The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (WTER) Announces National A88CBD™ Topical Distribution through UNFI

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and CSE: WTER) (the “Company”), is a producer of premium bottled alkaline water, flavored-infused waters, and CBD infused products sold under the brand names Alkaline88®, A88 Infused™, and A88CBD™, respectively. The Company today announced that its entire line of hemp-derived A88CBD™ topicals is now being distributed nationwide through United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI).

“This is another major step in the expansion of our national lifestyle brand. The introduction of our entire line of A88CBD™ topicals to over 40,000 potential new retailers nationwide is fantastic. The CBD market is expected to be over $24 billion by 2024. This news is not only positive for our A88CBD™ brand but also our overall Company. To be added so early in a product cycle by a major distributor shows their confidence in our commitment to bring their customers high-quality products in the natural grocery channel. UNFI is a major player in the natural and organic food industry. Per UNFI’s Fiscal 2019 Form 10-K, they serve many of the same customers we do including Whole Foods, Kroger, Sprouts, Publix, and Shop-Rite. We hope many of our mutual customers will be early adopters of our A88CBD™ topicals,” said The Alkaline Water Company’s President and CEO, Richard A. Wright.

“UNFI’s customers can now purchase the following Alkaline88® lifestyle products: Alkaline88® waters, A88 Infused flavors, our eco-friendly aluminum bottle, and A88CBD™ topicals. Alkaline88® has created tremendous brand awareness with the country’s number one selling enhanced bulk water. As A88 gains traction with the health-conscious consumer, it is exciting to be part of such a great company surrounded by talented individuals and loyal customers. Our future is bright,” concluded Mr. Wright.

A88CBD^™’s extensive line of topical hemp-derived CBD products includes a Hydrating CBD Body Lotion, Hydrating CBD Hand + Foot Cream, along with CBD Bath Salts, CBD Muscle Salve, and more. A88CBD™’s full topical product line is crafted with lab-tested full-spectrum hemp and infused with high-quality natural ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil, and 100% natural essential oils.

UNFI distributes over 110,000 products to more than 43,000 customers shopping at natural supermarkets, small retail stores, and C-stores across the United States and Canada. A88CBD™’s topical offerings are all vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free, allowing them to fit into UNFI’s portfolio of distributed products.

A88CBD^™’s hemp topical product distribution through UNFI allows for in-store growth opportunities in natural retailers across the country and the ability to reach tens of thousands of new customers.

A88CBD™ Topical Product Portfolio:

• A88CBD™ Hydrating Body Lotion – Contains 100mg of high-quality, lab-tested full-spectrum hemp
• A88CBD™ Hydrating Hand + Foot Cream – Contains 100mg of high-quality, lab-tested full-spectrum hemp
• A88CBD™ Infused Lip Balm – Contains 25mg of high-quality, lab-tested full-spectrum hemp
• A88CBD™ Muscle Salve – Contains 500mg of high-quality, lab-tested full-spectrum hemp
• A88CBD™ Bath Salts – Contains 150mg of high-quality, lab-tested full-spectrum hemp
• A88CBD™ Infused Essential Oil – Contains 100mg of high-quality, lab-tested full-spectrum hemp

About UNFI

United Natural Foods, Inc. is the largest publicly traded wholesale distributor delivering healthier food options to people throughout the United States and Canada. UNFI distributes over 110,000 products to more than 43,000 customers, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, e-commerce retailers, and the foodservice industry. Their scale and unique infrastructure allow them to give retailers unparalleled access to a wide range of products. With 33 distribution centers across the US and Canada, they can provide more people with a wider range of natural and organic grocery, chill, specialty, pet, and personal care items. For more information on UNFI visit unfi.com

About The Alkaline Water Company

Founded in 2012, The Alkaline Water Company (NASDAQ and CSE: WTER) is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its flagship product, Alkaline88®, is a leading premier alkaline water brand available in bulk and single-serve sizes along with eco-friendly aluminum packaging options. With its innovative, state-of-the-art proprietary electrolysis process, Alkaline88® delivers perfect 8.8 pH balanced alkaline drinking water with trace minerals and electrolytes and boasts our trademarked label ‘Clean Beverage.’ Quickly being recognized as a growing lifestyle brand, Alkaline88® launched A88 Infused™ in 2019 to meet consumer demand for flavor-infused products. A88 Infused™ flavored water is available in seven unique all-natural flavors, with new flavors coming soon. Additionally, in 2020, the Company launched A88™ Infused Beverage Division Inc. which includes the Company’s CBD water and flavor-infused water. For the Company’s topical and ingestible offerings, A88™ Infused Products Inc. includes both the Company’s lab-tested full-spectrum hemp salves, balms, lotions, essential oils, and bath salts, along with broad-spectrum hemp beverage shots, powder packs, oil tinctures, capsules, and gummies.

To purchase A88CBD Infused™ products online, visit us at www.A88CBD.com. To learn more about The Alkaline Water Company, please visit www.thealkalinewaterco.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

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 CBD market is expected to be over $24 billion by 2024; that the Company hopes many of mutual customers of the Company and UNFI will be early adopters of the Company’s A88CBD™ topicals; and that A88CBD^™’s hemp topical product distribution through UNFI allows for in-store growth opportunities in natural retailers across the country and the ability to reach tens of thousands of new customers.

The material assumptions supporting these forward-looking statements include, among others, that the demand for the Company’s products will continue to significantly grow; that the past production capacity of the Company’s co-packing facilities can be maintained or increased; that there will be increased production capacity through implementation of new production facilities, new co-packers and new technology; that there will be an increase in number of products available for sale to retailers and consumers; that there will be an expansion in geographical areas by national retailers carrying the Company’s products; that there will be an expansion into new national and regional grocery retailers; that there will be an expansion into new e-commerce, home delivery, convenience, and healthy food channels; that there will not be interruptions on production of the Company’s products; that there will not be a recall of products due to unintended contamination or other adverse events relating to the Company’s products; and that the Company will be able to obtain additional capital to meet the Company’s growing demand and satisfy the capital expenditure requirements needed to increase production and support sales activity. 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, including products containing hemp/CBD; the fact that consumers may not embrace and purchase any of the Company’s CBD-infused products; the fact that the Company may not be permitted by the FDA or other regulatory authority to market or sell any of its CBD-infused 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; the 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 that 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; and 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 A. Wright
President and CEO, or

Sajid Daudi
Director of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
800-923-1910
investors@thealkalinewaterco.com

Media

Jessica Starman
888-461-2233
jessica@elev8newmedia.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/846c83ff-f883-400c-94ac-1345b9a555e3