--By Upashana Neupane 

 

Aqua Hundred carries 21 years of glorious history of providing purified water in Nepali market. Introduced in 1992, it stands true to its initial motto “Drink safe water and be healthy”. The brand was launched by Aqua Minerals Pvt Ltd at a time when huge amount of purified water used to be imported from foreign countries in lack of domestic brand, that could correspond to the market’s need, Rabin Shrestha, Business Manager at Aqua Minerals, says. 

 

Aqua Hundred is market leader in purified water since the beginning of the brand. Named combining two words: Aqua and Hundred (Aqua means Water and hundred represents the 100 per cent purity), its logo has oval shape of waves, that symbolise water.

 

Aqua Hundred is the pioneer to introduce big jar for purified water in Nepali market. It changed common perception among people that bottled, purified water is available only in 1 litre or half litre bottles. “In the initial days, when we introduced big jars, people were surprised and used to stare at us,” Shrestha says, “Now the scenario has changed and Aqua Hundred has become popular and has established itself as must have drinking water in every household.” 

 

Reflecting two decades of business journey, Shrestha says that the company was started with a commitment to provide quality water to the customers and has continued doing so, sustaining many ups and downs. “Aqua Hundred was launched to address the drinking water scarcity in Kathmandu valley and as direct response to growing awareness and demand of people for clean and pure drinking water,” Shrestha informs.

 

Initially, 19 litre jar and half litre mineral water bottle were launched. By now Aqua Hundred has expanded to varieties of products like cup water, ice-cubes and chlorine solutions. 

 

Shrestha says, in the initial days Aqua Hundred made massive publicity campaigns in electronic and print media, hoarding boards and like to promote the brand. Now customers are familiar to the brand and it has become a brand to trust in. “We have always prioritized ‘quality’, thus have won the trust of our customers,” he says.

 

Aqua Hundred with the tagline is “Sabaiko Bishwashilo Paani (Everyone’s Trustworthy Water)” has customers’ faith as it has always been providing best quality consistently. “Consistency is most important to sustain in the market,” Shrestha says, “Providing good quality is not sufficient. One should also continue fulfilling commitments.”

 

The company has an in-house lab of its own and each product is tested before getting into the market. Aqua Hundred Jar is a polycarbonate jar which is recommended for reusable purpose. Aqua Hundred is ISO 9001:2008 certified company but Shrestha says that the best award Aqua Hundred has ever got is the faith of its customers.  We have always believed in customer’s satisfaction and their loyalty. 

 

Shrestha says, due to unstable political scenario of Nepal, it is difficult to grow and sustain in the market. Similarly, illegal and low quality bottled water has been ruining the image of the entire industry. He says all those companies and products should be properly monitored or banned by the concerned authority. In the near future, Aqua Hundred has plans to spread its market outside the valley too.

 

Shrestha says we should promote Nepali products. “If best quality product is available within our own country, why to use foreign brands?,” he says, “Be Nepali, Buy Nepali”.