UK water market reaches record levels
The UK market for plain water broke all records in 2022, according to the latest UK Water Drinks Market Reports from industry experts Zenith Global Commercial. Total consumption excluding dispense rose 14% to nearly 4,000 million litres and sales value jumped 17% to almost £3 billion.
“This is significantly above the pre-covid peak and demonstrates the powerful pull of convenient, healthy hydration,” commented Zenith Global Commercial Director Akos Petri. “2022 was the hottest year on record and people rely on water more in heatwaves. The end of covid restrictions clearly also helped.
“This is now a year round market, with much of the growth in moderately priced supermarket own labels,” Akos Petri added. “Natural source waters increased their share, benefiting from their environmental credentials.
“Although water dispense is growing too, and new packaging options such as cans and cartons have emerged, most of the volume is in lightweight PET containing recycled content,” he concluded.
Other findings in the Zenith Global Commercial UK Plain Water Market Report include:
- Still water is responsible for 84% of consumption, with sparkling on 16%, almost the same as in 2017.
- Natural source waters took a 92% share in 2022, up from 88% five years ago.
- Local UK waters accounted for 85% of volume, 4 share points higher than in 2017.
- The average UK supermarket/discounter price in 2022 was 39 pence per litre, compared with over £3 in hotels/restaurants.
- Supermarkets/discounters and hotels/restaurants are both £1 billion channels, with convenience/impulse not far behind.
- UK consumption has risen 17% since 2017.
- Consumption per person in 2022 averaged 58 litres per person, equivalent to over 1 litre per week, but less that half the level in various European countries.
Zenith Global Commercial is forecasting further, more moderate growth over the next five years to 4,300 million litres in 2027.
Full details of Zenith Global Commercial reports are available at www.zenithglobal.com/market-insights/reports or email insight@zenithglobal.com
