Lao water takes world award 

It was a pleasant surprise for the Lao Soft Drinks Company when it took a top international award for its drinking water, Viva, ahead of other contestants from around the globe, its managers say.

The company organised a press conference last Friday to announce the gold medal which Viva had won at the 2007 World Beverage Competition in the United States .

During the press conference the company also introduced new packaging for its Evervess soda water, already available in shops in the local market.

Lao Soft Drinks introduced Viva drinking water early last year, ahead of the company's 35 th anniversary. It faces stiff competition from many quality brands.

The Deputy Managing Director of the company, Mr Noumanh Phanvongsa, said that over the past 30 years the company had “worked hard to develop new products, always with the goal of being the number one soft drink producer in the country”.

“We have improved our production capacity step by step, and expanded our product range. Now our products have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Public Health and by Pepsi Beverage International,” Mr Noumanh said.

The drinking water market in Laos is very competitive; many companies strongly promote their brands, he said. But Lao Soft Drinks Company believes that Viva, having won international honours, will see its popularity among Lao customers increase, he added.

Source: vientianetimes