Increasing consumer demand for a healthy soft drink options, the heightened awareness of the need to stay hydrated and the greater accessibility of bottled water in emerging economies have driven the strong growth of bottled water globally. The global charge by bottled water in recent years has been supported by strong growth in bulk formats, such as water for coolers, and the growing familiarization with small pack 'everyday hydration' in all corners of the globe. Access to safe water remains a challenge in many parts of the developing world. Here, bottled water is fundamentally relied upon through a variety of pack formats, sizes and distribution channels.
With a 9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the years- 1999 to 2004- bottled water has become a force to be reckoned with. Consumption in 2004 was notably knocked by poor summer weather in Europe. Despite this, the market advanced by 4.7% globally.
As the rise of bottled water consumption illustrates, health is becoming an increasingly influential factor in consumers' choice of soft drink. While bottled water has gained positively from this focus, other soft drinks, most notably carbonates, have been criticized for high sugar content. In particular, the rising issue of obesity is a major challenge for the soft drinks industry. There are currently more than 300 million obese people in the world, according to the World Health Organization, and the high consumption of sugar-rich soft drinks has been accused of contributing to this problem. Health issues are already influencing the dynamics of the soft drinks industry, and this is likely to become more pronounced as time goes on. In this climate, bottled water remains a likely beneficiary.
Research and Markets has added Zenith International's latest report: Global Bottled Water 2005 to their offerings. Zenith International reports provide the most reliable market figures and in-depth analysis of trends. This comes from a bottom up approach to the research process and detailed discussions undertaken with industry players.
Source: Research and Markets
