Full Story
From one simple idea to a healthier way of living
It started with a simple idea, healthy living should be part of everyday life.
In 1987, Tony Falkenstein saw an opportunity to bring chilled, filtered drinking water to New Zealand homes and workplaces. That idea became Just Water - and the beginning of what is now Just Life Group.
Over the years, our vision has grown beyond great-tasting water. We’ve brought together brands that help people create healthier homes, healthier lifestyles and better everyday living.
From clean, filtered water and fresh air, to natural daylight and products that support health and wellbeing, each step in our journey has been driven by the same brief.
A healthier life starts with a healthier environment.
Today, Just Life Group brings together a family of brands across Healthy Homes and Healthy Living, all working towards one shared purpose.
Enhancing the wellbeing of you and your home.
And while our business has evolved, one thing hasn’t changed - our commitment to doing the right thing for our customers, our people and our communities.
In detail
From water to wellbeing
Every business has a beginning. Ours started with an idea, a willingness to try something different and a belief that there was a better way to do things.
Over more than three decades, Just Life Group has continued to evolve — responding to changing customer needs, embracing new opportunities and expanding our vision of what healthy living can look like.
Here’s a closer look at the journey.
1987–2000
The foundations
The story begins in 1987 when Tony Falkenstein establishes Red Eagle Office Supplies.
A few years later, in 1989, the business enters the water industry through the rental of water coolers.
What began as an opportunity quickly developed into something much bigger. Our focus on providing convenient access to great-tasting water created the foundations for a business that would continue to grow and evolve
2001–2005
Building Just Water
The early 2000s marked a period of significant growth.
The acquisition of Cool Water in 2001 expanded our presence in water delivery. In 2002, the business became Just Water (NZ), giving the company a name that reflected its growing focus.
In 2003, Just Water International was established as we began looking beyond New Zealand.
Then, in 2004, following an $8 million IPO, we acquired Aqua Cool — at the time New Zealand's largest water delivery competitor.
The following year, we crossed the Tasman with the acquisition of Clearwater Pty in Sydney.
These years established Just Water as a growing business with ambitions well beyond its original beginnings.
2006–2016
Growing and evolving
The years that followed saw Just Water continue to develop its operations, people and customer base.
As the business grew, so did our understanding of what customers wanted from us. Water remained at the heart of the business, but our thinking was beginning to expand.
The foundations were being laid for the next chapter.
2017
A fresh direction
2017 became an important turning point.
We sold our Australian operations, reduced debt and refocused our investment back into New Zealand.
This created the opportunity to strengthen our foundations and think differently about where the business could go next.
2018
Beyond water
In 2018, Hometech and Dolphin Water Coolers joined the Group.
This was more than simply adding new businesses. It represented a shift in our thinking.
We began looking beyond water and towards the wider environment in which people live.
The idea of Healthy Homes became an important part of our future.
2019
Introducing Just Life Group
As our vision continued to evolve, so did our identity.
Just Water International became Just Life Group.
The new name reflected a business that was no longer simply about water. It represented a broader ambition to support healthier homes, healthier lifestyles and better everyday living.
It was the beginning of a new chapter.
2021
Growing Healthy Living
Our journey continued to evolve in 2021 with About Health and Herbal Ignite joining Just Life Group.
About Health brought a range of high-quality New Zealand-made supplements focused on supporting healthy living and happy ageing, while Herbal Ignite strengthened our growing Healthy Living offering.
Together, they represented another important step in broadening the Group beyond its origins in water and Healthy Homes.
Our vision was becoming clearer — bringing together brands and products that could support people in living healthier, happier lives every day.
2022
Continuing to build
Natural Solutions joined Just Life Group in 2022, further expanding our Healthy Living portfolio.
Each new addition has helped shape the Group we are today, while giving us opportunities to reach more people through products and services designed around healthier living.
Today
Looking forward
Today, Just Life Group brings together businesses across Healthy Homes and Healthy Living.
Our journey has taken us from water coolers and water delivery to a much broader vision of wellbeing.
But while the business has changed, the principle behind it remains simple:
We want to make everyday life better.
We continue to look for new ideas, new opportunities and better ways to support our customers, our people and our communities.
Because our story isn't finished.
The journey continues.