Product and packaging Innovations to be launched in March 2004 - company acquisitions strategically sensible.
Gerolstein, 1/26/2004. With sales reaching 7.825 million hectoliters (plus 4.5%) of mineral water and mineral-water-plus products, the Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG looks back on a successful financial year. With an export of 231,956 hectoliters (plus 3.9 %) Gerolsteiner also remains export market leader. The net goods turnover climbed to 215.5 million euros. "Concentrating on Gerolsteiner as a brand brought a turnover plus of 4.0 percent", says Jörg Croseck, Gerolsteiner's Managing Director of marketing, distribution and personnel. "This outstanding performance is the basis for a number of value-adding innovations in the area of products and packaging".
The innovations-campaign, that is to begin in March under the umbrella of the brand Gerolsteiner, is to further increase the market share of Germany's leading mineral water brand (2003: on a value basis of 9,6 %, AC Nielsen). Non-carbonated Gerolsteiner Naturell, the most recent innovation introduced in January 2003, managed to achieve fourth place in the non-carbonated mineral water segment at first go (AC Nielsen).
"We will continue fortifying Gerolsteiner's strong position in 2004", states the company management. "Gerolsteiner has the economic ability to finance innovations while growing through acquisitions at the same time". In agreement with the advisory board, the Gerolsteiner Well is interested in buying additional mineral water companies that are on offer.