It was reported recently that as part of her contracts, Hillary Clinton insists on having a “case of room-temperature water (still only—no bubbles)” on hand at any event where she speaks. From this, we can assume a few things: The former New York senator may have sensitive teeth, and she is not unlike the 47% of women across the United States who prefer to drink their bottled water at room temperature.
This statistic from Nestlé Waters North America, Stamford, Conn., is just one of many trends in bottled water that are keeping the beverage category at the forefront of growth. Other trends:
- Sparkling water is the new carbonated soft drink. As consumers look for an alternative to CSDs, bottled water in general is one of the big winners, up 4% in c-store volume sales in 2014, according to IRI data. For consumers not willing to abandon flavor and carbonation, however, sparkling water is a baby step in a healthier direction, one many are taking: Sales of sparkling water grew 53% in 2014. Much of the allure, however, is a simple halo effect from still water, according to Montmore of Wawa. “It bucks the trend because people think it’s healthier, but it’s really the same stuff [as CSDs],” he says.
- Still water is the millennial’s drink of choice. Much has been written about what this up-and-coming generation wants. It turns out that from c-stores they want bottled water, the No. 1 packaged beverage in c-stores among 13- to 24-year-olds, according to Kantar WorldPanel.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.