(source: Sme )
Kofola’s soft drink of the same name is very popular in Slovakia. It tastes like dandelion and burdock or root beer mixed with cola.
Kofola recently bought a company called Wad Group, thereby acquiring a 40-percent stake in Water Holding, which is the 100-percent owner of firms Slovenské pramene a žriedla (Slovak Springs), Stredoslovenské žriedla (Central Slovak Springs) and Zlatá studňa (Golden Well).
The holding produces mineral water and soft drink brands such as Šofokola, Zlatá studňa, Gemerka, Fatra and Budiš.
“Water Holding has in its portfolio domestic mineral water, which Kofola has been lacking for a long time,” said Kofola PR Manager Jaroslava Musilová.
Nevertheless, the whole transaction is now subject to an assessment on the part of the Anti-monopoly Office (PMÚ), which is to evaluate whether the move will endanger competition on the market. Andrea Wilhelmová of PMÚ has revealed that PMÚ has not come to any decision as yet.
The daily observes in this context that by acquiring the stake in Water Holding, Kofola could now catch up with its biggest rival on the market in terms of revenue -- Coca-Cola.
