The Alkaline Water Company Expands International Sales Strategy with New Canadian Co-packer, World Choice Bottling

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and TSXV: WTER) (the “Company”), with products bottled under the trademark Alkaline88^®, announced today that it has entered into a new co-packing agreement (the “Agreement”) with British Columbia, Canada-based World Choice Bottling Inc. (“World Choice”). World Choice is scheduled to begin production of Alkaline88^® in early 2019 utilizing The Alkaline Water Company’s innovative, state-of-the-art, proprietary electrolysis beverage process, expediting the Company’s growth opportunities in both China and Canada.

“We are delighted to join forces with World Choice to allow us to supply our Alkaline88^® product line across Canada and into the fast-growing Asian markets, and especially China where we have already made significant progress over the past 14 months and expect to announce further developments soon,” said Richard A. Wright, President and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company Inc. “Our growth strategy continues to accelerate through additional sales channels and classes of trade, international expansion, and extension of our product lines into infused beverages, and our partnership with World Choice will provide a boost toward our fiscal 2019 revenue and market share goals.”

About World Choice
Locally owned and operated, World Choice Bottling produces co-pack brands at their facility in British Columbia, Canada.  Since 1991, World Choice Bottling has been working with Canadian and International brand owners to create and package their perfect product.   World Choice Bottling uses cGMP and HACCP and operates their own in-house lab for product analysis to ensure safety, quality and peace of mind.  For more information, visit: http://worldchoicebottling.com/

About The Alkaline Water Company Inc. 

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and TSXV: WTER) is a leading producer of premium bottled alkaline drinking water sold under the brand name Alkaline88^®. With its innovative, state-of-the-art, proprietary electrolysis process, the Company produces healthy, all-natural and great-tasting alkaline water for a balanced lifestyle. Founded in 2012, the Company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and focuses on national distribution and marketing for retail sale of Alkaline88^®, one of the fastest growing premium bottled water brands on the market. To learn more about The Alkaline Water Company, please visit: www.thealkalinewaterco.com or connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.

About Alkaline Water Products
Alkaline88^® is a premier 8.8 pH-balanced bottled alkaline drinking water, enhanced with Himalayan Pink Rock Salt, and the #1 selling bulk alkaline water in the United States. The product offers consumers the unique opportunity to purchase alkaline water in conveniently packaged 500-milliliter, 700-milliliter, 1-liter, 1.5-liter, 3-liter and 1-gallon sizes. Alkaline88^® is available in over 40,000 retailers in all 50 states, including national retailers such as Safeway/Albertsons, Walmart, Kroger, CVS, and other top regional and local supermarket chains. To find a retailer near you visit: http://thealkalinewaterco.com/about-us/locations/

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements.”  Statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: the Company will continue to grow by executing on its strategy to add new sales channels and classes of trade, expand internationally and extend its product lines into flavored and hemp-infused beverages; and that the partnership with World Choice will provide a boost toward the Company’s fiscal 2019 revenue and market shares goals.

The material assumptions supporting these forward-looking statements include, among others, that the demand for the Company’s products will continue to significantly grow; that the past production capacity of the Company’s co-packing facilities can be maintained or increased; that the Company will receive all necessary regulatory approvals for the production and sale of CBD/hemp-infused water that there will be increased production capacity through implementation of new production facilities, new co-packers and new technology; that there will be an increase in number of products available for sale to retailers and consumers; that there will be an expansion in geographical areas by national retailers carrying the Company’s products; that there will be an expansion into new national and regional grocery retailers; that there will not be interruptions on production of the Company’s products; that there will not be a recall of products due to unintended contamination or other adverse events relating to the Company’s products; and that the Company will be able to obtain additional capital to meet the Company’s growing demand and satisfy the capital expenditure requirements needed to increase production and support sales activity. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, governmental regulations being implemented regarding the production and sale of alkaline water or any other products, including products containing CBD/hemp; the fact that consumers may not embrace and purchase any of the Company’s infused water products; the fact that the Company may not receive approval for any of its CBD infused products; the fact that the 2018 Farm Bill may not be passed resulting in CBD derived from hemp continuing to be a controlled substance under Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act; the fact that the Company may not receive approval from the USDA or the FDA for its CBD/hemp infused products; additional competitors selling alkaline water and enhanced water products in bulk containers reducing the Company’s sales; the fact that the Company does not own or operate any of its production facilities and that co-packers may not renew current agreements and/or not satisfy increased production quotas; that fact that the Company has a limited number of suppliers of its unique bulk bottles; the potential for supply chain interruption due to factors beyond the Company’s control; the fact that there may be a recall of products due to unintended contamination; the inherent uncertainties associated with operating as an early stage company; changes in customer demand and the fact consumers may not embrace enhanced water products as expected or at all; the extent to which the Company is successful in gaining new long-term relationships with new retailers and retaining existing relationships with retailers; the Company’s ability to raise the additional funding that it will need to continue to pursue its business, planned capital expansion and sales activity; competition in the industry in which the Company operates and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and Canada. Although the Company believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Readers should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the reports and other documents the Company files with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, and on the SEDAR, available at www.sedar.com.

The Alkaline Water Company Inc.

Richard A. Wright
President and CEO
480-656-2423
investors@thealkalinewaterco.com

Media
Elizabeth Van Every
Burson Cohn & Wolfe
212-614-3881
Elizabeth.vanevery@bcw-global.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.