Retail Moves
Belk hopes bottled water appeals to ACC fans
Triangle Business Journal - by Renée DeGross
North Carolina State University fans will soon be able to help the Wolfpack when quenching their thirst for spring water.
Bill Belk, grandson of the founder of the Belk department store chain, said Wolfpack water will be available in Triangle convenience stores, grocery stores and restaurants by the end of November.
Belk said 7.5 percent of sales will be donated to the university. He has a similar deal for University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill fans, and plans to expand to Duke University, Wake Forest University and Clemson University.
Tar Heel water was test-marketed in Charlotte last summer and expanded to Chapel Hill about a month ago.
Belk eventually plans to take the Tar Heel and Wolfpack concepts statewide, while the Duke, Wake Forest and Clemson water will be sold regionally.
"Once (buyers) understand the concept, they'll want to support their state institutions," he said. "We'll be everywhere Evian and Le Bleu are. We think this will be a lot of fun because why would you buy Evian when you would be benefiting the universities?"
Belk formed Old Well and started marketing bottled water almost two years ago after selling his stock in the family business. His partners are Reed Raynor, owner of the Rathskeller in Chapel Hill, and Larry and Libby Phillips, owners of Midas Spring Water. Midas, founded in 1871 in Huntersville, is the state's oldest spring water company.
Old Well products -- comparably priced at 79 cents to 99 cents for 20 ounces -- are available at Harris Teeter, Wellspring Grocers, Winn-Dixie and numerous convenience stores.
Jersey Mike's Subs is adding saltwater taffy to its menu on Jan. 1 and breakfast may not be far behind.
President Peter Cancro said the company hopes adding breakfast will increase traffic, and it may hook up with a national bagel and doughnut player. Although he refused to disclose which national player, Cancro cited Dunkin Donuts as an example of a chain that sells both.
Jersey Mike's, based in Manasquan, N.J., has 87 locations in nine states, including 40 locations in North Carolina, almost half of which are in the Triangle. Another 35 Jersey Mike's are under development in the state, including Garner, Cary and Fuquay-Varina stores in the Triangle.
The company plans to open its first Southwestern site in Arizona and its 100th store overall by the end of the year. Next year, Cancro expects the number of stores to double to 200.
Got any good tips? Send them to reneed@tbjnews.com or call 878-0010.
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