US water cooler market up to 5.5 million units
The US water cooler market has climbed to 5.48 million units in 2013, according to a new report from the sector’s leading specialist consultancy Zenith International.
Growth in mains water point-of-use coolers has accelerated to over 10% a year. The market is still dominated by bottled water coolers, with a 79% share, but their number has fallen in each of the last five years to 4.3 million. In contrast, mains water point-of-use coolers have gained share each year, rising 8 percentage points to 1.2 million units in 2013.
Commercial customers represent 94% of the point-of-use sector, whereas residential customers are far more significant for bottled water coolers, taking a 35% share.
As the cooler market has restructured, some of the leading companies have turned to acquisitions as a means of expanding their reach. There has been a high level of activity recently, with 15 transactions recorded since January 2012. The industry is now characterised by a handful of leading companies, with greater fragmentation at a regional and local level.
Tough competition has resulted in many companies adding office coffee supplies that allow them to offer a full range of services to commercial customers. Other typical portfolio products include small packaged beverages and kitchen hygiene products.
“Water coolers are now an essential service for staff in many businesses, but bottled water coolers have lost out to mains water point-of-use coolers due to a combination of cost, convenience and perceptions of environmental impact,” commented Zenith Regional Research Co-ordinator Cecilia Martínez.
Zenith forecasts continued overall growth, taking the market to 6.1 million units in 2018. “So long as companies focus on ways to provide better value for customers, there are significant opportunities for new entrants and existing players alike,” concluded Cecilia Martínez. Point-of-use coolers are expected to reach 29% of the total by 2018.
The 2013 Zenith Report on US POU and Bottled Water Coolers contains over 75 pages of market commentary, charts and tables together with company profiles. Contact Zenith International on tel +44 (0)1225 327900 or e-mail cmartinez@zenithinternational.com
Notes for Editors
- Two charts are attached for publication:
2013 US Water Cooler Market Chart 1
2013 US Water Cooler Market Chart 2
- For further information, please contact:
Cecilia Martínez, Regional Research Co-ordinator, Zenith International Ltd
7 Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB, United Kingdom
t +44 (0)1225 327900, f +44 (0)1225 327901
zenithinternational.com