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Bottled Water Production in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Timilehin Atere Timilehin Atere London, United Kingdom Last Updated: October 2024 SIC SP0.127

Revenue

£1.4bn

2024-25

£1.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

4,779

Businesses

77

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Bottled Water Production in the UK industry analysis

The Bottled Water Production industry continues to grow and innovate. The popularity of sparkling water, which surged during the pandemic, remains strong, prompting more businesses to expand their sparkling water offerings. Additionally, companies are increasing their range of flavoured waters to meet the growing demand from customers seeking more variety. Industry revenue is expected to increase at a compound annual rate of 1% over the five years through 2024-25 to approximately £1.4 billion, including growth of 6% in 2024-25. The industry has bounced back following the pandemic when industrial revenue shrank. Improved economic conditions, including easing inflationary pressures and higher consumer confidence, have driven revenue growth, leading to increased spending on water bottles. Growing health consciousness has also prompted consumers to choose water over sugary drinks or alcohol, further driving growth.

Trends and Insights

  • Water filters challenge bottled water sales. They provide a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative, allowing consumers to purify tap water at home. As environmental awareness grows, more people are opting for reusable bottles and filtration systems over single-use plastics.
  • Office water cooler demand rises with return-to-office trends. As employers push for workers to come back, convenient hydration solutions like water coolers are increasingly essential, catering to communal needs and reducing reliance on individual bottled water.
  • Wales offers abundant natural water sources for bottled water production. Its proximity to established bottled water producers in neighbouring regions could benefit businesses looking to minimise costs and ensure reliable supply.
  • Intense competition limits domestic growth in bottled water production. The soaring popularity of imported bottled water brands, primarily from overseas producers, often hampers the local industry's potential for expansion.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Water filter poses a threat to the industry

  • Water filter cartridges purify tap water by removing impurities like chlorine, heavy metals and bacteria. The emergence of water filters has challenged the bottled water industry by threatening sales.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Bottled Water Production in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Businesses will produce different mineral water to cater to growing health consciousness

  • Growing health consciousness will lead more industries to innovate their water to increase the health benefits of their water and make it stand out in the market.

Biggest companies in the Bottled Water Production in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Nestle Waters UK Ltd
137.7
Highland Spring Ltd
126.4
Nestle UK Ltd
106.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 8 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Bottled Water Production in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cooler water, Spring water and Natural mineral water. Cooler water is the largest segment of the Bottled Water Production in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Demand for natural mineral water is on the rise

  • Natural mineral water must originate from an identified and protected source, be free from pollution and be certified for consumption. Natural mineral water comes from a single underground source and has a distinctive taste.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Firms in this industry bottle still or sparkling drinking water in plastic or glass containers. Firms producing water to be dispensed in water coolers are also included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Cooler waterSpring waterNatural mineral waterBottled drinking water

Companies

Nestle Waters UK LtdHighland Spring LtdNestle UK Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 8 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

MINERAL WATERSPRING WATERTABLE WATERAQUIFERPOLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET)

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 11.07 - Bottled Water Production in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Water filters challenge bottled water sales. They provide a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative, allowing consumers to purify tap water at home. As environmental awarene...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Office water cooler demand rises with return-to-office trends. As employers push for workers to come back, convenient hydration solutions like water coolers are increasingly ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Wales offers abundant natural water sources for bottled water production. Its proximity to established bottled water producers in neighbouring regions could benefit businesse...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Intense competition limits domestic growth in bottled water production. The soaring popularity of imported bottled water brands, primarily from overseas producers, often hamp...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Nestle expands its flavoured water range to meet diverse consumer tastes. By offering a variety of options like lemon, lime and berries, they enhance customer satisfaction an...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Nestle Waters UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Highland Spring Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Nestle UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 5 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Nestle Waters UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Highland Spring Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Nestle UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 5 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Drinking Water Regulation 2018 impacts industry transparency. This regulation requires producers to disclose treatment details and clearly specify the water type and orig...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Bottled water profit rises with consumer confidence and office returns. However, the industry still faces challenges from growing water filter adoption and supermarket altern...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 77 businesses in the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Bottled Water Production in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Bottled Water Production market in United Kingdom are Nestle Waters UK Ltd, Highland Spring Ltd and Nestle UK Ltd

What does the Bottled Water Production in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Cooler water and Spring water are part of the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Bottled Water Production in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Nestle Waters UK Ltd.

How competitive is the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Bottled Water Production in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Juice Production in the UK
  • Beer Production in the UK
  • Soft Drink Production in the UK
  • Fruit Drink & Functional Beverage Production in the UK

Complementors

  • There are no industries to display.

International industries

  • Global Soft Drink & Bottled Water Manufacturing
  • Bottled Water Production in the US
  • Bottled Water Production in Canada
  • Soft Drink Manufacturing in Australia
  • Soft Drink, Juice and Bottled Water Manufacturing in New Zealand

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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