European watercoolers up 35% for 9th consecutive year
135,000 extra water coolers were installed across West Europe in 1998, taking the total past 500,000, according to a new report from specialist consultants Zenith International. "This is the ninth year in a row that growth has exceeded 35%, making it Europe's fastest growing service sector of the 1990s," comments Zenith Chairman Richard Hall.
Cooler numbers almost quadrupled in Italy and more than doubled in five other emerging markets - Austria, Finland, Greece, Spain and Switzerland. Five countries saw gains in excess of 10,000 - France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom remains by far the largest national market with 200,000 coolers at the end of 1998, followed by France on 84,000.
Despite poor summer weather in many Northern countries, consumption from water coolers also rose 35% to 357 million litres, over 1% of all bottled water for the first time. "Water coolers have been responsible for nearly 10% of bottled water growth in the past three years," adds Richard Hall.
Mergers and new market entries have been the other major points of interest. Five groups now have more than 20,000 coolers in their portfolio. The two top national distributors are still Ionics and Sparkling Spring in Britain, but they have been overtaken for the international lead by Culligan. "Since 1997 Culligan has made three key acquisitions while itself being acquired twice," observes Richard Hall. "It is now owned by the French conglomerate Vivendi. In 1998 Hong Kong based Watson made two UK purchases to reach 4th place. And this year Suez Industries took full control of 5th ranked Chateaud'Eau. The total value of 1998/99 transactions is already above $150 million and world market leader Perrier Vittel has just announced its European re-entry," he concludes.
The 1999 Zenith Guide to Water Coolers in West Europe contains over 400 pages, 16 country profiles and 164 company profiles plus full rankings and analysis. Contact Zenith International on tel +44 (0)1225 327900, fax +44 (0)1225 327901
Notes for Editors
1. For further information, please contact:
Richard Hall or Anya Bourke, Zenith International Ltd
7 Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB, United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)1225 327900 Fax +44 (0)1225 327901
Cooler numbers almost quadrupled in Italy and more than doubled in five other emerging markets - Austria, Finland, Greece, Spain and Switzerland. Five countries saw gains in excess of 10,000 - France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom remains by far the largest national market with 200,000 coolers at the end of 1998, followed by France on 84,000.
Despite poor summer weather in many Northern countries, consumption from water coolers also rose 35% to 357 million litres, over 1% of all bottled water for the first time. "Water coolers have been responsible for nearly 10% of bottled water growth in the past three years," adds Richard Hall.
Mergers and new market entries have been the other major points of interest. Five groups now have more than 20,000 coolers in their portfolio. The two top national distributors are still Ionics and Sparkling Spring in Britain, but they have been overtaken for the international lead by Culligan. "Since 1997 Culligan has made three key acquisitions while itself being acquired twice," observes Richard Hall. "It is now owned by the French conglomerate Vivendi. In 1998 Hong Kong based Watson made two UK purchases to reach 4th place. And this year Suez Industries took full control of 5th ranked Chateaud'Eau. The total value of 1998/99 transactions is already above $150 million and world market leader Perrier Vittel has just announced its European re-entry," he concludes.
The 1999 Zenith Guide to Water Coolers in West Europe contains over 400 pages, 16 country profiles and 164 company profiles plus full rankings and analysis. Contact Zenith International on tel +44 (0)1225 327900, fax +44 (0)1225 327901
Notes for Editors
1. For further information, please contact:
Richard Hall or Anya Bourke, Zenith International Ltd
7 Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB, United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)1225 327900 Fax +44 (0)1225 327901