The bottled water industry is booming across the country, and Maine is home to N

Sara Donnelly

Source

Mainebiz

Date

7-23-2007

Pages

1, 16-18

Abstract

The bottled water industry is booming across the country, and Maine is home to North America's largest spring water bottling facility at the Poland Spring's operation in Hollis. There are 33 bottled- and bulk-water facilities licensed to sell water in Maine, including six sites registered to Nestle Water North America, which owns Poland Spring. Dan Drillen, owner of his family's century-old Oak Grove Spring Water company in Brewer, predicts that in five years the only water distributors in the state will be Nestle and Pepsi. Drillen describes Poland Spring as an aggressive competitor that could put him out of business if it chooses. Labor, fuel and bottle costs make it difficult for the smaller bottlers to compete with the corporate giants. With comments by Bryan Pullen, owner of Summit Spring in Harrison; Jim Milligan, co-owner of Carrabassett Spring Water in Peru. With a related article on H2O of ME, a nonprofit group which is in favor of stricter regulations governing the state's spring water companies.

Subjects

Bottled water, Poland Spring Bottling Co, Oak Grove Spring Water Brewer

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