Former Bere Azuga owners invest 5m euros in mineral water plant

Violeta and Valerii Moraru, former shareholders in Bere Azuga, which was sold to Ursus Breweries for around 10m euros last year, plan to open a new mineral water plant in Covasna this year, in the wake of 5m-euro investments. The two businesspeople early this year started bottling Azuga Apa de Izvor still mineral water brand positioned on the low-price segment, after having set up Azuga Waters company. "We believe the mineral water market, though highly competitive, hasn't reached maturity, yet, and there's room for new brands. At the same time, consumption per capita is quite low against the European average, hence the growth potential," stated Violeta Moraru, a shareholder in Azuga Waters who also owns over 52% in Perla Covasnei mineral water bottler listed on the BSE. She added investments of around 5m euros in Azuga Waters and over 1.5m euros in Perla Covasnei had been operated so far. Azuga Waters currently bottles only still mineral water in the former Bere Azuga production facility. "Starting June, Azuga carbonated water will be bottled in a greenfield production facility in Covasna county, together with the brand our company has recently launched," Moraru said.