He spoke about the boost to the sector as a whole, which the warm UK summer weather had brought.
Dundon reported that there are between 500 to 700 operators in the marketplace bringing particular pressures in pricing for POU coolers, which have a total market value of £30m in the current year as against bottled water coolers, which is estimated to have a value of around £80m in 2013.
These findings were based on estimates by Zenith International which showed that the good summer accelerated the changes that were already emerging as the UK recession diminishes.
Turning to the importance of companies differentiating themselves on quality and value, not merely price, he underlined the importance of the BWCA in not only setting and auditing standards but in being seen to do so.
“Short-term, price-based strategy brings real problems unless you have an exit strategy that is also short-term,” said Dundon.
Describing the important of sound business practice based on a principle of ‘better before cheaper’, he also revealed that the keynote speaker at the forthcoming conference in April 2014 would be one of the UK’s most famous and inspirational business leaders, Lord Digby Jones Kt.
One of the ways in which ‘better’ business can be pursued is the standards of BWCA members being under continuous review. As part of this policy of continuous improvement, BWCA has launched a programme of research via independent consultants into all aspects of installation and supply of POU coolers, said the chairman, that would provide revised best practice guidelines for the future.
Shifra Sheikh of Defra had been forced to pull out of presenting to members and the BWCA secretariat was grateful to Matthew Orme of member company, Wenlock Spring, for stepping in to deliver a version of Defra’s presentation. He outlined the current plans by UK government to review the status of spring water and other regulatory matters, as part of the government’s ‘Red Tape Challenge’.
Also speaking at the conference was Phillipa Atkinson-Clow, BWCA’s general manager. She reported on progress by the association with regard to membership, events, publicity, publications, an FM survey and other matters. In particular, she described the series of hydration fact sheets which had been launched targeting specific industry sectors and designed to help members explain the benefits of healthy hydration. She outlined full details of the April 2014 BWCA conference and trade show and urged members to be proud of their BWCA membership, reminding them that being accepted into membership was the result of hard work, knowledge and high standards keenly met.
Jim Redford of Divine Water and Dan Oakley of The Water Delivery Company were voted on to the executive council and the membership also received and approved the treasurers’ report for the year.
Source: BWCA
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