Report Published on 16 Jun, 2009
West Europe cooler market advances towards 2.8 million units
Filed by Shaun Weston
The west Europe water cooler industry is fast approaching 2.8 million units in active use, having witnessed growth of almost 30% in four years, according to new research from food and drink consultancy Zenith International.
© Zenith International
In 2008, a 17% climb in the point of use (POU) segment more than offset a 3% decline in bottled cooler placements, bringing overall growth to 3%.
The UK and Italy continued to reign as the leading cooler countries in west Europe, with a combined unit share of 42%. Across the region, performance varied markedly. While the UK and Netherlands recorded net declines, Greece, Italy and Denmark were notable for their strong performances.
Plumbed-in mains water POU is the more dynamic sector, sustaining impressive double-digit annual growth and presenting an ongoing challenge to bottled coolers.
“Well-established bottled cooler markets are providing a key platform for POU development,” said Zenith director Mark Groves. “With POU operators heavily promoting the perceived cost savings, convenience, hygiene and environmental benefits over bottled coolers, many end-users are encouraged to convert. This has prompted a growing number of operators across Europe to offer both formats.”
In 2008, the UK and Italy were also the largest POU markets in west Europe. Across northern Europe, the more mature bottled cooler markets have witnessed a slowdown in recent years. In 2008, the fall was compounded by a combination of poor summer weather, the impact of the global economic crisis, scrutiny of its environmental credentials and media reports about cooler hygiene. The younger markets of southern Europe generally reported much higher growth rates during 2008, with Greece the star performer, seeing unit growth in excess of 10%.
Zenith forecasts that, during the next five years, more than 700,000 cooler units will be installed across west Europe, bringing the combined installed base to about 3.5 million in 2013, with the share of POU expected to surpass 40%.
Source: Zenith International
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