Bottled water has been the year-over-year success story in the North American beverage market. With the hydration beverage becoming the No. 1 category by volume at the end of 2016, bottled water has remained a steady performer. However, bottled water’s success isn’t just coming from the value-based segment as the premium and super-premium offerings expand their presence.
“Over the past five years, bottled water has been the biggest contributor to beverage category growth, as consumers are gravitating toward healthier alternatives and away from traditional sweetened beverages — and carbonated soft drinks, in particular,” says Neil Kimberley, Essentia Water’s chief strategy officer. “In the same time period, premium water growth has accelerated.”