chocolate is added to the hot water. A person in a state of sexual excitement is said to be “like water for chocolate” (now you understand the title of the movie).
*Mexicans are not the only people who mix water and chocolate. French-born Maribel Lieberman of New York’s Marie Belle Chocolates, and Michael Recchiuti San Francisco—two of America’s finest chocolatiers—direct customers to mix their costly hot chocolate mixes ($25.00 a tin) with water, not milk.

The Mayans and subsequently the Aztecs were the first to recognize the potency of chocolate. Montezuma reportedly drank 50 cups of chocolate each day to better serve his harem of 500 women. Seventeenth-century church officials deemed it sinful to partake of chocolate. Chocolate contains among other things phenylethylamine, or PEA. This is the very same molecule that courses through the veins of those in love. Combine our internal stores of this natural amphetamine with chocolate, and it can only heighten “those loving feelings.”

Like Water With Chocolate?

As you plan your loving repast for Valentine’s Day, water is usually not the beverage that comes to mind when one thinks of what to have with chocolate but...might water be the right beverage to enjoy with your box of Valentine’s Day chocolate? During this season of love, what is the right water to drink with chocolate and chocolate deserts?

In the annals of food pairing, some people think that big, bold red wines are the perfect match for chocolate and chocolate desserts. According to Chris Meeske, former sommelier and wine director for the Patina Group in Los Angeles, this thinking is “totally wrong.” Meeske points out that “while there are very few rules for matching wine with food, wine should always be sweeter than the food.”

Chris is on a mission to educate consumers and he explains that “the texture of the chocolate coats the mouth and leaves dry red wines tasting metallic.” The main reason people think that red wines match with chocolate come from the conventional progression of wines through dinner. Usually light white wines are served with appetizers, and the wines progress to bigger reds as the courses continue. By the time desert is served, big red wines are called for to match with the chocolate.

So, we decided to apply this thinking to pairing chocolate with fine, bottled water.

Pairing Water With Chocolate

We set up an experimental tasting with dark chocolates, which have a cacao content of 50% to 85% (chocolates also are made at 99% and 100% cacao, but they lack the sugar to make them palatable to most people. For an explanation of the different percentages of cacao, click here.) It may help if you click to open up another browser window to the FineWaters Balance™ scale, so you can follow along with the categories of water.

We started with a soft, almost sweet still water and progressed through the FineWaters Balance with Effervescent, Light Classic and Bold-designated waters.

First, we concluded that a water in the Still category is not the optimal match for chocolate. These waters include Evian, Fiji, Panna, Vittel, Volvic, Spa, Boreal Water and Trinity, among others.

A sparkling water Light or Effervescent category is a much better choice. The light bubbles of the sparking water cut through the chocolate without disturbing the sensation of the chocolate. They are surprisingly delightful with the chocolate, and our choice for matching water with chocolate and chocolate desserts. These waters include Badoit, Borsec, Ferrarelle, Gleneagles, Highland Spring, Sanfaustino, and Voss, among others, in the Effervescent category; and Daggio, Saint-Elie, Galvanina, Ramlosa and Sole, among others, in the Light category.

Waters in the Classic or Bold categories create too much of a distraction to be considered good matches. Nevertheless, we noticed that waters with a FineWaters Balance™ of Classic match very well with chocolate that contains nuts, as the water creates a nice dialogue with the crunchy mouthfeel of the chocolate. These waters include Apollinaris, Fiuggi, Gerolsteiner, Lurisia, and San Pellegrino, among others.

We also sampled white chocolate, which is made with cocoa butter, sugar, milk powder and vanilla, with no cocoa solids. The same rules for matching white chocolate and water do seem to apply.

Treat your Valentine and yourself to a tasting. Make yourself comfortable on the couch (or set up a formal tasting at the dining table, if you prefer), and explore the subtle differences the right water can make in enjoying an ancient aphrodisiac.

We suggest that rather conduct this initial test with the Pierre Marcolini or Richart bonbons, where the subtly infused ganaches should be contemplated on their own merit, you conduct the test with bars of fine chocolate: Chocolove, Dagoba, El Rey, Michel Cluizel, Santander, Scharffen Berger, Valrhona, those made by your local chocolatier, or whatever the experts at your local chocolate boutique suggest. If you want bars filled with nuts, fruit, cookies, caramel, and excitement, we personally flip for the bars at Coco’s Chocolate Dreams.

You may wish to reserve the expensive box of bonbons for another occasion and conduct your tasting with plain bars. That’s because the creamy centers of the bonbons— raspberry, caramel, mint, praline, spiced ganaches, et al—will get in the way of comparing the match between water and chocolate.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Water for the Table? Top Ten Bottled Water Brands.

2011-01-10T12:15:00.001-08:00

I love a fine glass of water with my meal. Yes, I said water. Don't get me wrong, for a festive celebration, champagne, prosecco and wine is fabulous. But pair my meal with an exceptional glass of bottled water and I am a very happy (and hydrated) girl.

Water Obsessed. Not only do I love bottled water, but I am a bit obsessed with different brands, mineral analysis, source and differing PH levels. Even though all bottled water looks about the same, the chemical analysis and source origins will reveal a wide variety of differences in taste and health properties. Every time I go out to eat I request "sparkling" water for the table, not really because I want to pay $10 for a $3 bottle, but because I love discovering new brands of bottled water. I always say, you can judge a restaurant by the bottled water they serve. A good example: Delano in South Beach (one of my fave hotels ever) always serves VOSS water, one of my bottled water faves. Check out the rest of my top ten list...

My water preferences. Everyone will crave different qualities in a bottled water. Here are my basic preferences:

Still or sparkling: sparkling with meals.

Minerality: high in minerals (for health of course).

Source Origin: Anywhere as long as it is pure, natural and from a 'deep' source.

Glass or Plastic Bottle: Glass. Duh.

With lemon or Without: With. But not always.

PH Level: Highest possible! I want water that is low in acidity.

Kathy's Top Ten Bottled Water Brands (Suitable for Dining)

*in no particular order

1. VOSS Water - Norway est. April 2000I adore VOSS water. It always tastes amazing and it gives me happy memories of chugging it all day long at the Delano hotel in South Beach. VOSS in the glass bottle is best. But the glass vs. plastic can sometimes be twice as expensive. VOSS comes in sparkling or still. Both versions are divine.

From FineWaters.com: "VOSS Artesian Water is amongst the purest waters in the world. Taken from a virgin aquifer shielded for centuries under ice and rock in the untouched wilderness of central Norway."

2. Sanfaustino - ItalyI adore Sanfaustino. It is naturally lightly effervescent. So for those of you who like bubbles, but just a little, Sanfaustino is for you. My favorite thing about Sanfaustino is that it is a very good source of calcium! Calcium from water? You have to be impressed with that. Fast Fact: "Eight glasses of refreshing, all-natural Sanfaustino provides 80 percent of the adult calcium RDA. And Sanfaustino is sodium free."

3. San Pellegrino - Italy est. 1899

OK, so San Pel is a bit mainstream, but really it's delicious and high quality all the way. You can find it just about anywhere, so bottled water cravers can indulge at a pizza place or even while fine dining. You can even find it in the fridge at most drug stores. While it's not my fave in terms of exoticness, San Pel is classic sparkling bottled water. For best taste, buy it in the glass bottle, not plastic.

4. Eternal - New Zealand est. 2005Eternal is a newer bottled water. Established in 2005. But the actual water is very very very old. It is still, not sparkling. I have tried it a few times and love it. Not a big fan of plastic bottles, but check out this Fast Fact...

FineWaters.com: "Eternal Artesian water has been carbon dated at over 50,000 years old. This is because the bore is extremely deep and taps into the oldest part of the Aquifer. The water that you are drinking fell from the sky long before modern humans were around and pollution existed. Eternal Artesian Water is high in bicarbonates and has a natural pH of 8.0 making it the perfect alkaline water to help balance your body’s Ph."

5. Gerolsteiner - Germany est. 1888Gerolsteiner is my favorite German sparkling water, and maybe even my overall fave sparkling water from overseas! I love that I can always find this exotic high quality water at my local Trader Joe's. Very sparkling. Fizzy. Yum.

FineWaters.com says: "The closest thing to taking mineral supplements in a naturally-occurring water; Since 1888, a famed health tonic, naturally carbonated."

6. Saratoga - USA est. 1872I try to be local. And this is one of the more local waters on my list. Bottled in upstate New York in Saratoga Springs, Saratoga is the water in that flashy blue bottle. Still or sparkling available. Fresh, crisp, delish. (And for me, local)

FineWaters.com says: "In the 14th Century the Iroquois Indians discovered the therapeutic value of Saratoga Springs. In 1872 the first Saratoga Springs bottling plant was opened on the same site on which it is still bottled today."

7. Penta - USAPenta was once known as 'the oxygen water'. And there was some controversy about 'oxygen-infused' waters. Well Penta is really not about oxygen-infusion, in my view, it is about the intensive purification systen the water goes through. This still water product is incredibly pure.

FineWaters.com says: "Penta water is natural and pure - free of chlorine, fluoride, bromate, arsenic, MTBE, and hundreds of other chemicals found in some tap water (see Contents). Using a proprietary, patent-pending process, Penta water is cleaned, processed and stabilized for absolute safety without the use of chemicals or additives."

8. Calistoga - USA est. 1924This is a sentimental fave for me. I frequently visited the small spa town of Calistoga as a kid growing up in California. I love that little town, with its NAPA Valley style (and close proximity). Calistoga is dotted with many casual mini spa hotels featuring pools of the hot mineral sprigs water. Bathing in Calistoga water? Yes please! And the water is divine to drink. Not the same water you've bathed in mind you. :) Nice mineral analysis as well.

FineWaters.com says: "Geothermal rock strata give Calistoga Sparkling Mineral Water its own mineral base. Not only does Calistoga® Brand Sparkling Mineral Water help restore a fluid base, but its minerals add a distinctive, refreshing taste."

9. Volvic - FranceI love Volvic as a sippable still water. No fancy packaging, just a clean fresh taste. Totally explosive purity-maybe because it comes from ancient volcanos.

FineWaters.com says: "Volvic is drawn from a huge underground reserve in the heart of the volcanic range and bottled immediately without any contact with the outside world."

10. eVamor - USAI love this still water because it has such a low acidity/high pH of 9. Fabulous for drinking all day long or at my meal. I wish they had a glas bottle version! eVamor even claims to assist with weight/fat loss. But I wouldn't go that far, I prefer the science that is cold stone: the low acidity level. Awesome. Features: "Ancient Artesian water; Uncontaminated by surface waters; Naturally high Alkaline pH of 9; Antioxidants and essential trace minerals; Great tasting."

Have you Tried This Water? Perusing the FineWaters.com website I found a few bottled waters that I am just dying to try. Have you seen or tried any of these??? They sound fantastic:

1. Staatl. Fachingen - Germany"To this day, Staatl. Fachingen is one of few nationally distributed and most-known mineral water brands in Germany. Due to its unique combination of mineral nutrients and its high concentration of hydrogen carbonate (higher than 1.800 mg/l), it has a positive influence on the natural sensitive acid-base balance of the body. Its basic character helps to neutralize acids in the body and stomach and thus contributes to a daily well-being."

2. Ferrarelle - Naples, ItalyFineWaters says: "Source dates pre-Roman; From Southern Italy mountains, Val D'Assano, inland from Naples; Devotees drink nothing else; high minerals."

3. Penguin Ice - CanadaWith the adorable bottle with a little penguin on frosted glass, how could anyone resist trying this water?

4. Wattwiller - France

100% nitrate free. (most bottled waters contain very trace amounts of nitrate.) This ancient pure water must be fantastic!

Water Sites I Love:

http://www.finewaters.com/

http://www.borealwater.com/

***ALWAYS RECYCLE YOUR BOTTLES***

Saint-Élie sponsors "FROM QUEBEC IN NEW YORK CITY" a showcase of trend-setting products designed in Quebec

2010-09-27T11:07:00.001-07:00

/// WHAT

A three-week long showcase of trend-setting products designed in Quebec, including home furnishings, tableware and wine accessories, fashion, children’s toys and even pet products. FROM QUEBEC – In New York City brings together the most talented Quebec designers for this one-time only gallery-boutique. It is a unique opportunity for designers, interior decorators, architects, retailers as well as collectors and the general public to see a wide range of innovative products and design ideas Quebec has to offer. Limited quantities of the featured designs are available for purchase at Relative Space during the showcase.

/// WHEN

For three weeks only, September 29th through October 22nd, 2010.

Opening day: September 29th. By invitation only.

Exclusive sneak preview for the press, 5 pm to 6 pm.

To inquire, contact us

To the Trade day: September 30th. By appointment only.

9:30 am to 3 pm

To inquire, contact us

To the public: October 1st until October 20th, 2010. Products are available for sale.

/// WHERE

RelativeSpace

2 Bond Street, between Broadway and Lafayette

New York City / Map it

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm

/// WHO

/ The Québec Government Office in New York

The Québec Government Office in New York is Québec’s principal representation in the United States. Its mission is to promote cooperation and foster relations between Québec and the United States while providing more opportunities to learn about Québec. It also acts as a trade promotion agency to open new markets for Québec’s goods and services while encouraging business investment in Québec.

Quebec Government Office

One Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 2600 / New York, NY 10020

T:212.843.0950 / www.quebecusa.org

Contact: Paul Dallaire / Paul.dallaire@mri.gouv.qc.ca

For more information visit http://www.saintelie.com/ or http://www.from-quebec.com/

Boreal Water "the Haute Couture" of Private Label H2O

2010-08-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, an idea comes along that is so simple, so startlingly new and fresh that it renders everything before it almost instantly obsolete.

http://www.borealwater.com/

Boreal Water Private Label Sample

2010-08-13T08:45:00.001-07:00

Boreal Water Private Label Sample
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/borealwater/

Boreal Water Private Label Sample

2010-08-13T08:18:00.003-07:00

Boreal Water Private Label Sample
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/borealwater/

Boreal Water Private Label Sample

2010-08-13T08:18:00.001-07:00

Boreal Water Private Label Sample
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/borealwater/

BevNET.com: Boreal Water Collection Will Become The Exclusive Bottler for Athlade Sports Water 500

2010-08-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

BevNET.com: Boreal Water Collection Will Become The Exclusive Bottler for Athlade Sports Water 500

Boreal Water Biodegradable Bottle

2010-07-27T06:46:00.001-07:00

Boreal Water Biodegradable Bottle
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/borealwater/

Boreal Water Biodegradable Bottle with EcoPure technology - a process which allows the bottle to be consumed in the environment, turning plastic into rich soil. EcoPure is made of 100% organic material.

Buzzworthy Designer Water: Bling H2O

2010-07-26T10:29:00.001-07:00

bling-h2o
Originally uploaded by bbaunach

Designer H2O

2010-07-26T10:09:00.001-07:00

Designer H2O
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/borealwater/

Examples of superior quality, craftsmanship & design

Branding Water - water logos

2010-07-26T10:06:00.001-07:00

Branding Water - water logos
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/borealwater/

Private label bottled water is a powerful, effective advertising tool and private label bottled water is a cost effective way to promote a consumer brand. It is an important element of any effective consumer advertising effort.

Buzzworthy Designer Water: Sapphire

2010-07-20T19:47:00.000-07:00

Buzzworthy Designer Water: Evian

2010-07-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

Quality Private Label Bottled Water is the Key to Cost Effective Advertising

2010-07-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

A classic advertising comment talks about half of the advertising budget is wasted but management can’t figure out which half.

This is even more relevant today as advertising costs skyrocket and companies often have to invest in advertising campaigns in order to achieve a return on their investment. This only increases the amount of advertising risk.

For those firms dealing with consumers there is a low cost, high impact form of advertising that is becoming increasingly popular. This is private labeled bottled water where a custom label with a focused and persuasive message is added to a high quality bottle of water creates word of mouth advertising at a low cost per bottle.
As an alternative or cost effective compliment to a larger advertising campaign, the use of private label bottled water advertising is a key to cost effective advertising.

Private labeled bottler water has many advantages and benefits:

Promote your own brand in the growing water advertising market.
Create word of mouth advertising that can distinguish your brand from the competition .
Bottled Water is the fastest growing beverage today. Carbonated soft drinks are losing market share to more healthy alternative like natural spring water. Bottled water has surpassed soft drinks in overall consumption. Benefit from this growing demand and add an advertising message.
Advertise upcoming events, Advertise at corporate events , promote coupons, seasonal greetings, grand openings, political campaigns etc… on the label.

The average length of time a bottle of water is in front of a consumer is over three (3) hours. These bottles are very portable and will sit on desks, in cars, on kitchen counters, for hours, days, even weeks advertising your business.

Private label bottled water is great for public relations at charitable and other events.
Private label bottled water is a profitable sale. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for natural spring water and margins are very high for consumer sales.

The key to effective private label advertising however, is quality in terms of product, message, labels and bottles.

Sparkling Natural Spring Water recommended by many chefs

2010-07-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Industry News: Les Sources Saint-Elie won two Superior Taste Awards for its natural spring water and for its sparkling natural spring water

On May 29, Les Sources Saint-Élie inc. won two prestigious Superior Taste Awards with 2 stars from The International Taste and Quality Institute (iTQi) from Brussels, Belgium. The official award ceremony took place in Brussels, Belgium. The international recognition is a coup for this small Québec natural spring source, as the tough judging panel is made up of some of Europe’s leading chefs and sommeliers. The blind test centered around five criteria: visual aspect, aroma, taste, texture and overall assessment.

iiTQi is an independent Chef and Sommelier based organization dedicated to judging and honoring superior tasting food and beverages. Products are evaluated by panels of renowned European Chefs and Sommeliers, member of the 12 most prestigious European culinary organizations such as the Academy of Culinary Arts,

Maitres Cuisiniers de France, Verband der Köche Deutschlands, Association de la Sommellerie Internationale and includes more than 50 European Chefs and taste experts. For the tasting, iTQi presented each product on a strictly blind basis while focusing on the intensity of pleasure during the degustation. (Photo: Francine Lavoie, President of Sources Saint-Élie with some members of the jury BRUSSEL, BELGIUM – MAY 29)