The water cooler market - France (2024)

1.2 A growing global market dominated by North America

The global market for drinking fountains is experiencing sustained growth, driven by dynamics linked to public health, sustainability and convenience. In ****, the market size was estimated at *.** billion USD and is expected to reach *.* billion USD by ****, posting a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.**% over the period ****-****. This growth reflects increasing demand for accessible, sustainable hydration solutions, against a backdrop of growing awareness of the importance of drinking water worldwide.

Global market size for drinking fountains World, ****-****, in $ billions Source: ****

The market is segmented primarily into three key applications: indoor, outdoor and commercial environments. Indoor hydration points, such as those installed in schools, offices and public spaces, represent a strategic segment, with a projected value of $*.* billion in **** and $*.* billion by ****. Outdoor applications, particularly in parks and leisure areas, are expected to reach *.* billion USD by ****, reflecting a growing need for solutions in natural environments. Finally, the commercial segment dominates the market with an estimated value of *.** billion USD in ****, and is expected to rise to *.** billion USD by ****. This segment is essential in environments such as shopping malls, restaurants and high-traffic pedestrian areas.

Product typology also plays a key role in the dynamics of this market. Wall-mounted fountains, ...

1.3 The French market

Drinking fountains are becoming increasingly popular in offices, workshops and factories across France. Seen as a simple and practical way of complying with regulations to ensure that all employees have access to drinking water points, dispensers are modernizing and now offer more than just cold water.

The graph below shows the decline in the number of bottled water fountains in France: although they are still the preferred choice in Europe, the trend in France is for these fountains to decline, in favor of network fountains, which offer better quality in terms of water safety.

growth in the number of bottle coolers France, ****-****, in thousands Source: ****

Networked water coolers, on the other hand, have enjoyed rapid growth. This solution offers many advantages, particularly for large companies, such as the ability to supply unlimited, purified water to employees.

number of network fountains France, ****-****, in thousands Source: ****

To estimate market size, we proceeded as follows:

- We know that there will be ***,*** water coolers in France in **** (***);

- Thanks to this AFIFAE report, we know that **% of these fountains are purchased (***);

- We know that a water cooler costs between €*** and €****, and that rental costs between €** and €**/month (***)

So we can estimate ...

1.4 The impact of Covid

The Covid-** pandemic and the restrictions it brought with it had a major impact on the fountain market.

As the workplace became a potentially dangerous environment and employees began to work from home, demand for water coolers, a device mainly used in offices and shared workspaces, began to decline.

Moreover, in France, concerns emerged about the spread of the virus through the use of water coolers. All the major players and the European water cooler association have taken new steps towards preventive and intensive cleaning of water coolers. A recent article from the European Water Cooler Association suggests that, in addition to normal preventive actions, communal water points should be cleaned more regularly.

Customers were encouraged to:

regularly reinforce their disinfection practices at water dispensing points by using disinfectant wipes or sprays practice good personal hygiene by washing their hands with soap and water, or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer regularly wipe frequently touched surfaces with alcohol wipes.

Behring, an innovative company in the drinking water sector, has even provided customers with a Covid communication kit, including stickers and posters containing instructions and reminders for a safer experience with their water cooler.

2.1 Application features

CASTALIE, the French microfiltered water company, has conducted a survey of over *,*** employees to gain a better understanding of water consumption practices in the workplace. This is a vital need, yet one that is still totally neglected or poorly managed in the workplace.

Within your company, you mainly consume water France, ****, in % Source: ****

Drinking water in plastic bottles remains the most widespread practice in the workplace. In fact, over **% of those surveyed say they prefer water in plastic bottles, while only **% buy glass bottles. In second place, **% of French people opt for tap water. Bottled water comes last with only *% of consumers. This is due to the unavailability of tap water bottles and fountains in the workplace, forcing employees to solve the problem by bringing their own water in bottles.

Which attitude best matches your employees and collaborators: France, ****, in % Source: ****

Access to a water source or water point (***) is not yet widespread in companies, with only *% benefiting from it. This demonstrates once again the extent to which most French people have to bring their own water bottle, with over **% of people in this situation. The remaining **% drink water directly from the tap.

In your opinion, the water consumption budget within ...

2.2 Demand drivers

Attention to the work environment

The French clearly express the need and desire to have a water cooler in a space dedicated to relaxation. Indeed, the water cooler, like the coffee machine, represents a place of contact and discussion, and also reinforces the image of cleanliness and hygiene in the workplace. The survey demonstrates this need, as **% of those questioned replied that they preferred to consume their water in a communal area.

For your personal water consumption, do you prefer: France, ****, in % Source: ****

Greater attention to health

When French people are asked about water purity, it seems that tap water is the preferred choice, with **% of the vote. Glass bottled water, which is less and less widespread, comes next, but still gets **% of the vote, and microfiltered water is the third choice, with **%. Microfiltered water is a device directly connected to the water supply network, which eliminates all impurities thanks to a system of membranes. It is objectively the healthiest option, and is supplied by mains water coolers.

Which type of water do you think is healthiest for you? France, ****, in Source: ****

2.3 Hydration in the workplace

The French don't drink enough water. In fact, a Culligan study carried out in February **** shows that only **% of French people drink *.* liters of water a day (***). To go even further, the ideal daily consumption of water is * liters a day, but only **% of French people drink this amount.

Percentage of French people with ideal daily water consumption France, February ****, in Source: ****

This has an impact on employees' health, both physically and psychologically. When the body is only * to *% dehydrated, physical performance declines, energy levels drop and fatigue sets in. At *% dehydration, thirst and muscular strength decline; at over *%, physical performance drops by **-**%, and the risk of headaches and dizziness is high. Furthermore, concentration, which is essential in the workplace, is highly dependent on water requirements. Indeed, when water shortages occur, the brain is one of the first organs of the human body to be affected: studies have shown that an individual's ability to concentrate gradually diminishes when the body suffers a water shortage of just * or *%. [***]

Despite the importance of water in a workspace, a survey conducted by AFIFAE shows that most employees in France are not satisfied with access to drinking water in their workspace. Over ¾ of companies ...

2.4 Water cooler rentals

The preference for the rental option has increased in recent years in the demand for water coolers.

There are, in fact, two management options when purchasing a water dispenser:

Rental, favored by companies, offers an attractive service (***). The contract includes insurance, servicing, maintenance and repairs. Buying has the advantage of reducing monthly charges. Costs will only be those of purchase (***) and maintenance.

An overview of the reasons why leasing is preferred to buying is summarized in the table below.

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2.5 Environmental concerns boost demand for water coolers

The absence of a communal area with a water cooler, and the rare efforts of companies to provide their employees with a water cooler, lead employees to bring their own plastic bottles which, as the graph below shows, are not properly selected and subsequently recycled. Increased attention to sustainability will therefore be a driving force for water coolers in the workspace in the years to come.

In your company, do you carry out selective sorting, particularly for the water bottles you use? France, ****, in % Source: ****

The graph illustrates the opinions of the French in April **** on plastic bottles, highlighting a marked environmental awareness. A significant majority of respondents (***) believe that these products have a negative impact on the environment, followed by **% who consider their negative effect on animals. What's more, **% believe that plastic bottles are consumed too much and are harmful to human health. Finally, **% of those polled were in favor of a ban on small-format bottles, underlining a growing rejection of these products.

These perceptions reflect a strategic opportunity for water coolers, particularly those connected to the network (***). These systems, which eliminate the use of plastic bottles, respond directly to consumers' environmental and health concerns.

As a result, point-of-use water ...

3.1 Market structure

In France, the water cooler business operates exclusively in the business-to-business (***). The water cooler market is segmented into * categories:

Fountain carboys Network fountains Atmospheric fountains

These types of fountain are mainly adopted by businesses, which account for **% of the market, but institutions and public authorities are also highly relevant in the adoption of this product, with a share of **%.

Locations of water fountains France, ****, in Source: ****

as explained above, water fountains can be adopted as the product itself, or as a rental service. The company is therefore developing through these two parallel activities.

3.2 Value chain

An overview of the value chain is given below.

3.3 Key players

The main players in this sector are listed below by revenue. They include large B*B companies specializing in corporate services, and smaller players who also offer direct solutions to consumers.

Three players lead the water distribution market in France: Culligan, Waterlogic and Château d'eau .

Culligan has established itself on the French and world markets. The group has * million customers, *,*** employees and ** stores in the region. Waterlogic, which specializes in network fountains, is present in ** countries and has *** distributors in France. Château d'eau is one of the French market leaders, with over *** employees and more than ***,*** fountains installed.

Key players in the water cooler industry, by sales France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

3.4 Water sources in France

AFIFAE (***) represents the main players in the water cooler industry, with over *,*** employees. Its mission is to promote, inform and represent its members.

The association provides market data and an overview of the main water sources used by its members. The map below shows the main locations of water sources adopted by AFIFAE members.

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The locations have been tested by the association and meet high quality standards, guaranteeing end customers:

optimal, controlled food safety (***) complete, high-quality management of bottle and cup supplies.

drilling from the source the bottling line delivery of bottled water to the distributor

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4.1 Offer overview

Three types of water fountain are currently available on the market: fountain carboys, network fountains and atmospheric fountains.

Carbonated fountain

This type of machine is easy to recognize. They feature a large plastic reservoir on top. This range of products is ideal for providing easy access to fresh water in the workplace. It's easy to set up and only requires connection to an electrical outlet. As the water is unfiltered, the only choice to be made concerns the type of water preferred, and the absence of filters makes the device easy to maintain.

There are, however, a few drawbacks: the risk of microbial contamination is higher than in other types of fountain, and the structure of the device requires the workspace to have a cool, sun-sheltered room for bottle storage. What's more, as the carboys are not connected to a network, regular supply management is essential, and this leads to the final major drawback of this type of fountain: the environmental impact of transporting and recycling the carboys.

Network fountain

Also known as filtering water fountains, these are connected to a mains water supply. These fountains offer purified water at will, thanks to their pre-installed filter which reduces residues and other ...

4.2 Prices

Water dispenser price ranges by machine type and associated costs

The various types of professional water dispensers are now available at affordable prices. But the associated costs still make renting water coolers particularly attractive financially.

Water dispenser prices by technology used

In addition to these costs, it's important to take into account all the extra costs involved in using the appliance. These include maintenance, filter replacement, cups, etc.

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4.3 Innovation

Standardization

European and national French associations have implemented a series of regulations aimed at improving standardization in Europe.

For example, the new size standard for *-gallon bottles was approved at the **** congress in Rome. A reusable bottle must fulfil several functions during its life cycle:

handling empty and full bottles, and manual/robot filling. use of chemicals for hot and cold water cleaning. adaptable to different cold water models and bottle caps, Final recycling of the rack and bottling line.

This new standard will optimize the size interface between bottles, shelves and bottling lines.

Innovation

One of the most recent innovations in terms of water quality and safety was represented by the new SAFEPATH CU + technology.

This invention is the fruit of cooperation between Cosmetal and the University of Camerino, one of Italy's oldest and most distinguished universities, which began four years ago and culminated in the SAFEPATH CU + patent, which protects the hygiene and safety of fountains.

The new SAFEPATH CU + technology is based on the antibacterial properties of copper, which provide continuous protection to prevent bacterial contamination of the drinking fountain. The system's effectiveness is linked to the design of the hydraulic circuit and the use of special antibacterial ...

4.4 The atmospheric fountain: A solution to water scarcity

Atmospheric fountains represent a major technological advance in the hydration solutions sector, combining sustainability, innovation and a response to the challenges of water resource management. These devices make it possible to produce drinking water from ambient air humidity, an abundant but under-used resource, particularly in regions where access to drinking water is limited or expensive.

The operation of these machines is based on an air dehumidification process, followed by a series of advanced filtrations and UV treatment. The aim is to guarantee pure, drinkable water. For example, according to the fontaine-direct website, a machine operating in a **% humidity environment can produce up to ** liters of water per day. In tropical regions like Mayotte, where relative humidity fluctuates between ** and **%, the output of these fountains could be considerably increased, potentially reaching dozens of additional liters per day. [***]

This potential has prompted some local decision-makers to test these technologies. in Mayotte, an atmospheric osmosis unit is currently being tested, with an expected output of ** liters of water per day. Although this water is not yet destined for direct consumption, it illustrates the possibilities offered by this technology for meeting domestic water needs, particularly for sanitary uses such as showering or washing.

Companies such ...

5.1 Regulations

Current legislation governing water coolers and related items is presented below.

In ****, the following laws were implemented in France.

- December: article ** of law no. ****-*** on the fight against waste and the circular economy (***), provides that:

"As of January *, ****, establishments receiving the public are required to be equipped with at least one drinking water fountain accessible to the public, where such installation is feasible under reasonable conditions. This fountain is connected to the drinking water network when the establishment is connected to a drinking water network. A decree will specify the categories of establishments subject to this obligation and the terms and conditions of application of the present paragraph."As of January *, ****, the free distribution of plastic bottles containing beverages in establishments open to the public and in premises for professional use is discontinued."

September: the bill on the fight against waste and the circular economy seeks to amendarticle L.***-**-* of the Environment Code once again. AFIFAE is mobilizing to prevent the public authorities (***) from over-transposing European directives and penalizing French players in the cup and water cooler sector.

- July: a draft decree banning certain single-use plastic products is presented to trade associations (***).

- June : European ...

5.2 The ACS standard

The materials used to store and transport water can have a negative impact on water quality: organic degradation, corrosion, appearance of toxic elements.

This is why, since ****, the Attestation de Conformité Sanitaire (***) has been mandatory for all devices coming into contact with water intended for human consumption. It applies to the materials, organic objects and accessories that make up these devices.

This standard can only be issued by laboratories authorized by the Direction Générale de la Santé, in application of article R****-** of the French Public Health Code. This means that all owners of businesses, communities and homes are responsible for the maintenance and conformity of their water systems, and for the quality of the water distributed to consumers.

By obtaining this certificate, fountain installers comply with the general health principles applicable to materials in contact with water intended for human consumption, and fulfill the obligations incumbent upon them.

French distributors only work with manufacturers who issue them with a sanitary certificate of conformity.

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6.1 Player segmentation

6.2 The analyst's eye

Context:

The water cooler market in France is changing rapidly, driven by ecological, economic and regulatory dynamics. Since ****, the French Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy (***) law has required establishments receiving more than *** people to install at least one drinking water fountain. However, compliance rates remain low, with only **% of the planned **,*** fountains actually installed by ****. At the same time, French companies are gradually adopting innovative water coolers such as atmospheric water coolers, which provide a concrete solution to global warming and water scarcity.

Major trends:

*st trend: A preference for network fountains. The number of bottle fountains fell by **.*% between **** and ****, from ***,*** to ***,*** units. conversely, the number of network fountains has risen dramatically, by ***,*** units, reaching ***,*** fountains in ****. This development reflects a growing preference for network-connected solutions, perceived as more modern, sustainable and adapted to the current needs of businesses and public spaces.

trend *: The French don't hydrate enough: In ****, the French are still not hydrating enough, revealing a major public health issue. According to a study conducted by Culligan in February ****, only **% of French people reach the recommended minimum daily consumption of *.* liters of water, essential for the body's proper functioning. The situation is even more worrying for the ...

• Culligan - Aquaventure
• Chateaud'eau (Groupe Primo Water Corporation)
• Aquafontaine
• Waterlogic France
• Laguneo
• Axô Fonaines
• Exquado
• Brita France
• Wattwiller
• Castalie
• Merci Walter
• Mistral Coolers
• Edafim
• BE WTR
• Flo Europe