A Highland business trio have launched a new brand of bottled water taken direct from Loch Ness.
The new firm, Loch Ness WaterLoch Ness Wateth Africa, Canada and Switzerland just hours after it unveiled the new brand.
Inverness businessman John Oag, his fiancee Dawn Younie and fellow director Imtiaz Ali have backed the establishment of the firm with a six figure investment. A custom-built bottling plant in a former bakery in Avoch, 12 miles from Inverness, is currently producing the equivalent of 5000 bottles of water a week, the firm said.
Managing director Mr Oag said: “The global phenomenon of Loch Ness and the Loch Ness monster is undeniable, and now people can have a chance to buy drinking water, that contains a piece of the mystery that is Loch Ness.
“This business is a passion and has taken a significant monetary investment and a huge amount of time to get off the ground. We have carefully researched every aspect of our product, from investing in the best filtration systems on the market, to choosing the correct size and style of bottles to sell.
“It’s the first time this has ever been done, and quite frankly I’m overwhelmed by the interest shown in the product to date. We have created a premium-bottled water that encapsulates part of the very jewel of the Highlands itself.”
He added that sales were “going crazy” just hours after the firm sent out news of its launch and that it had agreed deals with the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness and the Tomatin Distillery to stock the product.
Mr Oag said he has spent three years investigating the ins and outs of the business, including taking water from Loch Ness was “open source”, he said.
The firm sends samples of every batch of water taken from the loch for microbiological and chemical testing to meet strict regulations before the product can be legally sold in the UK and internationally as a product suitable for human consumption.
Loch Ness Water is being produced in 100ml and 375ml glass bottles and will retail to hotels and premium retail outlets to cater for what they anticipate to be a high level of interest from the tourism and whisky market.