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Icelandic Glacial Opens Environmentally Responsible Bottled Water Facility to Meet U.S. Demand for its CarbonNeutral(R) Spring Water

OLFUS, Iceland-(Business Wire)-September 26, 2008 - Icelandic Water Holdings ehf, makers of Icelandic Glacial, the world’s first CarbonNeutral® certified bottled spring water, for both its product and operations, today will begin production of its multi-award winning water from its new 100-percent naturally powered bottling facility in Ölfus, Iceland. The facility increases production capacity of Icelandic Glacial spring water to meet the growing consumer demand for this exceptionally pure Icelandic water in an environmentally responsible fashion.

The new 71,688-square-foot bottling facility opens as one of the world’s greenest, maximizing output while minimizing expenditure of energy resources thanks to an array of environmentally-efficient and modern bottling equipment. Like the former bottling operation, the new facility harnesses Iceland’s natural green energy, operating entirely on geothermal and hydroelectric power. The combination of modern equipment and use of natural green energy means that Icelandic Glacial spring water is able to roll off the production line with an even smaller carbon footprint than before and one that is considerably smaller compared to other bottled waters in the industry.

“Environmental stewardship has always been a core part of our company’s philosophy — it’s a natural part of being from Iceland,” comments Jon Olafsson, chairman and CEO, Icelandic Glacial. “Beginning today, we move production to one of the world’s most environmentally advanced bottling facilities ever constructed, further reinforcing our commitment to delivering consumers a product they can drink with a clear conscience.”

The new facility houses two separate bottling halls, increasing production from 5,000 bottles per hour (bph) to 30,000 bph. Low-energy, infra-red lighting is also used on-site, adding to the multitude of efficient and energy-saving devices present in the impressive structure.

At the grand opening, Icelandic Glacial co-founders Jon and Kristjan Olafsson will pay tribute to Iceland and the environment as they officially open the new facility, pushing the production line button for the very first time. Special guests including Iceland’s Minister of Industry Energy and Tourism and the people and children of Ölfus will assist in the planting of a special ‘Icelandic Glacial Water Forest’ at the site in further honor of the environment.

“Nature is held in the highest regard in Iceland,” exclaims Olafsson. “Our opening ceremony is very much a tribute to our country and the people that do so much to preserve it.”

Icelandic Glacial is currently concluding its national rollout in the United States with key distribution partner Anheuser-Busch. Icelandic Glacial is available coast-to-coast at outlets including Duane Reade, Albertsons, Publix, Safeway and Kroger.

About Icelandic Glacial

Icelandic Glacial is the product of Icelandic Water Holdings ehf, which was founded in April 2004 and is located in Ölfus, Iceland. Icelandic Glacial is bottled at source from the legendary Ölfus Spring, a vast underground resource, formed over 4,500 years ago and shielded from pollution by an impenetrable barrier of lava rock, resulting in a water of exceptional taste and purity. The spring is continually replenished from mountains to the north, from which a series of interlinked springs emerge both on land and at sea.

Icelandic Water Holdings controls the sole commercial rights to bottle and sell water from the Ölfus Spring. The capacity of the spring is recognized as one of the largest in the world. Its daily overflow alone is approximately double the total quantity of bottled water consumed worldwide.

Icelandic Glacial is the first imported bottled water to be certified as a CarbonNeutral® for both product and operations, which means it has a 'net zero' carbon footprint. The company benefits from Iceland's natural green energy sources, using only geothermal and hydroelectric power.

Icelandic Glacial is distributed in the United States by Anheuser-Busch, which holds a 20 percent ownership stake in the company.

For more information on Icelandic Glacial, please visit www.icelandicglacial.com.

NOTE: For more information, samples, images, and retail information or to arrange an interview, contact Liana Miller, eLuminatePR, 949.276.8920 or liana@eLuminatePR.com.

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