Nestlé Waters North America Inc. (NWNA), Stamford, Conn. has signed a distribution agreement with Polar Beverages Inc., Worchester, Mass., to manufacture, distribute and sell cans under the Nestea and Poland Spring brand names. The alliance, named Polar Strategic Ventures, will become effective July 15 and will cover the Eastern United States.

“This agreement allows us to combine our strong premium brands with one of the premiere can manufacturers and distributors in the United States,” said Tim Brown, president, chief executive officer and chairman of NWNA, in a statement. “It will advance our goal of having our products available for immediate consumption in all formats, at anytime and anywhere.”

Polar Beverages and NWNA have a 20-year history of working together. Polar currently co-packs some of NWNA’s sparkling and tea products and is distributing several NWNA products in New England.  

The new strategic alliance will be jointly led by longtime NWNA veteran Jeff Weston as chief operating officer, reporting into Brown and Ralph Crowley Jr., president and chief executive officer of Polar Beverages.

“We look forward to strengthening our long partnership with Nestlé Waters and adding Nestea and Poland Spring cans to our strong brand portfolio,” Crowley added.