2024 marks a monumental milestone for Premium Waters, Inc., as we are proudly celebrating 30 years in business. Since our humble beginnings in 1994, Premium Waters has evolved from a small water company to a national leader in the bottled water industry, known for innovation, quality, and sustainability. With each passing decade, our company has embraced change and growth, while staying true to our core values.
Humble Beginnings & Significant Acquisitions
Incorporated in 1994 by the Chesterman Company, a pioneer in the U.S. bottling business, Premium Waters started with just one facility and a few employees. A turning point came in April 1997 with the acquisition of Chippewa® Spring Water. This acquisition marked our company’s introduction to PET plastic bottles and gallon-sized containers. By improving packaging and increasing capacity, the Chippewa facility became a key player in Premium Waters’ private label strategy, offering a more affordable and higher-margin option for retailers across the Midwest.
The late 1990s and early 2000s involved our company’s geographical expansion, thanks to several major acquisitions. In 1999, Premium Waters purchased All Star Bottling, allowing us to broaden our reach beyond Minnesota and Wisconsin into several new states while establishing relationships with major private-label grocery chain customers. The acquisition of Glacier Clear™ in 2002 further solidified the company’s national presence, adding four new plants in Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Illinois. This expansion helped Premium Waters secure contracts with retail giants in 15 to 20 states. At this time, we also employed key visionary employees who would help to drive our business to new heights for years to come.
More recently, Premium Waters acquired the Ice River Plants (Massachusetts, Indiana, and Pennsylvania) and Nicolet® Water (Wisconsin), which expanded both geography and production capabilities. These acquisitions helped our company strengthen its footprint in the bottled water industry, with Ice River being our introduction to the 4-gallon business.
Private Label Success & Expansion
Private-label bottled water has been a cornerstone of Premium Waters’ success. By producing custom-branded water bottles for grocery stores and retailers, Premium Waters has grown into a trusted partner for companies looking to offer quality bottled water at competitive prices. Our company pioneered the 8-oz, 10-oz, and 12-oz PET bottle sizes, leading the market with these innovative solutions for private-label customers.
In addition, Premium Waters was the first in the industry to introduce the .5-L 12-pack in a printed box, setting a new standard that competitors followed. Our company’s ability to offer fast turnaround times and flexible packaging options has made us a leader in the private label space, providing retailers with the tools they need to drive foot traffic and increase sales through promotional offers.
Lean Manufacturing & SQF Certification
In 2005, Premium Waters took a significant step towards operational excellence by embracing lean manufacturing principles. This initiative focused on reducing waste, improving productivity, and enhancing overall efficiency. This commitment to continuous improvement has allowed us to maintain our competitive edge in a rapidly evolving industry.
In 2008, Premium Waters became the first bottled water company in the U.S. to achieve SQF Level III Certification, a testament to our dedication to food safety and quality. This prestigious certification demonstrates our company’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in manufacturing processes and ensuring that customers receive the safest, highest-quality bottled water products.
Sustainability at the Forefront
Sustainability has always been a core focus at Premium Waters. Over the decades, we’ve worked hard to combine our branded- and private-label services with economical multi-gallon bottles, ensuring we reach more customers while reducing costs. Competitive pricing and cost reduction are essential to keeping our products thriving in the marketplace, but just as important is our commitment to delivering safe, convenient, and high-quality water in the most sustainable way possible.
From a sustainability perspective, we’ve always aimed to use the least amount of plastic necessary while maintaining product quality and safety. We actively advocate for cross-industry packaging solutions through our membership in the Sustainable Packaging Coalition®, driving innovation in packaging that minimizes environmental impact. For years, we have been committed to developing and integrating sustainable business practices, whether it’s through the incorporation of recycled plastic in our bottles or minimizing waste sent to landfills.
We’ve also taken steps internally to go paperless and use clean, renewable solar energy, and we’re excited to expand on these initiatives as we continue to grow. At Premium Waters, we’re passionate advocates of recycling best practices, and as members of How2Recycle, we’re part of a coalition of forward-thinking brands working to make packaging more recyclable. Our partnership with Emitwise, a premier carbon accounting firm, ensures we are accurately measuring our carbon footprint and identifying opportunities to further reduce our environmental impact.
Investing in People: Leadership Academy & University
Premium Waters has always understood that our people are our greatest asset. To ensure ongoing leadership development, we’ve introduced the Leadership Academy and Leadership University. The year-long Leadership Academy program equips participants with the skills to lead and motivate teams, influence stakeholders, and drive business performance. It incorporates self-assessments, self-development plans, and peer-to-peer learning, culminating in a final project presented to company leaders.
The Leadership University takes a hands-on approach to developing supervisors and team leaders, emphasizing personal and professional growth. Participants in this program benefit from tailored leadership training that enhances their abilities to foster team satisfaction, improve safety, and boost productivity.
A Legacy of Leadership: Bill Scott’s Reflections
At the heart of Premium Waters’ growth and success over the last 30 years is our Sr. VP of Business Development, Bill Scott, who has been with the company since 1994. As a key figure in the company’s evolution, Bill has witnessed firsthand the company’s transformation from a small regional water company to a national powerhouse.
Bill shared, “I think that this water company is special because of the people. There are so many people to thank. Everybody works as one. It’s been that way for decades. Every time we made an acquisition, we added great people. It’s a special place with great culture. If we keep moving at a level pace, we won’t be the biggest water company, but we’ll be the best. We will continue to grow our business alongside our customers’ businesses. I’m very grateful for the Chesterman family who has given us the tools to be successful.”
While celebrating 30 years, it is clear that our company’s success is built on the dedication of our people, our commitment to innovation, and our unwavering focus on sustainability. With a bright future ahead, Premium Waters is ready to continue leading the bottled water industry for decades to come.