Kiwi Firm Lands Australasian SpongeBob Deal

The two Kiwi businessmen behind New Zealand's first bottled water for kids have secured a major Australasian deal with their new SpongeBob SquarePants branded range.

NZ Drinks will manufacture the new line based on the popular children's television programme SpongeBob SquarePants and will distribute the water to 1220 Australian supermarkets within the next few months.

NZ Drinks owners Tony Vesper and Kyle Osborne said they began developing child friendly bottled water after seeing a gap in the market for a drink that would appeal to both parents and children.

The innovative pair has already had a promising start to 2013, along with the new Australian export deal; they've sent several shipments of bottled water to China under their Pure NZ label.

"Despite the demand for Kiwi made FMCG products in the Chinese market, securing ranging in supermarkets is a long-term process for us. We have found a significant niche within the health food distribution market where we have leveraged off the purity of NZ's brand," Osborne says.

NZ Drinks has also found success at a local level with water sales up 300% over the previous year due to increased ranging and consumer and retail support.

Following the success of its new water range NZ Drinks has also launched a new SpongeBob fruit drink range, with no added sugar and 50% juice. Flavours in the range include; tropical, blackcurrant, raspberry and come in 250ml bottles.

Another growth area for the company has been the establishment of its range of mixers which was a finalist in the recent NZ Food Awards.

The Endeavour line of mixers including; Lemon Lime & Bitters, Indian Tonic, Dry Ginger Ale, Classic Soda and Soda with a Twist, have found a niche in between the established premium brands and the generic ranges found on supermarket shelves.

Kiwi parents and their children will also have access to the new SpongeBob water range when it hits New Zealand shelves this month.

The 400ml (RRP $1.49) bottle of still water is designed with children in mind - small enough to fit comfortably in their hands and with a sipper to help prevent spills.

New Zealand SpongeBob water product is bottled at the source of specially selected local springs.