Plenty of fizz left

CCHBC, the Greek-based Coca-Cola bottler, has continued its rapid expansion into the bottled water sector with the purchase of Austria's Romerquelle group for an undisclosed sum.

Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), the Greek Coke bottler with operations throughout much of central and eastern Europe, has added the Austrian bottled water group Romerquelle to its portfolio.

The acquisition, which is subject to approval by the regulatory authorities, involves production facilities at Edelstal and Pottsching and the mineral water and wellness brands Romerquelle and Markusquelle.

The price paid was not disclosed.

Irial Finan, managing director of CCHBC, said that the acquisition would reinforce the company's existing operations in Austria, with the two well-known brands having great potential for continued growth in the rapidly expanding bottled water and wellness drinks segments.

The two companies have a long history of working together, according to Anton Wandl, managing director of Romerquelle, with the water brand already benefiting from CCHBC's extensive distribution network.

Coca-Cola HBC is one of the world's largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products with operations in 26 countries serving a population of more than 500 million people.

The company has been steadily expanding its range of complementary products, in particular mineral water brands, including the acquisition of Poland's Multivita earlier this year and Romanian brand Dorna late last year.