WS Chronicle

Local man takes leap of faith and starts his own bottled water company

About eight months ago, local entrepreneur Larry Clark decided he wanted to do his part to help the African American community live longer, healthier lives. After losing his grandmother to cancer, Clark said he felt like he had to do something to help his community and that’s when he decided to start selling his own brand of bottled water, C’Nella Alkaline Water.

“More and more black people are starting to die from cancer and when my grandma died from pancreatic cancer, I knew I had to do something,” said Clark. “I’ve had several business ventures in the past, but I started thinking, what do people need to live? And the idea just grew from there.”

Clark said the journey to have his water bottled and sold in stores was long, but it was worth every moment. The name of the water, C’Nella, is a play on Campanella, Clark’s middle name and a family name passed down to him from his father, who died when he was 11 years old. He said Campanella was too long to put on the bottle, so he decided to shorten it to C’Nella.

After deciding on a name, Clark said he started doing research on types of water and the bottling process. He said when he first started the venture, he was going to go with spring water, but after learning about the health benefits of alkaline water, he decided that was the way to go. Because it is less acidic than regular tap water and spring water, alkaline water has a higher pH level, which means it is rich in alkalizing properties including calcium, silica, potassium, magnesium, and bicarbonate.

“After getting connected with the company, I had to wait for the recipe to be made. I had to make sure all my bottles were good and I had to get the recipe approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and from there we started bottling it, marketing it and now I’m here,” laughed Clark. “It was a long, hard process, but it feels good to know that I got it done.”

C’Nella Alkaline Water is bottled at Nature’s Big Spring in Calhoun, Georgia. Located in Gordon County, the water from the spring has no additives and a natural pH of 7.5+. The finished recipe has a pH of 8.0+. When discussing C’Nella, Clark said he is confident his water can stack up against the big names you see in stores. He said, “Because it has so many health benefits and it’s affordable, I can sit this bottle of water beside Aquafina or Dasani and still be confident with my product.”

Since receiving his first shipment last month, Clark has been busy traveling around the city marketing his bottled water. C’Nella Alkaline Water is available for purchase at several locations including Mo’s Chicken & Grocery (3112 Indiana Avenue.), Old Town Tobacco Outlet (3800 Reynolda Road), Shattalon Discount (5399 Shattalon Drive), B&S Super Mart (2850 Main Street), and several others. Clark also makes deliveries.

While helping people in the community lead healthier, longer lives with his water, Clark is also looking to help those in need find jobs. Clark is currently looking to hire sales reps to help market his product.

“I felt it was important to give back to the community because that’s who helped me get where I am today. If it wasn’t for people in the community sharing my posts on social media and supporting my dream, I wouldn’t be here,” said Clark.” Honestly, the community is building the brand for me. I’m just doing the legwork.”

A decade from now, Clark said he hopes to open his own manufacturing plant right here in North Carolina. He said even if he has to travel to Georgia to work everything out, one day C’Nella will be on the same scale as Pespi. He said, “Ten years from now, I see myself opening a bottling factory here. I want it to be on that Pepsi Cola, Dasani, Fiji water scale.”

Clark continued, “I’ll tell anyone looking to start their own business or become an entrepreneur, the only way you can make something happen is by diving in. If you have that kind of dream, don’t let it stay a dream. Attack it, go for it, and take that chance. You never know what that may bring.”

For more information on C’Nella Alkaline Water, visit C’Nella Water on Facebook.