Perhaps this is showing my age, but the best I can remember is a crowded bubble fountain in the girls’ toilets, which brings to mind all sorts of hygiene issues!
Of course, the healthy hydration message has grown much stronger since then and schools and other educational facilities have, most definitely, seen the benefits.
In the latest issue of Cooler Innovation magazine, I discuss the most recent developments in water cooler provision in this important sector. With a four-year-old daughter about to start school, I’m keen she is able to access clean, fresh water throughout the day, as all evidence points towards a well-hydrated class being able to perform better, both physically and mentally.
Aside from this, children do seem to love water coolers. We stayed in a hotel recently where there was a bottled water cooler in the lobby, and my four-year-old and her friends were constantly offering us cups of water whether we were thirsty or not! They loved the technology possibly more than the end product, which is a key issue for manufacturers in this sector. Make the coolers fun.
We’ve seen all sorts over the years here at FoodBev Media, from Kosmologik’s red and yellow flower cooler to Disney branding and other brightly coloured machines aimed at the school market. They must also be robust enough to stand up to little, meddling fingers and the odd fight in the corridor.
With legislation moving towards the provision of fresh drinking water becoming an obligation in schools, much has happened in the commercial sector, the educational field looks set to be a growth area for those ready to grasp it.
Tight budgets are a factor, especially in public-funded schools, but there should always be an opportunity for a quality cooler and top customer service.
Hannah Oakman is editor of Cooler Innovation magazine. Subscribe here.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024