What aQuelle does

aQuellé Natural Spring Water is a privately held South African beverage company established in 1998 and headquartered at KwaSizabantu Mission in KwaZulu-Natal. The company bottles natural spring water drawn from a source in KwaZulu-Natal and operates as a project of the KwaSizabantu Mission, a religious nonprofit founded in 1970 by Reverend Erlo Stegen. The portfolio has expanded beyond the original spring water to include ViV sports and power drinks (electrolyte and B-vitamin formulations, Berry Blue and other flavors), STILL Flavoured still water in 750ml (Lemon-Mint, Peach-Apricot, Blueberry-Raspberry, Mango-Passionfruit), flavored sparkling water with consumer-voted limited editions such as Mzansi Mango, KHULA soft drinks for value-oriented consumers, and Splash children's water with no-spill caps.

Beverages are produced at three dedicated bottling facilities, the newest of which — the Emseni Bottling Plant — is fitted with a 28,000 m² solar array generating up to 6.2MWh alongside 11.6MWh of battery storage, an installation that won ENLIT Africa 2025's Energy Storage Project of the Year. All primary packaging is 100% recyclable PET (#1).

The business model is CPG hardware sales: aQuellé sells bottled beverages through retail stores nationwide in South Africa, leveraging a Go-To-Market motion built on sports and community event sponsorships (Midmar Mile, Dusi Canoe Marathon, COSAFA Cup, Orlando Pirates FC, AmaZulu FC, Stellenbosch FC, and other football clubs) combined with direct community engagement such as water deliveries to underserved KwaZulu-Natal communities, cleanups, and the "Together Let's Beat Diabetes" testing program that screened over 5,400 people in 2025. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company has 11–50 employees on the disclosed record, holds AskAfrika ICON Brand status as "South Africa's most loved water brand," and operates solely within South Africa with no disclosed revenue, M&A activity, or external funding.

Name

aQuelle

Website

https://aquelle.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

aQuellé Natural Spring Water is a privately held South African beverage company that bottles and sells natural spring water, sports drinks (ViV), flavored still and sparkling water (STILL, Mzansi Mango), children's water (Splash), and value soft drinks (KHULA) through nationwide retail and event-driven sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bottled Water and Beverages

NAICS

Bottled Water Manufacturing (312112), Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)

akta.pro primary industry

Spring Water Bottling (AFAFACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bottled Water (Still, Sparkling, Enhanced) (CRADAHAC), Flavored/Enhanced Bottled Water Production (Essenced, Vitamin, Electrolyte) (AFAFACAF), Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAE), Still Soft Drinks & Flavored Waters (Non-Carbonated) (AFAFABAB)

Keywords

• Bottled spring water
• Flavoured sparkling water
• Sports hydration drinks
• Kids bottled water
• Soft drinks

Headquarters

HQ city

Pietermaritzburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Natural Spring Water Sales: Sale of natural spring water products in various bottle sizes. Core product line sourced from natural springs in KwaZulu-Natal.
2. ViV Sports and Power Drinks: Sale of flavored sports drinks and power beverages including electrolytes and vitamins. Product line includes Berry Blue and other flavors.
3. Flavoured Sparkling Water: Sale of flavored sparkling water including STILL flavors (Lemon-Mint, Peach-Apricot, Blueberry-Raspberry, Mango-Passionfruit) and limited edition seasonal flavors like Mzansi Mango.
4. KHULA Soft Drinks: Sale of KHULA soft drink brand targeted at value-conscious consumers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

aQuelle bottles and distributes natural spring water sourced from KwaZulu-Natal across South Africa. Its portfolio spans still spring water, flavoured still water, flavoured sparkling water, sports and power drinks (ViV), children's water (Splash), and soft drinks (KHULA), with seasonal limited editions sold through national retail and at sponsored events.

Product overview

aQuellé is a South African bottled water company founded in 1998, offering a portfolio of hydration products centered around natural spring water and flavored beverages. The core product line includes Natural Spring Water sourced from KwaZulu-Natal, complemented by the ViV Sports and Power Drinks range, STILL Flavours (flavored still water), and flavored sparkling waters. The company also offers aQuellé Splash for children and KHULA soft drinks for community initiatives. Seasonal limited editions like Christmas flavors and Mzansi Mango add variety to the portfolio. With three bottling facilities and significant solar energy infrastructure, the company positions itself around community upliftment and environmental responsibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• aQuellé ViV: Sports and power drinks range, available in multiple flavors including Berry Blue, with electrolytes and B vitamins
• aQuellé STILL Flavours
• aQuellé KHULA
• aQuellé Splash

Products and services

• aQuelle Natural Spring Water Pure natural spring water sourced from KwaZulu-Natal and bottled at three facilities. The founding product line of aQuelle since 1998, sold nationwide through retail stores and at sponsored sports and community events.
• aQuelle ViV Sports and Power Drinks Sports and power drink range with electrolytes and B vitamins and no colourants, available in flavours including Berry Blue. Positioned for active, healthy lifestyles and sold in 500ml ergonomic bottles.
• aQuelle STILL Flavours Flavoured still water in 750ml bottles, low in kilojoules and enriched with vitamins. Available in Lemon-Mint, Peach-Apricot, Blueberry-Raspberry, and Mango-Passionfruit flavours.
• aQuelle Splash Bottled natural spring water designed for children with a special no-spill cap and 8 fun animal designs, preventing mess when the bottle is shaken or turned upside down.
• aQuelle Flavoured Sparkling Water Flavoured sparkling water range available in 500ml and 1.5L bottles, including the limited-edition Mzansi Mango flavour and ongoing consumer-voted flavour extensions.
• aQuelle KHULA Soft Drinks

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,400 people tested for diabetes through awareness campaigns
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core, major and foundational.

• Pick n PayminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 September 2025Joint cleanup initiative at Durban beach. aQuellé joined with Pick n Pay and local volunteers for cleanup week activities promoting environmental awareness and community engagement.
• Orlando Pirates FCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial water partner and hydration sponsor. aQuellé provides refreshment at games, supports team activities, and engages in joint community initiatives including diabetes awareness campaigns. Partnership includes player appearances at community events and product placement at matches.
• AmaZulu FCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership including Mandela Day activities, cleanup initiatives at Bayhead Natural Heritage Site, and water tank installations at schools. aQuellé supports team events and player appearances for community outreach.
• COSAFA (Council of Southern Africa Football Associations)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Hydration Partner of COSAFA Cup 2022 and subsequent tournaments. Provides ViV and KHULA drinks to participating teams and spectators across African nations.
• KwaSizabantu MissionfoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartneraQuellé was founded at KwaSizabantu Mission in 1970 and operates as one of its projects to support mission work. The mission, established by Reverend Erlo Stegen, is the spiritual and operational foundation of the company.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Valpré: Coca-Cola's premium South African bottled water brand. Directly competes with aQuellé's natural spring water at the upper end of the SA water market, including in retail grocery channels.
• H2OH!: Coca-Cola's flavored sparkling water brand sold across Southern Africa. Directly comparable to aQuellé's flavored sparkling range and STILL Flavours portfolio extension.
• Mountain Falls: South African regional spring water brand. Closely comparable regional peer: locally sourced spring water, broad SA retail distribution, mid-tier positioning similar to aQuellé's core range.
• Energade: Tiger Brands' leading South African sports and energy drink. Directly competes with aQuellé's ViV Sports and Power Drinks in the active-hydration and electrolyte-replenishment segment.
• Bonaqua: Coca-Cola's mass-market still bottled water brand in South Africa. Competes head-to-head with aQuellé across mainstream retail, convenience, and foodservice channels.
• Score Energy Drink: Tiger Brands' energy drink brand in South Africa. Overlaps with aQuellé's ViV range in the functional/active beverage category targeting younger, on-the-go consumers.
• Stoney: Coca-Cola's mass-market non-cola soft drink in South Africa (ginger beer). Closely comparable to aQuellé's KHULA soft-drink sub-brand in positioning and target value-conscious consumer.
• Nestlé Pure Life: Global bottled water brand with established South African distribution. Comparable on multi-tier water positioning (still, flavored) and broad retail reach that overlaps aQuellé's footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Coca-Cola South Africa: Largest beverage conglomerate in South Africa, owning Valpré, Bonaqua, H2OH!, Stoney, Appletiser, Fanta and more. Competes broadly with aQuellé across water, flavored sparkling, and soft-drink categories with deeper marketing and account leverage.
• PepsiCo South Africa: Multinational beverage and snack giant with South African distribution including Aquafina water, sports/energy drinks, and soft drinks. Major competitive presence across every aQuellé product category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aQuelleSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquelle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about aQuelle