Private Label Water Supplier to Locate in Coffee County

ATLANTA, Dec. 21 – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Premium Waters, Inc., a private label bottled water supplier, will expand its national operations with its first facility in Georgia, to be located in Douglas. The company will invest $30 million and create 100 jobs over the next three years.
'Premium Waters is an industry leader that we are proud to welcome to Georgia,' said Governor Perdue. 'The jobs created will stimulate economic growth and prosperity in this region of the state.'

The company will utilize an existing speculative building of 100,000 square feet and expand it to 200,000 square feet to accommodate four production lines, blow molding operations, offices and a workforce of over 60 employees in its first year. The plant will be the eighth production facility owned and operated by Premium Waters, and will begin shipping product in January 2008.

'This plant will provide needed capacity for current and future customers in the southeastern United States,' stated Cy Chesterman, chairman and CEO of Premium Waters, Inc. 'We will continue to invest in our business when and where it is needed. Premium Waters has added capacity, blow molding operations, and warehousing in each of the past nine years.'

Premium Waters, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chesterman Coca-Cola Bottling. More than 100 years old, Chesterman Bottling is a family-owned business, and is a private label water supplier for Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Sonic, Harrah's and Kmart.

'Coffee County will greatly benefit from the presence of Premium Waters, and we look forward to building a strong relationship with them as they open their new facility,' said Joanne Lewis, executive director of the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce. 'This is the kind of economic development opportunity that helps our community and others across Georgia thrive.'

'I am excited about Premium Waters coming to Coffee County,' said State Sen. Greg Goggans. 'I appreciate the hard work of the Georgia Department of Economic Development and our local officials on this project.'

'I am elated by this great news,' said State Rep. Chuck Sims. 'This community will welcome Premium Waters with open arms.'

Premium Waters, Inc., based in Minneapolis, Minnesota operates plants in Orange Springs, FL; Greeneville, TN; Fort Worth, TX; Kansas City, KS; Quincy, IL; Willmar, MN; and Chippewa Falls, WI. Current staffing levels exceed 700 employees. Premium bottles its own Glacier Clear, Chippewa Spring, Kandiyohi, Nature's Crystal, Crystal Glen, and Glacier Mist brands along with hundreds of brands owned by the customers Premium serves.