- bottled water market peaks at 2.17 billion litres -
Highland Spring Ltd emerged as the fastest growing top five bottled water brand in the UK, growing by 12.2 per cent compared with market growth of 5.3 per cent according to Zenith International’s new 2005 Bottled Water Performance report released today (Tuesday 4 April).
The company also increased its dominance in the sparkling sector as the number one brand with 13 per cent growth outperforming the sparkling market which grew at 2.5per cent. Highland Spring still natural mineral water also saw excellent growth up 12 per cent compared to the sector’s growth at 5.7 per cent.
Bottled water is one of the fastest growing categories in the UK soft drinks market and Zenith shows annual sales growing to 2.17 billion litres in 2005 from 2.06 billion litres the previous year.
Highland Spring retained poll position as the UK’s leading natural mineral water producer with 255 million litres in 2005. With Highland Spring’s brand share growing to 7.4 per cent (from 6.9 per cent) the brand is now only a nudge away from Volvic with 7.5 per cent share and closer than ever before to the brand leader Evian. Highland Spring maintains third position in the UK’s bottled water league table. The “Top 5” comprise:
Market Growth Brand share 2005 Brand share 2004
1 Evian +8.4% 10% 9.7%
2 Volvic +7.3% 7.5% 7.3%
3 Highland Spring +12.2% 7.4% 6.9%
4 Buxton +3.4% 3% 3%
5 Vittel +5.7% 2.8% 2.8%
The Perthshire company also boasts the leading brand of children’s bottled water with Highland Spring for Kids holding a massive 28 per cent market share according to MAT AC Nielsen (February 2006, latest data).
Sally Stanley marketing director of Highland Spring said: “This has been a spectacular year for our Highland Spring brand. As the only independent bottled water company among the top five brands we are competing with major multi-national brands yet delivering some of the best results in the market.
“For me 2005 was a pivotal year in the UK food and drink industry. There was almost a public moment when healthy eating and drinking became a force for good. Jamie Oliver’s exposé of the appalling dietary habits of UK schoolchildren can take most of the credit for the public shame felt at that time.
“Highland Spring is certainly benefiting from the public debate on healthier eating and drinking as more consumers opt for natural, untouched, authentic products which are seen by an increasing proportion of the population as more beneficial to long term health and wellbeing.
“And if our understanding of the market is right, bottled water will achieve more space in many supermarket and independents due to its continuing dynamic performance.”
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
1. Still water continues to be the most popular choice of water with 70 per cent of consumers choosing to drink it compared to 26 per cent choosing sparkling (TGI 2005).
2. Highland Spring is sourced from an organic catchment area beneath the Ochil Hills in Perthshire Scotland.
Issued by:
Alison Laing/Eve Robertson
3x1
T: 0141 221 0707/07879 621139 /E: alaing@3x1.com/erobertson@3x1.com