A go-ahead Bradford business pioneering a radical new energy drink is being backed by a West Yorkshire business initiative.

Entrepreneur Yasar Hussain, who identified a gap in the market for caffeinated water, has become the sole British supplier of Water Joe after discovering it was not available in the UK.

The drink, invented in the United States and manufactured in Germany, has the equivalent caffeine of one cup of coffee.

Mr Hussain, managing director of HSK International Brands, is being supported by West Yorkshire Ventures, the agency set up to help businesses with the potential to turn over £1 million within three years of launch. It aims to help 500 pre-start businesses by 2009.

"Water Joe is aimed at people for whom there aren't enough hours in the day," explained Mr Hussain.

"It tastes exactly like water but contains more caffeine than a can of Red Bull.

"Having conducted market research, our findings proved there is a real thirst for a product that is both stimulating and refreshing and can be used as a weapon against the afternoon energy slump."

Since its UK launch last year, four million bottles of Water Joe have been sold nationwide at petrol stations and in Tesco. Having turned over £1m in its first year, HSK aims to treble that figure this year.

HSK said it plans to manufacture Water Joe in Bradford before the end of the year.

Mr Hussain added: "Our business plan, which was financed by West Yorkshire Ventures, helped secure the UK rights to Water Joe - a critical factor and essential foundation stone in ensuring the business has the ability to meet its high-growth potential."

Anne Salisbury, manager of West Yorkshire Ventures, said: "HSK's' dynamic and can-do attitude left us in no doubt that they could cope with the demands of distributing Water Joe on a national scale.

"Having brought a new product to the UK market, HSK is filling the gap between traditional coffee, pure water and glucose laden sports and energy drinks.

"Yasar's enthusiasm and the innovative product have left us in no doubt of the future success of the company." Alex McWhirter, head of enterprise at Yorkshire Forward, said: "West Yorkshire Ventures has already helped 200 diverse companies get from an idea to trading.

"HSK is another example of a company with great potential and real aspirations for the future."