The Lausanne-based company BE WTR is strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia through the strategic acquisition of Porla Pte Ltd in Singapore and Hong Kong as well as through a new licensing partnership for Thailand. According to a statement, these steps are intended to redefine how premium water is sourced, served and valued across Asia’s restaurant and hotel industries.
Porla is a Singapore-based provider of water solutions for the premium hospitality and hotel sector, installing filtration systems and high-end dispensing and bottling lines in premium hotels and restaurants. With this acquisition, BE WTR is doubling its team in Singapore while simultaneously establishing operations in Hong Kong. The move also marks the brand’s entry into the Thai market.
“We are proud to expand our presence in Southeast Asia through the acquisition of Porla's activities in Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as partnering with them to further develop the water solutions industry in Thailand,” said Mike Hecker, founder and CEO of BE WTR.
As part of the acquisition, Porla’s existing rental and service agreements will transition to BE WTR, ensuring a seamless transition for more than 300 clients across the region. The ambition of the acquisition is reportedly to reshape the premium water category in the food and beverage industry and hospitality, moving it away from imported brands toward a superior, locally produced alternative. According to BE WTR, it offers the only premium, sustainable glass-bottled water produced locally in Singapore.
“Premium hospitality has, for too long, equated quality with distance,” said Hecker. “Shipping a glass bottle across the globe only to use it once is no longer defensible environmentally or economically.” ce/nta