Nestlé USA acquires functional water brand Essentia

Nestlé USA has acquired a premium functional water brand called Essentia Water (Essentia) for an undisclosed sum.

Headquartered in Bothell, Washington, US, Essentia has been in the ionised alkaline water business for more than 20 years.

The company said it ionises water using its proprietary process to deliver a “clean, smooth taste” and a pH of 9.5 or higher.

Last year, Essentia registered $192m in sales.

The deal is in line with Nestlé’s global water business transformation plan announced in June last year.

Through this acquisition, the company focuses on international premium and mineral water brands and healthy hydration products, such as functional water.

Essentia is now part of Nestlé USA’s premium waters portfolio, which also includes Perrier, S.Pellegrino, San Pellegrino, and Acqua Panna.

Nestlé USA chairman and CEO Steve Presley said: “With the addition of Essentia, we continue to transform and best position our water business for long-term profitable growth in the US and globally.

“We are excited to welcome the Essentia team to the Nestlé family as we expand our premium water portfolio.

“Essentia gives us an immediate strong presence in the high-growth, functional water segment and supports our efforts to capture opportunities with emerging consumer trends such as healthy hydration.”

Last month, Nestlé reached an agreement to divest its Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) brands for a consideration of $4.3bn to One Rock Capital Partners in partnership with Metropoulos & Co.

Nestlé will sell its regional spring water brands, purified water business and beverage delivery service in the US and Canada under the agreement.