The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (WTER) (WTER.V) Continues Expansion of Convenience Channel With Premier National Food Distributors

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and TSXV: WTER)(the “Company”), a leading producer of premium bottled alkaline drinking water sold under the brand name Alkaline88^®, today announced that it has entered into a new agreement with Premier National Food Distributors (Premier DSD®). Premier DSD has over 25 years of distribution experience and a nationwide network of over 1,000 direct store delivery (DSD) routes.

Premier DSD strengthens the Company’s presence in the convenience store channel, specifically in the Northeast market, including New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Jersey.  Premier DSD has extensive reach, with thousands of retail and food service customers. The agreement is expected to have a major impact on the Company’s direct store delivery and on-shelf availability in these key markets. The convenience store channel is an important one that has been growing rapidly. Specifically, sales of bottled water in convenience stores reached almost $4.3 billion in 2017, according to market research firm IRI. To learn more about Premier DSD, please click the following link: https://premierdsd.com/.

“This agreement is another important step in our commitment to DSD and convenience. It strengthens our DSD distribution in the Northeast, which complements our growing presence in grocery in this important territory,” said Richard A. Wright, President and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company Inc. “As we continue to gain shelf-space in this territory and others, we fully intend to introduce new products in these important regions, including our flavored and hemp infused brand Soothe™,” concluded Mr. Wright.

The Company intends to comply in full with all federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations as the Company develops its hemp extract alkaline water and other product lines. The Company will not pursue the commercial production or sale of hemp extract-infused products until legally permitted.  The Company is closely watching and responding to all regulatory developments within the FDA and in each individual U.S. state, and plans to launch its Soothe brand accordingly.

About The Alkaline Water Company Inc. 

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and TSXV: WTER) is a leading producer of premium bottled alkaline drinking water sold under the brand name Alkaline88^®. With its innovative, state-of-the-art proprietary electrolysis process, the Company produces healthy, all-natural and great-tasting alkaline water for a balanced lifestyle. Founded in 2012, the Company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and focuses on national distribution and marketing for retail sale of Alkaline88^®, one of the fastest-growing premium bottled water brands on the market. To learn more about The Alkaline Water Company, please visit www.thealkalinewaterco.com or connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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 agreement with Premier DSD is expected to have a major impact on the Company’s direct store delivery and on-shelf availability in the Northeast market; and that as the Company continues to gain shelf-space in the Northeast market and others, the Company fully intends to introduce new products in these important regions, including the Company’s flavored and hemp infused brand Soothe.

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 the Company will receive all necessary regulatory approvals for the production and sale of hemp-infused water; 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; the fact that consumers may not embrace and purchase any of the Company’s infused water products; the fact that the Company may not be permitted by the FDA or other regulatory authority to market or sell any of its hemp-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.

James Gilmore
Investor Relations
480-656-2423
james@alkaline88.com

Richard A. Wright
President and CEO
480-656-2423
investors@thealkalinewaterco.com

Media

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