INTRODUCTION The A.S. Watson Group has been quenching thirsts for more than 170 years. Its forerunner, the Canton Dispensary, established the first-ever soda water factory in China in 1832. It opened in Hong Kong in 1843 and began manufacturing flavoured beverages in 1875. Today, the Group's Manufacturing Division is a well-established producer of drinking water products and beverages in Asia. The Group operates the world's largest distilled water plant with fully integrated manufacturing facilities, and is the only company in Hong Kong that produces its own convenient and bulk packaging for retail, office and domestic supplies. There are three other production plants in operation in the Mainland. The Group's flagship Watsons Water label recently celebrated its centenary and is also widely available in China, Taiwan, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. The division is Hong Kong's largest distributor of thirst-quenching portfolio of beverages, featuring long-established household brands Sunkist, Mr. Juicy, Sarsae, Crystal Spring Tea and Watson's Mixer.