Just noticed this release about AZ water distribution from IWWC yesterday. It provides some information about the relationship with tribes there.
Indian Wells Water Company Names QV
Distributing As Exclusive Arizona Distributor
BUSINESS WIRE
Aug. 18 -
Phoenix is Introductory Market For New
Brand; Leading Area Retailers Bashas', ABCO
to Carry Product
Indian Wells Water Company (NASDAQ:IWWC) today announced that it
has granted exclusive, statewide distribution rights to QV Distributing, one of
Arizona's leading beverage distributors. The announcement was made by James
M. Stevens, chairman and CEO of Indian Wells Water Company.
QV will handle sales, distribution and merchandising activities for Indian
Wells Spring Water in Phoenix, the brand's introductory market, and throughout
Arizona. Bashas' and ABCO, two of the state's largest supermarket chains, are
among the retailers that have agreed to carry the product.
"QV Distributing gives us a major presence on the street, where it counts,"
said Stevens. "Most important, this is a distributorship that understands both how
to market bottled water and how to nurture new brands, which is critical with an
original concept like Indian Wells."
Indian Wells stands apart from other bottled water companies in its mission
to provide opportunity for American Indians, one of the nation's most
economically disadvantaged peoples. The company is forming joint ventures with
American Indian tribes across the nation that have spring water sources on their
tribal lands. Each tribe entering into a joint venture agreement with Indian Wells
will be the majority owner of a bottling company and state-of-the-art water
processing plant located on its reservation. Indian Wells Water Company will
purchase the water produced by each tribe and distribute and market it nationally
under the Indians Wells brand name. As part of the joint venture agreement, each
partner tribe will also become a shareholder of Indian Wells Water Company,
adding potential long-term financial benefits to the immediate benefits of
increased employment and revenues from water sales.
Through an introductory promotion in Phoenix, the company is providing
basic school supplies for the children of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community. Items such as knapsacks, notebooks, paper, pens and pencils for
students attending kindergarten through twelfth grade are being purchased
through proceeds from product sales in the Phoenix area.
The company is launching a major marketing program to support the brand's
introduction in Phoenix. The campaign includes a five-week advertising and
promotion schedule on two of the market's most-listened-to radio stations,
sampling, and sponsorship of Phoenix's Native American Recognition Days, a
week-long celebration in September.
Indian Wells Water Company is led by Brian McCarthy, president and
founder. McCarthy, who retired from the Naval Reserves as a Rear Admiral, has
a 25-year career in investment management, real estate and bottled water.
Chairman and CEO Stevens, a 30-year beverage industry veteran whose
achievements include the introduction of Perrier to the U.S. and the building of
Suntory Water Group (where he served as president and CEO) into the nation's
second-largest bottled water company.
Following the Phoenix introduction, Indian Wells will start its national rollout,
with a concentration on the nation's highest-consumption bottled water regions,
including the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Western states. The company is based
in Sonoma, Calif.
Copyright 1998 Business Wire
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