A DRINKS company in the region is in talks with Waitrose, Boots and Holland and Barratt to stock its bottled spring water.
Production of the prebiotic water drinks is to start at the South Tyneside firm this month, with the creation of 12 jobs in the first quarter and another 12 by the end of the year.
Managing director of Works With Water Ltd, Willem van Hoorn, said about £350,000 has been invested in the firm, with grant aid from regional development agency One NorthEast and South Tyneside Council.
Following months of research and tests, the company is to start production on the Xtream range of prebiotic water drinks, which contain the fibre inulin derived from the root of the chicory plant.
The inulin is sourced from Dutch firm Sensus, which is one of only three companies worldwide to supply the product.
Unlike probiotics found in many milk-based drinks, Mr van Hoorn said prebiotics work more effectively at feeding the "friendly" bacteria that already exists in the gut.
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