Coke to Plunge Into Bottled-Water Market

Coca-Cola Co. will begin selling a bottled water called Dasani in the U.S. and Canada this summer, tapping into the fastest-growing segment of the beverage industry. Dasani, a purified, noncarbonated water with minerals added, will reach store shelves by June, the world’s biggest soft-drink company said. Bottled water has outpaced the growth of soft drinks, particularly in convenience stores, where water sales have increased as much as 30% in recent years. Coke has a water brand, BonAqua, overseas, but the company has been reluctant to add water to its U.S. line. Rival Pepsi-Cola Co. has done well in the five years since introducing its Aquafina, which has become the leading water brand in convenience stores.