This resulted in the total number installed slipping by 6.6% to 1.55m units, as customers cut back on spending. The challenging external conditions also affected consumer demand for bulk water, leading sales volumes to dip by 8.5% to 1,590m litres.
“Bottled water coolers are the most common type of unit, with Lithuania and Belarus the only countries where dispensers and pumps represent the majority of installations,” says Zenith senior market analyst Charmaine Holmes. “Dispensers and pumps are most popular in domestic settings, serving as a replacement for tap water and an alternative to bottled water available through retail outlets. In 2009, they accounted for just over 30% of placements.”
Russia and Poland are the largest bottled cooler markets in the region in terms of units and volumes. While Russia remains the bigger overall, Poland reported one of the most positive performances in 2009, as the only country in the region not to fall into recession.
Mains-fed water coolers, known as point of use (POU) machines, are now offered in many countries across East Europe, but uptake remains limited in most. Nevertheless, there are certain markets – notably Poland, Hungary and Russia – where distributors are successfully demonstrating the convenience and long-term potential cost savings of POU.
With the concept established in West Europe, POU is expected to challenge bottled cooler dominance in the long-term. The 2010 Zenith Report on East Europe Coolers has been revamped in a new, easy-to-read presentation-style format, while still providing the same in-depth market analysis and insight.
The market is expected to return quickly to growth as the economic situation improves, enabling operators to more than recoup lost contracts. By 2014, Zenith anticipates that there will be just over 2.0m bottled water coolers, dispensers and pumps installed across East Europe.
The 2010 Zenith Report on East Europe Water Coolers contains 422 pages of market commentary, charts and tables, together with company profiles.
Contact Zenith International: +44 (0)1225 327900 or via email
Source: Zenith International
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