A water bottler in Northeastern Pennsylvania has an abundance of natural resources that have helped the region become a dominant force in the food processing industry. The bottled water facility has capitalized on its access to local spring water to expand its operations and provide water for some of the nation's top companies.
Nature's Way Purewater Systems, Inc. bottles water from three locations within 25 miles of its facility, including Tomhicken Mountain Springs near Hazleton. The company has used its prime location to the water sites to become one of the premier contract manufacturers in the beverage industry.
A story published in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader newspaper earlier this year noted that Starbucks closed a California bottling facility and is relying on its Pennsylvania supplier for its bottled water across the U.S. That facility, according to the published article, is Nature's Way. The label on the Starbucks Ethos Water bottle lists that the water comes from Tomhicken Mountain Springs.
Tomhicken Mountain Springs water is sold locally in three- to five-gallon jugs under the “Great Spring Water” and “Arcadia” names. Dominic Yannuzzi of the Hazleton Area Water Co said Nature's Way Purewater Systems owner personally sampled the water and chose it for his company because it tasted so pure.
“Our water is filtered through Mauch Chunk rock, which is the best filtering rock around,” Yannuzzi said. “They had to use ultrasonic meters to measure our water because it is so clean.”
In a nationwide water-tasting competition several years ago, 65 percent of the participants named Tomhicken Mountain Springs water the best., Yannuzzi, which owns Tomhicken Mountain Springs, said local rock plays a part in the water's great taste.
Prashant Shitut, Nature's Way Purewater Systems president and chief operating officer, said this access to key shipping routes is a major benefit to the company and its clients.
The company has also looked toward the qualified area workforce to aid in its expansion. Nature's Way Purewater Systems invested $12 million as part of a capital improvement plan. This helped the company to double in size over the last several years, which has allowed it to create more than 60 high-quality positions, increase manufacturing capacity and sign many exclusive beverage agreements. “We have a dedicated workforce here in Northeastern Pennsylvania that is not commonly found in metro markets,” Shitut said.
