Almost a year ago, this site ran a brief post titled “We need to find Americans an alternative to West-Bank-based Sodastream.” As it happened, I’d been doing research on that very problem, as part of the Economic Activism for Palestine project at Global Exchange in San Francisco, under the leadership of Dalit Baum of WhoProfits.org. So I responded to that post with a comment listing a slew of settlement-free home soda makers.
Since then there’s been a fair bit of news – some good, some bad – in what’s known as the “sparkling beverage market,” and we’ve recently posted an updated Sodastream Alternatives page on the Global Exchange website. Consider bookmarking it so you can share it in case you discover friends or family in danger of buying a settlement-made Sodastream machine.
Two developments are worth highlighting here, though. On the negative side, a product I and several other commenters recommended last September, iSi’s Twist’n’Sparkle, has been recalled. It turned out that the plastic bottle included in the kit had a tendency to explode. If you have one, stop using it and call the recall hotline at (800) 645-3595 to arrange a refund. (When I called, the rep told me she knew of no plans for a new, safer version of the product.)
On the upside, there’s now a better alternative – if you don’t mind an indirect connection to Israel: Primo Water Corp. of Winston-Salem, NC, has entered the market with not one but two Sodastream-like countertop machines, the Flavorstation 100 ($69.99) and the Flavorstation 120 ($79.99, in either black or white). I bought a 100 months ago, and a few weeks ago I ordered a 120, too (just for research purposes – I’m planning to give one of them away). Both are stylish, relatively inexpensive, and easier to find than most other alternatives. Both make great soda water – I’d never been a soda drinker before, but now I’m addicted. And best of all, they’re not made in a settlement.
The main functional difference between the two Flavorstation models is that the 100 is designed for “single-serve” half-liter bottles, while the Flavorstation 120 uses one-liter bottles – much more convenient if you’re serving a family or company. The newer 120 model also adds a few enhancements: easier mechanisms for installing the CO2 cartridge and for attaching the bottle to be carbonated (though neither task is difficult on the original Flavorstation 100) and a dial that lets you choose what size bubbles you want in your beverage (!).
The Flavorstation 100 is sold at Lowe’s home stores – there are 1,745 in North America, so there’s probably one not far from you (store locator here). Online, both the 100 and the 120 (in either black or white) are available at Primo’s online store and at Amazon.com. All of these outlets also sell Flavorstation accessories – extra water bottles (BPA-free), spare CO2 cartridges (though the cartridge included with each appliances is refillable), and flavor syrups (16 flavors, including four “zero-calorie” and four “low-calorie” versions).
For the future Primo apparently intends to match Sodastream in offering soda makers in a bewildering array of sizes and shapes.
Primo is an eight-year-old, publicly traded company whose main business is selling bottled water and water dispensers for homes and offices. The Flavorstation appliances are made in China, their CO2 canisters in Taiwan, and the syrups in the U.S.
And that Israel connection? In 2011 Primo announced a “strategic alliance” with SDS-IC (“Sparkling Drink Systems – Innovation Center”), a small Israeli company that’s also taking on Sodastream. It was founded in 2009 by a couple of former Sodastream executives. Under the agreement, Primo and SDS-IC will distribute some of each other’s products and collaborate in R&D, marketing, and manufacturing. SDS-IC’s factory, however, is in China, not the West Bank. According to researchers at WhoProfits.org, its only facilities in Israel are business offices in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv.
If you can’t stomach any connection to Israel, or if you don’t expect to drink soda water often, the “soda siphons” or other products listed on the Global Exchange page will probably meet your needs.
Or you could just drink plain water.
As for Sodastream, the unfortunate truth is that it’s on a roll: It announced on Wednesday that total revenue for the quarter ended June 30 jumped 49.1% to $103 million, while net income increased 43.9% to $9.5 million, compared to the same quarter in 2011. Sales in the Americas were up a stunning 109 percent over last year and now constitute almost 30 percent of total revenues; sales in Western Europe rose 25 percent and still represent more than half of revenue.
One more tidbit: under a deal with Kraft Foods announced last month, Sodastream plans to add Kool-Aid-branded flavors to its flavorings lineup.
In other words, folks already drinking the settlers’ Kool-Aid metaphorically will soon be able to do so literally, too.
Henry, Thank you for providing this helpful information . I work at Staples and I wrote an anonymous letter about Sodastream’s human rights violations in Palestine that I told a supervisor/manager to forward to HR. I haven’t heard anything in about the 3-4 weeks or so since I told them about it. The situation is probably complicated by the fact that a certain percentage of my co-workers aren’t big fans of Jews based on comments I’ve heard. Just saying. Anyway, I’m probably going to quit once the summer ends but I’ll keep you guys posted if I hear that anything has been done about the Sodastream display that I am just so tempted to chuck into the trash at this point.
God I love it when I’m writing something important and it just magically disappears when I hit post comment. I guess we’re starting those games again…
Henry, Thanks for providing this information. I work at Staples (sales associate) and I sent an anonymous letter that was forwarded to HR after I told a manager and supervisor about Sodastream’s human rights violations in the Occupied West Bank. They listened to my concerns and seemed to take it seriously. The letter was supposedly forwarded 3-4 weeks ago and I haven’t heard anything back. I’m probably only going to be working to the the end of the summer, but I’ll let you know if I hear any updates floating around the store. Also, fyi, the situation is probably tricky by the fact that my co-workers aren’t big fans of Jews based on comments I’ve heard. Just saying.
Thanks for this update and info. Sodastream being on a roll needs to be trumped. More information out there about where and who is involved in making. Great that Global exchsnge is so involved. An incredible organization. Too bad there is not a Palestinian made product. Great project for Global exchange or some other organization that could help open up such a manufacturing facility in the Gaza or West Bank controlled by Palestinians. Jobs too
RE: “Almost a year ago, this site ran a brief post titled ‘We need to find Americans an alternative to West-Bank-based Sodastream’.” ~ Henry Norr
MY COMMENT: I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I drink a lot of Crystal Lite because it is sometimes a “2 for 1” sale item at my Publix and so I can stock up on it at half price.
The “Natural Cranberry Apple” uses natural flavorings and is quite tasty. I often mix other 100% fruit juices (like cranberry/blueberry or cranberry/raspberry) with it that I have also bought on “2 for 1”. The V8 Fusion Vegetable & Fruit (100%) Juices also work quite well.
I also drink the Crystal Light “Sunrise Ruby Red Grapefruit” which is quite good despite being artificially flavored.
As a general rule, I prefer to avoid aspartame, but at least it doesn’t seem to bother me like it does some people who say that aspartame causes them to have severe migraine headaches. (Using too much aspirin, acetaminophen, etc. is also said to cause hearing loss in men, but not in women).
I never use ice in drinks, and I don’t at all miss carbonation. I just like to have a flavor to mask the slight chlorine taste of tap water*, and I’m certainly not going to join the inane “bottled water” craze. Whats next, “designer” air/oxygen?
*P.S. Hell hath no fury like an obsessive-compulsive denied his or her obsession/compulsion!
• As Good as it Gets; OCD handwashing, locks, and lights [VIDEO, 01:05] – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y8EyIY-_I0
• Letterman Howie Mandel’s OCD [VIDEO, 02:17] – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3gg52jxzpI
In the UK and throughout the European community we have regulations in place which make it a criminal offence to sell a product which omits material information like geographical or commercial origin of a product etc the omission of which could influence or distort the economic behaviour of the average consumer here is the relevant regulation 6(4) Where a commercial practice is an invitation to purchase, the following information will be material if not already apparent from the context in addition to any other information which is material information under paragraph (3)—
(a)the main characteristics of the product, to the extent appropriate to the medium by which the invitation to purchase is communicated and the product;
(b)the identity of the trader, such as his trading name, and the identity of any other trader on whose behalf the trader is acting;
(c)the geographical address of the trader and the geographical address of any other trader on whose behalf the trader is acting; And here is part of a letter I have just received from West Yorkshire Trading standards team in response to a complaint made by me in relation to Sodastream devices on sale at Asda Stores Nationally which omitted this crucial information. ” If it could be stretched to the point that Asda might bear some potential responsibility under the Consumer Protection for Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in this instance there would be the need to consider if: [1] the omission of the actual place of manufacture was misleading: and [2] such an omission was likely to materially distort the economic behaviour of the average consumer. It was the view of this service that the omission of a place of manufacture was unlikely to be misleading and that whether a product is made in Israel or an area under Israeli control is unlikely to effect the economic behaviour of the average consumer. We compared Israel’s involvement on the west bank with South Africa at the height of Apartheid. In the latter case there was widespread and well known campaign to boycott products from South Africa which only had a limited effect, many people happily [or indifferently] continuing to buy South African produce. South Africa would not have effected the average consumer’s transactional decision. In the case of Israel and the West Bank there is no widespread call to such a boycott so we are of the view that even if they did know where the product was made the average consumers transactional decision would be unlikely to be affected. As such we would not be looking to take enforcement action against Asda nor offer them advice on this matter.” Tony Downham Divisional Manager [Business compliance]. This highly subjective view of the Regulations is in my opinion and in the opinion of many lawyers completely wrong, Aiding and abetting war crimes or contributing to their commercial viability is of no consequence to the trading standards team, fortunately the Trading Standards are not the only ones who can challenge Asda through the Magistrates courts, watch this space.