As companies continue to position bottled water as a healthier refreshment, the category saw sales rebound across segments leading to an overall category boost of 2.9 percent for more than $7.7 billion in sales, according to SymphonyIRI Group, Chicago, for the 52 weeks ending May 15 in U.S. supermarkets, drug stores, gas and convenience stores and mass merchandise outlets, excluding Wal-Mart.

The Ayala’s Herbal Water brand has expanded its line of sparkling waters to retail outlets.

Something Natural, an all-natural flavored sparkling water from Blue Coast/Great State Beverages, launched in New England with plans for East Coast expansion by the end of next year.

The Coca-Cola Co. introduced naturally flavored Seagram’s Sparkling Selzter Waters in Key Lime, Orange Citrus, Blackberry Raspberry and White Peach flavors.

 The overall bottled water category reported nearly $6.7 billion in sales and a 3.4 percent increase in dollar sales during the  52 weeks ending April 14 in food, drug and mass merchandise stores including Walmart, according to New York City-based Nielsen.  

In these times when budgets are tight, many consumers are finding that private label bottled waters quench their thirst just as well as branded waters.