Highlands Mineral Water Company

What Highlands Mineral Water Company does

Highlands Mineral Water Company, operating legally as Highlands Drinks Limited, is a privately held Kenyan non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer founded in 1954 in Nyeri by Mr. Tribhovan Padia. The company produces and markets five core brands: Highlands Water (single-sourced mineral water from the Aberdare Mountain Range, KEBS-certified with Diamond Mark of Quality, available in 500ml to 20L formats), Highlands Cordials (a six-flavor dilute-to-taste cordial range led by Orange Cordial since 1989, with the newest Cocopine variant launched in 2023), CLUB (an 11-flavor carbonated soft drink line rebranded in 2018 and refreshed in 2023), Bazuu Energy (an energy drink launched in 2021 targeted at working-class Kenyans), and Royal CLUB (a premium cocktail mixer line launched in 2023). Operations are anchored at a manufacturing headquarters on Thururu Road in Nyeri with a bottling facility, supplemented by a Nairobi distribution depot at Atlantis Business Park.

The company's technology and production stack centers on conventional beverage bottling lines (upgraded in 2002 with new facilities, and supplemented by ongoing R&D on new CSD variants from 2009) drawing on a single-source water supply from the Aberdare rainforest. Highlands sells through a multi-channel distribution model covering General Trade (kiosks, small shops) and Modern Trade (supermarkets and leading stores) across Kenya, with a stated goal of being 'within arms reach' of consumers. The pricing model is pay-as-you-go unit pricing across SKUs from 350ml to 20L; specific price points are not publicly disclosed. Revenue is generated through hardware/unit sales of branded beverages, with no digital or subscription revenue streams. The company serves a mass-market customer base of Kenyan families, young adults, working professionals, and school-going children, with targeted sub-segments for energy drinks (matatu, boda boda, mechanics) and mixers (premium/cocktail occasions). Leadership includes CEO Joachim Westerveld, Chief of Staff Charles De Beaufort, and Head of Modern Trade Kaari Kinyua. The company is privately held with no institutional investors disclosed, no public listing, and no subsidiaries, with ownership traced to the founding family.

Name

Highlands Mineral Water Company

Legal name

Highlands Drinks Limited

Website

https://highlandske.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Highlands Drinks Limited is a privately held Kenyan non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer founded in 1954, producing and selling Highlands Water, Highlands Cordials, CLUB carbonated soft drinks, Bazuu Energy, and Royal CLUB mixers to mass-market Kenyan consumers through general and modern trade channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Still Soft Drinks & Flavored Waters (Non-Carbonated) (AFAFABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB), Alcoholic Beverage Mixers & Cocktail Ingredients Brands (Non-alcoholic) (CRADAIAH), Functional Beverages (Vitamins, Probiotics, Nootropics, etc.) (CRADAHAL)

Keywords

• Bottled mineral water
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• Carbonated soft drinks
• Energy drinks
• Cordial concentrates

Headquarters

HQ city

Nyeri

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Beverage Manufacturing and Sales: Highlands Drinks Limited generates revenue through manufacturing and selling non-alcoholic beverages including bottled water, cordials, carbonated soft drinks (CLUB), energy drinks (Bazuu), and mixers (Royal CLUB). Products are sold through general trade and modern trade channels across Kenya.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Highlands Drinks Limited manufactures and markets a portfolio of non-alcoholic beverages in Kenya, including premium mineral water single-sourced from the Aberdare Mountain Range, dilute-to-taste cordials, carbonated soft drinks (CLUB), energy drinks (Bazuu), and premium cocktail mixers (Royal CLUB). Products are produced at a Nyeri-based bottling facility and distributed nationwide through general trade kiosks and modern trade supermarkets.

Product overview

Highlands Drinks Limited operates as a Kenyan beverage manufacturer with a diversified portfolio spanning five core brands: Highlands Water (premium drinking water single-sourced from the Aberdare Mountain Range, KEBS certified with Diamond Mark of Quality since 1954), Highlands Cordials (dilute-to-taste cordials with 6 flavors led by Orange Cordial since 1989, including the newest Cocopine Cordial), CLUB (carbonated soft drinks with 11 unique fruity flavors, recently rebranded in 2023), Bazuu Energy (energy drink for hardworking Kenyans launched 2021), and Royal CLUB (premium cocktail mixers launched 2023). The company serves customers across Kenya through supermarkets, kiosks, and leading stores nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Highlands Water: Mineral water brand sourced from the Aberdare Mountain Range, available in 500ml, 1L, 1.5L, 5L, 18.9L, 18.9L (returnable) and 20L bottles.
• Highlands Cordials
• CLUB
• Bazuu Energy
• Royal Club

Products and services

• Highlands Water (Mineral Water) Premium drinking water single-sourced from the Aberdare Mountain Range in Kenya, naturally packed with minerals and KEBS certified with the Diamond Mark of Quality. Available in 500ml, 1L, 1.5L, 5L, 10L, 18.9L, 18.9L (returnable), and 20L sizes for Kenyan consumers seeking everyday hydration.
• Highlands Cordials Dilute-to-taste cordials available in Orange, Lemon, Pineapple, Mango, Tropical, and Cocopine (coconut-pineapple) flavors, sold in 1L, 1.5L, 2L, 3L and 5L bottles. Targeted at Kenyan families seeking affordable, great-tasting concentrates for everyday refreshment.
• CLUB Carbonated Soft Drinks Carbonated soft drink brand with uniquely fruity Kenyan flavors including Lemonade, Pinacolada, Lemon Lime, Orange, Mango, Passion, Pineapple, Blackcurrant, Tangawizi, Cola, and Apple. Available in 350ml, 500ml, 1.25L, and 2L bottles nationwide for trend-conscious youth and general consumers.
• Bazuu Energy Energy drink positioned for hardworking Kenyan individuals including Matatu industry employees, Boda Boda operators, and mechanics, with the tagline 'Hustle ikishika #chezaki-bazuu!'. Available in 265ml and 500ml bottles at leading supermarkets and stores countrywide.
• Royal CLUB Mixers Premium mixer brand offering Tonic Water and Lemonade variants in 500ml bottles, designed as the perfect blend for cocktails and social occasions.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PETCO (Kenya PET Recycling Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighlands Drinks partners with PETCO, Kenya's PET plastic recycling company representing the industry's joint effort for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The partnership supports plastic waste reduction and recycling initiatives. PETCO is financed by voluntary EPR fees from converters and bottlers.
• Nyeri County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighlands Drinks participated in the 3rd Edition of the Mountain to Mountain Initiative championed by Nyeri County government, combining tree-planting with an ultra-marathon event from Mt. Kenya to the Aberdare ranges.
• Ministry of Education / Kenya National Music, Drama & Film FestivalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHighlands Drinks was official hydration partner at the 2023 Kenya National Music, Drama & Film Festivals, providing hydration packs, branded trophies, and hamper packs to teachers and winning students.
• Various Sports Events (Lewa Marathon, Mater Heart Run, etc.)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnerships with sports and fitness events including Mountain 4 Bike Challenge, Lewa Marathon, Rhino Charge, Touch Rugby, and Mater Heart Run as hydration partner to promote active lifestyle.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Keringet: Kenya's leading bottled mineral water brand (Aquaclear brand) also drawing on Kenyan natural water sources — direct competitor in the same Nairobi/national wholesale and modern-trade channels targeted by Highlands Water.
• Fever-Tree: Premium mixer brand with tonic water and lemonade — comparable directly to Highlands' Royal CLUB mixer range in premium cocktail-mixer positioning and 500ml glass format.

Broad incumbents

• Coca-Cola Beverages Africa: Multinational CSD and bottled water bottler with dominant Kenyan shelf presence across Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani and Bonaqua — overlaps with Highlands' CLUB CSD line and Highlands Water in the same retail channels.
• Britvic: UK-listed multi-category soft drinks group owning carbonated mixers, juices, and water brands — comparable in multi-category CPG beverage architecture (water + mixers + cordials) to Highlands' portfolio.
• A.G. Barr: Multi-category non-alcoholic beverage maker (Barr, Rubicon, Funkin) — comparable business model of owning and operating multiple niche CPG beverage brands with multi-channel distribution.
• East African Breweries Limited: Regional beverage incumbent operating multiple owned brands across East Africa with deep Kenya distribution — comparable in scale and trade relationships though alcoholic rather than non-alcoholic focus.
• PepsiCo: Global CSD/juice giant whose Kenyan bottling partnership was once held by Highlands (1986 Pepsi bottling) — direct competitive overlap in CSD and concentrate/mixers categories across Kenyan retail.
• Red Bull: Global energy drink leader competing against Highlands' Bazuu Energy in the Kenyan energy segment with vastly larger marketing investment and distribution footprint.

Regional players

• Aujan Industries: MENA-based CPG beverage manufacturer (Rani juices, Vimto franchise holder in MENA) — relevant peer for juice/cordial category expertise and emerging-market multi-channel distribution model.

Others

• Cott Corporation: Global beverage manufacturing services and private-label producer — comparable as a multi-category bottled beverage manufacturer and packaging operator with concentrated regional production footprints.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HighlandsKenya

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Highlands Mineral Water Company