Bottled water: Former Pepsico factory in Loutraki, revs up under N.U. Aqua

After 9 years of silence, the machines in the former PepsiCo bottling unit in Loutraki are starting up again. The goal is for the factory, with three production lines, to operate by March 15, as Mr. Dimitris Babakos, president of the N.U. Aqua.

The deal of the PepsiCo Hellas group with N.U. Aqua, which bought the plant in Loutraki, which has been closed since 2013, was announced in the presence of the Minister of Development and Investment, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, last September.

The amount of the investment in the first phase, including the purchase cost but also the renewal of mechanical equipment, amounts to 20.35 million euros. The investment plan has been included in the provisions of the development law, with the subsidy reaching 7.83 million euros.

The new natural mineral water, whose name will also contain the word “Loutraki”, will be distributed through the network of Pepsico Hellas.

Soft drinks as well

In fact, N.U. Aqua, as noted by Mr. Babakos, in this unit plans to produce PespiCo soft drinks from next September. Hence the initial announcement that in its full development the investment will exceed 55 million euros.

It should be noted that for the past five years the production of soft drinks of the multinational has been transferred to neighboring countries.

Mount Athos water for the UAE

Around the same date, the bottling of water will start in the other facility managed by the company on Mount Athos.

The premium water, with the name “Avaton”, will be produced by hydromassage and will be bottled in a factory of 3,000 sq.m. in an area that belongs to the Holy Monastery of Simon Petras.

The initial investment amounts to 35 million euros and in full growth will reach 40 million euros. This water will be channeled to foreign markets and agreements have already been made with Ho.Re.Ca. companies in the United Arab Emirates.

New acquisition

According to secure information, the company, which is a member of a German group active in energy, industry, aviation (acquired 75% of “Hellenic Waterways” from Aktor) and Real Estate, has launched a new acquisition in the water sector. , with the price reaching about 30 million euros.

Investment “flows” of 120 million euros

With an annual turnover of over 400 million euros, the water bottling industry is evolving into an investment protagonist.

Even in the current situation, which due to inflationary pressures, but also the surge in operating costs (energy, transport, packaging), is not characterized as the most favorable, the ongoing investment plans exceed 120 million euros.

With no exceptions, old and new “players” are preparing to ride the “wave” of tourism (unless, of course, there are unpleasant surprises), while maintaining high expectations for further strengthening of the trend for a healthier lifestyle, which rewards the demand for natural products such as water.

Already in 2021, a year in which total bottled water sales increased by around 8% on the supermarket shelf, most bottlers regained lost ground, returning to pre-pandemic levels. They are even more optimistic for this year, hoping not only for “outside” help but also for the contribution of the weather.