In the decade from 1993 to the year 2003, the UK bottled water market (including water coolers), more than tripled. Since 1993, it has grown from just 580 million litres to an estimated 2.2 billion litres (Zenith International estimate as at November 2005).

The UK bottled water market is now worth over £1.5 billion.
Bottled water is a fast growing sector of the soft drinks industry in the UK. As a nation we now drink more bottled water than fruit juices/nectars, wine or spirits. UK bottled water consumption per person surpassed 35 litres in 2005, up from 30 litres in 2002. This is testament, perhaps, to the now ubiquitous acceptance of the advice to drink 8 glasses of water a day for optimum health.

“The mercurial UK weather does make planning for the peaks and troughs of consumer demand an ongoing challenge,” commented Gary Roethenbaugh, Research & Development Director at Zenith International. “However, bottled water, alongside still drinks such as sports drinks and a range of juice based beverages, has managed to battle the elements. If we were to draw a straight line over the past several years – the long-term growth trend is extremely positive. Over the last 5 years the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the UK bottled water market stands at 9.4%.”

Consumption levels in the UK have increased massively in five years: from 24 litres per person in 2000 to more than 35 litres per head this year. Zenith International estimates that this growth will continue, with bottled water consumption projected to reach 54 litres per person by the end of the decade. However, compare this with Italian bottled water consumption rates, which have grown from 167 litres per head in 2000 to an estimated 181 litres in 2005. US citizens drank an average 63 litres per head in 2000 compared with an estimated 94 litres in 2005. There is clearly considerable room for growth in the UK market.

Consumer demands have driven three main packaging developments. There has been considerable increase in the purchase of 50cl PET, 1.5 litre and 2 litre PET formats. Alongside this, water coolers, predominantly in 19 litre polycarbonate sizes, have made strong gains over the years. more