Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods, the Russian food and drink producer, has started production of bottled water at its new factory in the Novgorod region of the country. To date, the company has invested US$7.0m in the plant.


Still and sparkling natural drinking water will be marketed under the `Sanctuary. Valdai’ brand in 0.5 and 1.5 litre PET bottles, and will soon be available in Moscow and St. Petersburg.


Sergei Plastinin, CEO of Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC, said in a statement: “As always, we are keeping in tune with the times. The launch of bottled water production is a response to the changing lifestyles and habits of Russian consumers.”