Lucrative contract for water firm

A Lissycasey bottled water company has landed another major coup after securing an annual contract to supply 2.5 million bottles of natural spring water to a major restaurant chain in the Netherlands.

The latest boost for Clare Spring Limited comes hot on the heels of a deal to provide 14 million bottles of water to a European airline in Amsterdam.
The Clare Champion has learned that the company recently secured a contract to supply supermarket chain SuperValu with natural spring water and has also signed an agreement with distribution company BR Foods in Dublin for the supply of 550ml bottles nationwide.
The ministerial seal of approval was given by Environment Minister John Gormley on Tuesday when he officially launched the company’s Wellness Water in the lawn in front of Dáil Éireann.
Minister Gormley said he was delighted that a Clare company had addressed the environmental concerns of bottled water production and praised them for the massive strides it had made securing a major export contract inside a year of production.
Senator Fergal Quinn also came out to meet a delegation of local politicians and company representatives who were delighted with the reception they received on the day.
Managing director Paul Connellan said, “We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated workforce who love to see new orders coming in to the factory. It has been a rollercoaster ride for the company over the last 12 months.
“The Clare Local Development Company provided us with a solid foundation to build on and we would not have succeeded only for the great support we have received from numerous people in Clare since the factory opened,” he said.
Up to 84,000 biodegradable bottles can be produced by the plant daily when it is in full production.
Wellness Water is packaged in the first biodegradable and compostable bottle in Ireland. It is 75% more environmentally friendly to produce than its oil-based counterpart.
The launch comes just nine months after the official opening of the Clare Spring Water bottling plant in Lissycasey. Almost €5m has been invested in the plant, which has seen employment grow from 10 to 26 people.
Clare Spring has already received €150,000 in grant assistance from the Clare Local Development Company for the purchase of equipment and another €50,000 grant has been approved by the board, pending approval from the new government department dealing with Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Ger Kennedy of the Clare Local Development Company said the company had filled a huge gap in the local market during the recent big freeze up and flooding, when other companies found it difficult to supply water to meet business and other major users in Clare.
“The company’s export contract to supply natural spring water in a compostable and biodegradable bottle had huge potential and this should lead to further growth and expansion. Over the last few months, we found the company very good to deal with when it came to developing a new business idea,” he said.
County manager, Tom Coughlan said the council is committed to the development of enterprise throughout the county and would work closely with any potential investor.
“The council is aware of the work being done in Clare Spring. We welcome the most recent developments and look forward to further growth of this company,” he said.