Evian 
UK: Highland Spring challenging Danone - CEO
11 June 2010
The CEO of Highland Spring has told just-drinks that the bottled water firm wants to challenge Danone's dominance in the UK impulse channel.
FRANCE: Heineken appoints distribution unit head
11 June 2010
Marc Roubaud is the new president of Heineken’s French distribution subsidiary, France Boissons.
Comment - Soft Drinks & Water - When Celebrities Go Bad
9 March 2010
Although celebrities were out in force at the Oscars last weekend, we are, thankfully, seeing less and less of them in the world of soft drinks. Once viewed by marketers as a powerful, albeit expensive, tool to draw consumers to a brand, the overpaid and overhyped celeb can become a loose cannon for the label.
Focus - CAGNY 2010: Danone's eye on emerging markets
19 February 2010
French food and beverage giant Danone has reiterated that it intends to focus on emerging and developing markets in 2010 with a target of increasing consumer penetration by 50%.
Insight - Danone Waters eyes growth in emerging markets
11 February 2010
French beverage firm Danone Waters said it will leverage its position in emerging markets in 2010 as volume growth in 2009 was entirely driven by those countries.
FRANCE: Danone Waters reports drop in FY sales
11 February 2010
Danone Waters has reported a drop in full-year sales, although volumes grew strongly in emerging markets.
FRANCE: Bank takes stake in Les Eaux St Armand
27 January 2010
French bank Crédit Agricole has acquired more than one third of the holding company that controls France's third biggest bottled water group, Les Eaux St Armand.
FRANCE/US: Danone confirms US leadership change
26 November 2009
Danone Waters has announced a switch of president and general manager at its Danone Waters of America unit.
just the facts – Danone, Wahaha dispute
1 October 2009
Danone said yesterday (30 September) it has agreed to sell its 51% stake in a joint venture with China's Wahaha, bringing to an end their long-running dispute and years of court battles across the globe. Here we look at five facts on the two companies.
US: Danone unveils limited edition ‘designer’ Evian bottle
23 September 2009
Danone Waters of America has partnered with fashion designer Paul Smith to launch a limited edition Evian bottle for the US market.
FRANCE: Danone H1 sales up, bottled water gains in Q2
24 July 2009
Danone has reported rises in net sales and profits for the first half of 2009, with bottled water sales recovering some lost ground in the second quarter.
Focus - Bottled water producers pray for day in the sun
15 July 2009
Today (15 July) is known as St Swithin's Day in the UK. According to folklore, if it rains on St Swithin's Day it will rain for the next 40 days in succession.* The British are, of course, fixated by weather, as evidenced by last month's heatwave. Whenever temperatures soar and the sun comes out, the nation goes into weather overdrive. “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun” wrote Noel Coward, not without some justification. Annette Farr looks at the opportunities open to water companies from the heat of a summer.
GERMANY: Danone to open bottled water depot
10 July 2009
Danone Waters is to open a distribution centre at the northwest German Port of Duisburg to handle its Volvic and Evian brands.
GLOBAL: Danone launches Evian advert campaign
7 July 2009
Danone has launched a global campaign to promote its Evian bottled water brand, after seeing sales struggle in mature markets.
Focus - UK soft drinks sector puts sustainability centre stage
16 June 2009
Environmental concerns have climbed steadily up the agenda for soft drinks producers in recent years. However, Annette Farr writes, progress has been faster in the UK than in the US.
US: Danone Waters appoints vice presidents
2 June 2009
Danone Waters of America has appointed two vice presidents.
FRANCE: Bottled water slip blackens Danone Q1 sales rise
16 April 2009
Groupe Danone has reported a 1% sales rise for the first quarter of 2009, but a slide in bottled water sales has accelerated from the fourth quarter of last year.
UK: Bottled water will spring back to growth in 2010 - research
23 March 2009
Bottled water sales in the UK will continue to fall in 2009, but the category is on-track to recover in 2010, according to a new report.
Focus - Troubled waters for bottled water?
17 February 2009
The economic downturn could not have come at a worse time for the bottled water industry. Not only is the category battling to win the consumer's pennies and cents, but it has also had to battle against a media onslaught against its environmental position. Times are certainly tough for water, but, as Annette Farr reports, there remains some hope, if you look hard enough.
UK: Danone moves to recycled plastic for Evian, Volvic
16 February 2009
French bottled water giant Groupe Danone has said that it will make its Evian and Volvic brands "plastics neutral" in the UK.
COMMENT: Danone still in troubled waters
13 February 2009
Danone's bottled water division emerged as the group's achilles heel in 2008, with some analysts suggesting the French giant would consider off-loading some of the business if it could.
Focus - Soft drinks: New products target the recovering market
6 January 2009
Detoxing is as much part of the holiday ritual as the excesses that make it necessary and, Annette Farr writes, today’s soft drinks market provides a plethora of products claiming restorative health benefits.
Focus - Leading water brands hit by credit crunch
3 December 2008
Bottled water was the fastest growing sector of the global soft drinks market in 2007 but as the economic downturn squeezes middle-class wallets in Western Europe and North America, there is evidence that tap water is making a comeback. Euromonitor International analyst Rob Walker believes the leading bottled water companies must maintain investment in these markets during the tough times in order to maximise returns in the long term.
US: Coca-Cola and Island Hospitality sign drinks deal
21 November 2008
The Coca-Cola Co. has signed a beverage contract with Island Hospitality Management, the operators of hotels under the Marriot, Hilton and Hyatt flags.
UK: Coca-Cola GB to buy Abbey Well water
12 November 2008
Coca-Cola Great Britain has announced its intention to buy Waters & Robson Holdings, owner of the Abbey Well mineral water brand.
FRANCE: Groupe Danone confident on 2009
6 November 2008
Groupe Danone, the French dairy and water giant, has said that it expects to achieve above-market growth in all of its business sectors next year, despite worsening economic conditions.
COMMENT: Bottled water hit by the crunch
27 October 2008
Branded bottled water looks like the early victim in the global economic downturn, following results from big hitters Nestle and Danone last week.
Focus - Leading bottled water groups respond to pressure
25 September 2008
The three leading bottled water brands in the UK launched the Natural Hydration Council (NHC) earlier this month. The organisation says it is not a lobby group but aims to research and promote the environmental, health and other sustainable benefits of natural bottled water. Ben Cooper spoke with the NHC’s director, Jeremy Clarke, about the challenges the NHC faces.
Research - Juices and water to lead growth in Middle East
5 September 2008
With a young population and increasing demand for a wider variety of soft drinks, the Middle East represents a strong growth opportunity for soft drinks producers, both international and local. Simon Maddrell of Euromonitor International picks out the 100% juice and bottled water categories as strong growth areas.
UK: Bottled water makers unite to form lobby group
29 August 2008
Top bottled water companies Nestlé Waters, Danone and Highland Spring, have launched a new industry lobbying association to jointly promote their sector.
Related research
Danone, Groupe - Soft Drinks – World
Euromonitor International's Groupe Danone Company Profile offers detailed strategic analysis of the company’s business, examining its performance in the soft drinks market. The report provides a strategic evaluation of the company, examines company shares by region and sector, offers a brand assessment and it addresses challenges from the competition and future prospects. Use it to understand opportunities and threats facing the business and the factors driving success.
Innovations in Bottled Water: NPD opportunities in flavored, functional, natural and premium waters
Between 2006 and 2010 the value of the combined US, European and Japanese bottled water market is projected to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0%. Volume growth will be healthy at a projected CAGR of 4.7% for the total market. In value terms, Europe is the largest regional market for bottled water and this will remain constant over the period. Of all markets, the UK is projected to see the highest rate of value growth at 8.7%, from $2.4 billion in 2006 to $3.3bn in 2010. The largest single market is the US market, with a value in 2006 of $15.3bn, projected to rise by $4.0bn by 2010. In monetary terms, this represents the greatest value growth, driven by the size of the market and a high projected CAGR rate of 6.0%. The still unflavored water category is the largest of all the bottled water categories. In 2006 the combined markets of Europe, the US and Japan was estimated to be worth $32.4bn. Still unflavored water is also by far the largest bottled water category in terms of volume sales. In 2006, volume sales for this category were estimated at 56.3bn liters. This is projected to rise by 12.1bn liters to a new level of 68.4bn liters in 2010.
2010 Bottled Water in the U.S.
A BRAND NEW AGE. This definitive report on the second largest beverage category by volume considers every aspect of this changing category and its competitive circumstances.Its detailed analysis covers regional and state markets as well as packaging, distribution, advertising, demographics and more. NEW IN 2010: Now includes a chapter on home and office delivery
