Alkaline Water Co. Expands Wholesaler Strategy in Southern California

SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(Marketwired - Sep 22, 2016) - The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (OTCQB: WTER) (the "Company"), developers of an innovative state of the art proprietary electrolysis beverage process packaged and sold in 500ml, 700ml, 1-liter, 3-liter and 1-gallon sizes under the trade name Alkaline88, today announced a major step in the expansion of its hybrid go-to-market strategy with the formation of a complete DSD (direct store delivery) network in Southern California to execute its single-serving (500 mL, 700 mL and 1 liter sizes) distribution in all trade classes throughout one of the largest and most diverse metropolitan markets. The anticipated growth of the single-serving segment of the business is expected to have a positive impact on the Company's overall margins and profitability.

Alkaline88 has entered into exclusive territorial distribution agreements with tier 1 wholesalers, a who's who in Southern California including the likes of Pacific Beverage, Advance Beverage, Straub Distributing, Triangle Distributing, Heimark, Claypool, R&S Beverage, Balboa Distributing, Mission Beverage, Ace Beverage and Hangar 24, to distribute and penetrate deeper into the Southern California marketplace.

"We believe in our hybrid, go-to-market strategy that we've been able to execute in the state of Arizona with our wholesale partner Kalil Bottling. Now we've been able to take that same blueprint to Southern California, where we have the opportunity to execute with some of the best-in-class beverage wholesalers in the United States," states Richard A. Wright, COO of The Alkaline Water Company Inc.

Mr. Wright adds, "With our tremendous success achieving distribution of our 1 gallon and 3 liter containers in all the major regional chains of Southern California where we are the No. 1 alkaline water brand, we now have the partners and power of this wholesaler network distributing, selling and executing our small bottles to make Alkaline88 available to more accounts and meet the demand of our consumers."

Alkaline88 intends to expand this distribution model to Northern California and parts of the Pacific Northwest before the end of the year, and into other strategic states in 2017.

About The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (OTCQB: WTER):
The Alkaline Water Company Inc. has developed an innovative, state-of-the-art, proprietary electrolysis process that produces healthy, alkaline water for a balanced lifestyle. The company is focused on the business of distributing and marketing the retail sale of its cost-effective packaged Alkaline88 water beverage products. The Alkaline Water Company Inc. is currently in the midst of a national mass-market expansion program and is available for consumer sales at major retail locations across the United States. Learn more about The Alkaline Water Company Inc. by visiting www.thealkalinewaterco.com.

About Alkaline88:
Alkaline88 is a premier bottled alkaline drinking water with an 8.8-pH balance. Enhanced with trace minerals and electrolytes, the product offers consumers the unique opportunity to purchase alkaline water in conveniently packaged in 500ml, 700ml, and 1-liter, 3-liter and 1-gallon sizes. Learn more about the science of Alkaline88 at www.alkaline88.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the Company's expectations regarding the development of marketing and sales relations nationally. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with operating as a development stage company, our ability to raise the additional funding we will need to continue to pursue our business and product development plans, changes in the non-alcoholic beverage business environment and retail landscape, the performance of third-parties and our relationship with them, the loss of one or more of our major customers or a decline in demand from one or more of these customers, increase in the cost, disruption of supply or shortage of ingredients, other raw materials or packaging materials, changes in laws and regulations relating to beverage containers and packaging, competition in the industry in which we operate and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the reports and other documents we file with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov.