One million water coolers in West Europe
The European water cooler market went from strength to strength in 2000, according to the latest Zenith Guide to Water Coolers in West Europe from Europe's leading drinks consultancy Zenith International.
Unit numbers grew by 36% and passed the one million mark at the end of 2000, compared with under 200,000 five years ago. Volumes rose 35% to 709 million litres, 2% of total West European bottled water consumption. "More significantly, water coolers have risen to 12% of all European bottled water growth," comments Zenith Chairman Richard Hall. "They are clearly the hot ticket of the moment and 2000 witnessed the entry of some of the biggest names in soft drinks including Coca-Cola HBC and Perrier Vittel."
The United Kingdom is still the leading market with a 36% volume share. France is second on 17%. Italy spurted ahead with 80% growth in 2000 to take third place. The emerging Austrian and Swiss markets saw even faster growth of 142% and 86% respectively.
"The leading companies are becoming increasingly international," Richard Hall elaborates. "There were 20 major acquisitions during 2000 and eight more within the first five months of 2001. The share of units held by the top ten groups has climbed to 52%."
AS Watson has consolidated its first place, introducing its new Powwow brand in July 2000. The group is now present in six countries, with national leadership in five and over 150,000 units in total. Culligan and Ionics are second and third in the distributor group rankings, the only two other companies with more than 50,000 units, though Suez and Nature Springs were not far behind.
"Over 20 new bottling lines were opened across West Europe in 2000 and early 2001. Eight countries are now wholly self sufficient, no longer relying on imported cooler water. With continuing high levels of investment, the market opportunities remain very strong. Zenith forecasts that the market could double to 2 million units by 2003 and treble by 2005 to over 3 million units. By 2005 volume sales are forecast to exceed 1.9 billion litres," Richard Hall concludes.
The 2001 Zenith Guide to Water Coolers in West Europe contains 455 pages, 160 company profiles and 16 country profiles. Contact Zenith International on tel +44 (0)1225 327900, fax +44 (0)1225 327901 or e-mail info@zenithinternational.com.
Notes for Editors
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
Unit numbers grew by 36% and passed the one million mark at the end of 2000, compared with under 200,000 five years ago. Volumes rose 35% to 709 million litres, 2% of total West European bottled water consumption. "More significantly, water coolers have risen to 12% of all European bottled water growth," comments Zenith Chairman Richard Hall. "They are clearly the hot ticket of the moment and 2000 witnessed the entry of some of the biggest names in soft drinks including Coca-Cola HBC and Perrier Vittel."
The United Kingdom is still the leading market with a 36% volume share. France is second on 17%. Italy spurted ahead with 80% growth in 2000 to take third place. The emerging Austrian and Swiss markets saw even faster growth of 142% and 86% respectively.
"The leading companies are becoming increasingly international," Richard Hall elaborates. "There were 20 major acquisitions during 2000 and eight more within the first five months of 2001. The share of units held by the top ten groups has climbed to 52%."
AS Watson has consolidated its first place, introducing its new Powwow brand in July 2000. The group is now present in six countries, with national leadership in five and over 150,000 units in total. Culligan and Ionics are second and third in the distributor group rankings, the only two other companies with more than 50,000 units, though Suez and Nature Springs were not far behind.
"Over 20 new bottling lines were opened across West Europe in 2000 and early 2001. Eight countries are now wholly self sufficient, no longer relying on imported cooler water. With continuing high levels of investment, the market opportunities remain very strong. Zenith forecasts that the market could double to 2 million units by 2003 and treble by 2005 to over 3 million units. By 2005 volume sales are forecast to exceed 1.9 billion litres," Richard Hall concludes.
The 2001 Zenith Guide to Water Coolers in West Europe contains 455 pages, 160 company profiles and 16 country profiles. Contact Zenith International on tel +44 (0)1225 327900, fax +44 (0)1225 327901 or e-mail info@zenithinternational.com.
Notes for Editors
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