WATER WORKS: Rotarians hear update on new local bottling plant
One local water guy brought another to Wednesday's Rotary Club of Mineral Wells meeting.
At the invite of Rotarian and Famous Water Company co-owner Scott Elder, pictured far right, Brazos Valley Spring Water Company's managing partner Bryan Horton, center, gave today's lunch program, updating club members on the progress of the company's new water bottling site at the former Brazos Factory Outlet Stores property on U.S. Highway 180 East.
Construction and reconfiguration of the building are underway that will allow the VF Factory store to remain in business there, utilizing about half of its previous space with a new entrance separate from the bottling operations taking over the remainder of the building.
Currently based in Millsap, Horton said he hopes to have all bottling operations transferred to the new property by mid-summer.
Horton said new bottling agreements, especially one with Seattle-based Essentia Water Company, required his company expand into larger facilities while also securing a more reliable municipal water source. He said while looking at places like Benbrook and Weatherford, Horton said being from Mineral Wells he wanted to relocate the company here, and said the mall property became the right property available at the right time.
Known by some still as Eventide Water, Brazos Valley Spring Water is primarily a private label water bottler. For about 10 years, Horton's company bottled Crazy Water for Scott and Carol Elder, but recent changes in Crazy Water's product lines – going to glass bottles and adding carbonation and flavors – led them to open their own bottling operation facility.
Elder and Horton said the two have enjoyed a long friendship and business partnership, and do not see the other as a competitor since their business models and client targets are quite different.
Horton said he hopes to have about 25 people employed at the new bottling plant this summer, and with new contracts possible in the future he believes that number will grow over the next few years.
Pictured with Horton and Elder is Rotary Club president Jimmy Walker.
Rotary Club of Mineral Wells meets every Wednesday at noon at Holiday Hills Country Club for lunch, socializing and networking, updates on club projects and a program of interest. Please join us.