EXPORTS have increased by more than 50 per cent at the group behind the Harrogate Springwater brand.

Water Brands Group, which also owns charity water enterprise Thirsty Planet, says it has seen foreign consumers develop a growing taste for British spring water, with exports rising by 55 per cent.

The company now exports to markets including Ukraine, China, Korea and the Caribbean, with sales in Russia showing a 40 per cent year-on-year increase.

To help fuel further international growth the family-owned business is also now investing £6 million in a new production facility that will allow it to quadruple production.

Last year the Harrogate based business exported nearly two million bottles of spring water, with Russia being its largest overseas market.

Working with the Svam Group, one of Russia’s largest beer and soft drink distributors, Harrogate Spring Water is now available in Moscow Airport, Russian Costa Coffee outlets, the Sheraton and 50 O’key stores, one of the country’s largest retail chains.

James Cain, managing director of the group, said: “We’re seeing incredible demand for our product from overseas markets. The power of a brand combining Britishness and enduring premium appeal is a hugely strong proposition for foreign consumers.

“We now produce a bespoke Russian language labelled bottle, complete with Union flag.”

Water Brands recently hosted a delegation from Svam, who were on a UK fact-finding mission.

The group grew by 16 per cent in the last financial year to over £8 million, against a UK market increase of 3.3 per cent.