As an all-round, multi-specialist, multi-channel company, San Benedetto operates on all segments of the non-alcoholic beverages market, from mineral waters (San Benedetto, Primavera, Acqua di Nepi, Guizza and Fonte Vivia) and flavoured waters (Aquavitamin and San Benedetto Ice Formula Zero) to carbonated drinks (San Benedetto and Schweppes), tea (San Benedetto, Summer Emotion Ice Tea and Guizza) and camomile infusions (Baby Drink), sports drinks (Energade), tonic waters (Schweppes), still juice-based drinks (Oasis, Tropico, Batìk Succoso and Batìk Natura) and aperitifs (Ben’s and Schweppes). The history of San Benedetto demonstrates the fundamental role played by innovation in the development strategies of the soft drinks market, with an impressive series of new products and formats. In the 1980s, we were the first Italian company in our sector to introduce PET bottles in a 1.5-litre format. This format was followed by others: 500 ml, 1 litre and 2 litre. In 1993, we were one of the first companies in Italy to build a fully-aseptic bottling plant for the production of non-carbonated drinks. San Benedetto has its own dedicated design department for the production of bottles and caps (flat and push&pull). This department works throughout the bottle production and filling stages, and has registered patents that have placed our company at the forefront of PET reduction design and the use of regenerated PET. San Benedetto has put all its efforts behind “sustainable” innovation: i.e. innovation which meets the real needs of business and consumers while guaranteeing better service and responding to constantly-changing requirements. In the last four years, Italian consumers have repeatedly acknowledged the innovative practices of San Benedetto by voting us “Product of the Year”: Green Tea in 2010; the 1l Easy bottle in 2011; our Sparkling and Slightly Sparkling range in 2012; and the “Eco-Green Project” range and Aquavitamin in 2013. The Ecogreen range also won the Packaging for Vending 2013 prize from Confida, the Italian vending machines association, for best packaging for the vending machine channel, and the 2013 Packaging Oscar, a prize jointly awarded by Istituto Italiano Imballaggio and Conai for eco-compatible packaging solutions which reflect policy on the reduction of environmental impact. San Benedetto has significant production capacity with four plants in Italy – Scorzè (Venice province), Popoli (Pescara), Donato (Biella) and Nepi (Viterbo), with one site under construction in Vigianello (Potenza), scheduled to enter production in September 2014 – as well as two in Spain, one in Poland and one in Hungary. San Benedetto owns these plants; it also operates two plants as a joint venture, one in Mexico and one in the Dominican Republic. Globally, it employs 1,800 people. Its production capacità in Italy alone is 17 million units per day. Its network of sales agents operates all over Italy, while a dedicated structure looks after foreign sales. All this at the service of the consumer: bringing quality Italian soft drinks to people all over the world. The product ranges of Acqua Minerale San Benedetto cover all distribution channels, from classic channels – major retail chains, wholesale, normal trade, HoReCa – to niche channels such as vendine machines. The company has solid commercial ties with the leading retail chains, and our ability to control every stage of our production processes, capacity for innovation, reputation for product safety and hygiene, and a significant added value component make San Benedetto a reliable business partner. A market leader that meets the constantly-evolving needs of consumers and market.
