DSD Partners Opening New Doors Every Week

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and CSE: WTER) (the “Company”), the country’s largest independent alkaline water company and the Clean Beverage® company, announced today its Direct-Store-Delivery program’s first year trial has exceeded expectations.

“Our limited market launch in Arizona, Nevada, and the upper Midwest of our Direct-Store-Delivery (DSD) partnership strategy has surpassed our forecasts and exceeded expectations in its first year,” said Ricky Wright, President and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company. “Our DSD partners have rapidly placed our Deliciously Smooth™ Alkaline88® water into thousands of Convenience stores, ”Up and Down the Street” stores, and Grocery Retailers. With the recent addition of Columbia distributors in the Northwest and Bill’s in Alaska, we expect fiscal 2023 to show significant growth in our DSD division. Our DSD partners continue to introduce Alkaline88 to new retailers every week.

“Our partners have expanded the Alkaline88® brand into premium chains such as Circle K (Grand Canyon Division’s 600+ locations), QT (Arizona), Speedee Mart, Cobblestone, Get-N-Go, The Carioca Co., Pit Stop, Super Pumper, Fabulous Freddy’s, and Lee’s Liquor, and others.

“We are also pleased to announce that through the hard work of our Arizona DSD partner, Hensley Beverage Company, and our internal DSD team, the Alkaline88® 1-gallon will be available in over 45 Target stores in Arizona. Our 1-gallons should be on endcaps in Target stores throughout the state by the end of this week. As we continue to pursue other premium Direct-Store-Delivery partners throughout strategic areas of the United States, including the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, we anticipate many similar opportunities to follow with other major retailers.

“We have tremendous momentum to start our new fiscal year. The Nielsen data for the 13 weeks ending 3/26/22 for Total US Food show Alkaline88 to be the fastest-growing top-ten value-added water. Adding two new DSD partners and introducing our brand into one of the country’s largest retailers is a great start to fiscal 2023. We expect to add thousands of new stores through this model in the next 12 months,” concluded Mr. Wright.

About The Alkaline Water Company:

The Alkaline Water Company is the Clean Beverage^® company making a difference in the water you drink and the world we share.

Founded in 2012, The Alkaline Water Company (NASDAQ and CSE: WTER) is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its flagship product, Alkaline88®, is a leading premier alkaline water brand available in bulk and single-serve sizes along with eco-friendly aluminum packaging options. With its innovative, state-of-the-art proprietary electrolysis process, Alkaline88® delivers perfect 8.8 pH balanced alkaline drinking water with trace minerals and electrolytes and boasts our trademarked label “Clean Beverage.” In 2021, The Alkaline Water Company was pleased to welcome Shaquille O’Neal to its board of advisors and to serve as the celebrity brand ambassador for Alkaline88^®.

To purchase The Alkaline Water Company’s products online, visit us at www.alkaline88.com.

Hensley Beverage

Hensley Beverage Company is a multi-generational, family-owned, local Arizona beverage wholesaler that distributes a diverse and first-rate portfolio of beverages, including Anheuser-Busch InBev beers, top selling local and regional craft beers, premium non- alcohol beverages, water, soda, tea, wine, and spirits. Hensley maintains a proprietary service fleet of more than 800 vehicles and has the support of over 1,100 employees, servicing a customer base of more than 9,000 retail accounts throughout Arizona from multiple statewide branches. With corporate headquarters located in Phoenix, Hensley also has fully operational controlled environment warehouse space in five different locations across Arizona, including Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott Valley, Chandler, and Show Low. As a result of its focus on core competencies of service, integrity, and quality products, Hensley has been recognized locally and nationally as a leader in the community and the beverage industry.

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, that the Company expects fiscal 2023 to show significant growth in its DSD division; that the Company anticipates many similar opportunities to follow with other major retailers; and that the Company expects to add thousands of new stores through this model in the next 12 months.

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 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 be an expansion into new e-commerce, home delivery, convenience, and healthy food channels; 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; 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; the 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 that 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; and 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220426005362/en/