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The “black water” linked to The Real Housewives of New Jersey was a bottled drink marketed as blk., promoted by members of the Manzo-Laurita family. Its origin became the subject of competing claims and a lawsuit announcement in 2011. The available sources do not establish who originated the product, how that dispute ended, or whether the company is operating today.
What was the Manzo family’s black water company?
The product was blk., a specialty bottled beverage described in litigation-era materials as water infused with fulvic and humic acid. BLK Brands marketed the beverage as “blk.”; Creative Thinkers and its affiliate used the name “BLACKWATER.”
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Chris Manzo, Albie Manzo, and Chris Laurita were named as BLK Brands owners in the 2011 account from the plaintiffs’ law firm. The family connection was commercial and promotional: their visibility on RHONJ helped bring attention to the beverage, which was featured during the show’s third season, according to a later retrospective. That connection does not establish who first developed the drink.
Why did the drink’s origins become disputed?
Creative Thinkers and the Wilkie sisters gave different accounts of how the beverage began. The accounts below are claims reported in litigation-era materials and later coverage, not findings that establish either side’s story as fact.
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| Issue | Creative Thinkers’ account | Wilkie sisters’ account | What the available sources establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| When the idea began | The plaintiffs said they developed the product concept in 2009. | A later retrospective reports that the sisters said they developed the beverage in 2008, after their mother’s illness. | The sources present opposing origin stories; they do not independently settle the date or authorship. |
| Role of the Wilkies | Creative Thinkers said it agreed with the Wilkies to bottle the product and shared confidential information under an agreement. | The sisters’ reported account placed their development of the drink earlier. | The materials reviewed do not establish the terms of any agreement or resolve the competing claims. |
| Family’s involvement | The plaintiffs alleged that the Manzo-Laurita family and the Wilkies stole the BLACKWATER specialty concept. | The sisters’ reported origin account differs from the plaintiffs’ claim. | The allegation is not proof that the family stole an idea or that the sisters’ account was adjudicated. |
According to later reporting, the family encountered the Wilkie sisters and the beverage at a New York Fancy Food Show in 2010, after which it was commercialized as “blk.” This account describes the reported introduction and launch context; it does not resolve who originated the concept.
What happened in the lawsuit?
On December 15, 2011, Pillsbury, counsel for Creative Thinkers and Blackwater Innovations, announced that the companies had sued BLK Brands and named Chris Manzo, Albie Manzo, Chris Laurita, Jacqueline Wilkie, and Louise Wilkie. The law firm’s release alleged theft of the concept, trademark misappropriation, and breach of contract. It also said BLK had filed a counterclaim after receiving a cease-and-desist letter. These are descriptions from one side’s counsel, not neutral findings by a court. Pillsbury’s December 15, 2011 announcement.
A later retrospective says Creative Thinkers sent BLK a cease-and-desist letter in July 2011 and that BLK had already brought an action seeking trademark relief. It reports that the brand continued after the dispute arose and announced a brand extension in 2013. The retrospective says it could not locate a public ruling, settlement, or dismissal in the Creative Thinkers dispute. Without a verified final court record, it would be inaccurate to say the lawsuit proved the allegations or to claim a particular resolution.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the company still in business?
That is not established by the available sources. A report of later brand activity, a historical Amazon store, or trademark proceedings does not confirm current ownership, corporate standing, operations, or whether a bottle can be purchased now.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →New Jersey’s Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services provides an official route to search entities and obtain status reports and filed records, but no BLK-specific report is established here. The New Jersey business records portal explains the available search and records services.
USPTO TTABVUE records show later trademark activity involving BLK Brands, including an opposition filed in 2021 and another proceeding dated 2026. Those proceedings do not determine the outcome of the 2011 Creative Thinkers dispute or prove that the business is currently operating. USPTO TTABVUE party search.
Quick Recap
What can be said with confidence?
- The beverage was marketed as “blk.” and described in litigation-era materials as water infused with fulvic and humic acid.
- Manzo-Laurita family members helped commercialize and promote it, including through the show’s exposure; this does not prove they invented it.
- Creative Thinkers and the Wilkie sisters offered conflicting origin accounts, and the available sources do not establish which is correct.
- The December 2011 lawsuit announcement documents allegations and a reported counterclaim, not a court verdict.
- Later brand activity is reported, but current operations and the dispute’s final outcome remain unverified.
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