Issue 24 |

COOLER INNOVATION

FoodBev com A world of food and drink

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Postcards from Barcelona

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SPECIAL REPORT

Coolers in the home

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Logistics

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East Europe

NEWS

Top 2009 innovations

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Issue 24 - December 2009 路 January 2010

Inside this issue 5 6 6-16 17-20 22 23 24 26-29 30-32 32-33

63 65

The editor’s view

COVER

52 STORY

A word from Editor Hannah Oakman.

Postcards from Barcelona

Cooler business For regular industry news updates, visit www.foodbev.com/cooler

Business Innovations Vending Marketplace Events Drinking water Associations Appointments

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A review of the European Bottled Watercooler Association conference and trade show in Barcelona, Spain from cooler innovation Editor Hannah Oakman. © Mauro Bighin | Dreamstime

Host Milan review Cosmetal’s Federica Diotallevi reports from the event.

Event preview The latest news from the planned BCWA trade show in February 2010.

SPECIAL REPORT

Homing in Deputy Editor Medina Bailey takes an in-depth look at the latest water coolers on offer for the elusive residential water cooler market.

Business view Contingency planning in focus with Bluefin Insurance group.

Watershorts News from the wider water industry.

Cooler views Everything you need to know about plant audits from resident expert Mike Hurst.

EBWA matters

FOCUS

The soft approach cooler innovation explores the latest software options for water cooler companies.

The latest from the association following the Barcelona show.

72 74

Marketplace cooler innovation products and services guide.

Light at the end Taking reusable bottles to the next level.

MARKET

50 PROFILE

Growth and opportunity Eastern Europe regional update.

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

CONTENTS 3

The editor’s view

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Seeking out the opportunities

s 2009 draws to a close, it would be fair to say that it has been a challenging year for most of us in the business community, whichever sector we work in. We have faced deep recession and rising unemployment, with a healthy dose of swine flu to top it all off. The bottled water industry has also had to face up to harsh criticism from anti-bottled water lobbies, constantly fighting off a barrage of environmental questioning, while companies and public bodies turn to the tap instead. Some businesses, sadly, will not have lasted the year, but those that have will no doubt come back stronger - with a more innovative, ethical and sustainable plan for the future. The water cooler industry has always been entrepreneurial, and in times of crisis, this stands people in good stead.

Solutions in Spain The recent European Bottled Watercooler Association show in Barcelona certainly tried to seek out some opportunities. The conference and trade show, while significantly smaller than the huge shows of the early noughties, still aimed to find some constructive ideas for the

COOLER innovation

Barcelona welcomed the EBWA crowd

future. Market figures show that the more established markets in bottled coolers are certainly stagnating, either through saturation of the market, lost accounts or customers switching to the tap, with recession, naturally, compounding the problem. Some speakers were convinced that the mains-fed opportunity (not threat) is the only way forward. In fact Deputy Chairman of EBWA Michael Barnett urged all national associations and the EBWA to take this opportunity as seriously as possible. Different markets hold varied appeal and while growth is slowing in Western Europe, the opposite could be said of Eastern Europe,

especially when looking at the residential market. This issue of cooler innovation includes a market update on the region, showing the latest facts and figures, plus companies which are making real inroads.

Hannah Oakman

This issue also includes a short preview of what will be on offer at the British Water Cooler Association show in February 2010, as well as our pick of the top ten innovations of 2009 (see page 19 for more).

become a lot noisier with less sleep as I will be taking a break from cooler innovation in January to go on maternity leave. So look out for some new faces on the editorial team in the next issue.

New year resolutions

And here’s wishing you all good luck for the coming year, whatever it may hold!

So what will be in store for this industry in 2010? I predict more innovation in environmental and cost saving measures, plus even more of a spotlight on carbon and water foot printing and measurements. From a technical viewpoint, the internet and social networking sites will become more and more important to the water cooler industry. On a personal note, I predict my life is set to

Hannah Oakman

Next issue, January 2010 • Special report filtration • Focus - coolers in high risk areas • Market profile - USA and Canada • Insight customer service

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EDITORIAL 5

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International cooler industry news

Business Brita acquires Waterhouse AA and Enviva brand

rita, a leading global supplier in drinking water filtration, has acquired the rights for the manufacture and distribution of plumbed in water dispensers from Waterhouse ATT. From January 2010, Brita can produce and market the successful products in the Enviva range of drinks units from Waterhouse. This multi award winning series leads in both design and technology and fulfils the particularly strict hygiene requirements in this sector without any restrictions. Brita stated it had laid the foundations for another product division that will be expended over the coming years. Since it was founded over 40 years ago, Brita has

from the domestic installation.

developed from an inventor of table top water filters and a one man operation into an international group of companies. In many countries, Brita is synonymous with domestic water filters.

Since 1980, Brita has also manufactured water filters for professional consumers in the catering and service sectors. Its third division, Brita Integrated Solutions, enters into partnerships with international manufacturers of domestic appliances.

Even today, the company continues to develop, produce and distribute its domestic drinking water filter solutions very successfully. The Brita domestic water filter optimises tap water for the preparation of hot and cold drinks and food by reducing limescale and chlorine, as well as lead and copper,

Markus Hankammer, Managing Director of Brita commented: “This acquisition is leading to a very attractive expansion of our know-how and technological expertise in an extremely interesting segment. On the one hand, we can enter the segment immediately and consistently with the Enviva series. On the other hand, there is an additional incentive

for us, in that Waterhouse ATT, which will remain as a development organisation for water filtration technology, will be exclusively providing us with its expertise for this special segment of plumbed in water dispensers.” The Enviva product line will continue to be marketed under its existing name but will be transferred into its own company, Enviva GmbH, as a 100% subsidiary of Brita.

US HOD business Crystal Springs has acquired Cohutta Water

ombining Cohutta’s resources with its own, Crystal Springs will expand its home and office bottled water delivery service further into the greater Atlanta and Nashville areas and additional Georgia and Tennessee communities.

As a result, Crystal Springs will be able to enhance its investment in the local economy and provide unsurpassed customer service. “Crystal Springs is committed to providing outstanding customer service and the delivery of safe, quality bottled drinking water, filtration systems and coffee service to these established communities,” said Mike

Williams, Mid South Vice President and General Manager. “With the acquisition of Cohutta Water, we will be able to expand the reach of our bottled water delivery service and filtration service options and ensure that we continue our rich history of superior water delivery service. We welcome these new members of our Crystal Springs family and look forward to earning their business.”

Established in 1996, Calhoun, Georgia, based Cohutta Water had applied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 29 June 2009. Cohutta Water is a mountain spring water which comes from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, an ancestral land of the Cherokee Indians. Crystal Springs has delivered water to homes and offices across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic for over 80 years. The source of Crystal Springs can be found in the Chattahoochee National Forest, within the quiet woodlands west of Ocala, Florida, or from deep in the earth near Lancaster,

Pennsylvania. Crystal Springs is part of Atlanta based DS Waters, which was created in 2003 and operates across the United States with brands including Alhambra, Belmont Springs, Crystal Springs, Hinckley Springs, Kentwood Springs, Nursery Water, Sierra Springs and Sparkletts, and Roast2Coast, a coffee delivery service.

6 NEWS

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Water Wellpoint puts finger on pulse of local community

K based wellbeing company Water Wellpoint is playing a key role in supporting Maidstone Borough Council’s help and advice initiative, the ‘Maidstone Gateway’, with the installation of a wellbeing kiosk located in the centre of Maidstone in Kings Street. The first community support initiative of its kind in the UK, jointly sponsored by Kent County Council, the Maidstone Gateway offers residents convenient physical access to frontline customer advisers from a wide range of public services in a modern, informal and friendly setting. A broad selection of services are provided by the Council’s staff, plus other agencies such as Citizens Advice. The Water Wellpoint kiosk has been a successful part of the Gateway in Maidstone since it was launched in January 2009.

The Water Wellpoint is a unique interactive health kiosk that allows individuals to self-test themselves at work using six key indicators of their general health. The vital signs include weight, hydration quota, body mass index, body fat content, heart rate and blood pressure and can be measured simply and accurately in around five minutes. A printout of results is provided, showing how an individual compares with accepted medical standards, giving users a quick and easy early warning system for potential problems, as well as a way to highlight areas they can work on to improve their personal health and wellbeing. With the Gateway open throughout the week, late on Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings, there’s plenty of opportunities for individuals to measure their health vital signs as Water Wellpoint MD Ben McGannan explained: “We’ve had an overwhelming response from Maidstone residents, with more than 970 checks completed since January 2009. “The Wellpoint kiosk provided a valuable insight into their current health and wellbeing, with some interesting results. The blood pressure

tests taken by men and women show that they are below the comparable national average in Maidstone. In contrast, it appears tested men from the region are above the national average weight compared to women who fall below. However, the tests taken by women show a body fat content above the national average, while tests by men were below. Overall, the results showed that Maidstone women are slightly less dehydrated than the comparable national average. “The Maidstone Gateway is a fantastic initiative, providing local residents with easy access to a range of services. It’s particularly encouraging to see that Maidstone Borough Council has such a forward-thinking approach to helping people take

control of their health and wellbeing by providing access to health checks through our Water Wellpoint Kiosk. The number of individuals who have already used the kiosk for their own health check proves that people are interested in taking an active role in their wellbeing. Hopefully, the success of this initiative will encourage more residents to take steps to enhance their health and drink more fluids.” “The Water Wellpoint is an excellent machine that delivers immediate value to our own staff and customers of the Gateway,” said Paul Taylor of Maidstone Borough Council. “Not only does it support Maidstone Borough Council’s ‘Wellbeing year’, it also empowers the community to make informed decisions about their health.”

Viteau strengthens position

utch water cooler company Viteau Watercoolers has taken over the business of Sparkle Watercoolers from September 2009. This step enables the Oudewater-based company to reinforce its position as the largest independent player in the Dutch water cooler market.

Our ambition is to continue expanding our business. We will do so through organic growth, but also through acquisitions such as this one.”

The acquisition of Sparkle is in line with the business strategy of Viteau, a company that intends to continue growing even in the current economic conditions.

Since 1996, Sparkle has supplied water coolers and mineral water to private and business customers. Over the years, the company has developed into a formidable regional player. Personal attention and quality of service are the cornerstones of the company’s success.

“We’re looking beyond the present crisis,” said MD, Benno Kuyff. “Our company is healthy and we have confidence in the future.

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NEWS 7

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Eden Springs UK site wins award

den Springs, the office water cooler supplier, has won the International Web Marketing Association’s best business to business website award for its UK site. The competition covers 96 different categories, and competitors in the B2B category included companies such as Panasonic, Siemens, Office Depot and Hewlett Packard.

Letters Dear Editor, Regarding the article titled “CarboCooler patent upheld”, published in the 2009 August-September issue of the bimonthly magazine, cooler innovation - which we highly appreciate and are regular long term subscribers - we would like to kindly inform you about the following:

Eden’s English language site from the UK, launched early 2009, was submitted to represent the company. A panel of international judges scored Eden’s site higher than all other competitors in the category. The assessment was based on seven key criteria, scored on a scale from 1-10: • Design • Innovation • Content • Technology • Interactivity • Copywriting • Ease of Use

Eden Springs UK Marketing Manager, Damien Higgins, said: “Eden Springs now places its website at the very heart of its business. The evolution of the UK website has been guided by the company’s core aim of adding value for the customer, and the whole Eden team is delighted that these efforts have been recognised and rewarded.”

Portola praised for ethical practice

According to the legal documents and facts in our possession the article erroneously states false facts. The truth is the following: 1. The holder of the CarboCooler patent, Waterservice Kft - which is owned by the ClearWater Company Group has not won the lawsuit initiated for patent infringement against myself, György Róna and my colleague, János Ocsenás, as inventors. 2. For patent infringement no procedure was conducted. A lawsuit in which we asked to own intellectual property is in full compliance with the applicable legal regulations and technical conditions. The first trial date of the case is set for February 2010, thus no judgment against us could have been rendered in the case so far, especially so, since the subject of the procedure is not patent infringement.

aps and closures company Portola, based in Doncaster, UK has achieved recognition from a global branded beverage customer in respect of its ethical working practices.

3. The Hungarian Patent Office did not declare any infringement regarding the intellectual property of Waterservice Kft.

The recognition follows a September 2009 audit. The Doncaster Plant produces closures for the very competitive dairy industry and supplies the top FMCG beverage customers in both the UK and Europe with flat caps and sports caps for ESL, aseptic and cold fill applications.

“Everyone at Portola UK has worked extremely hard to gain this recognition and should be proud of their contribution towads gaining this award.”

4. The Hungarian Patent Office, proceeding as the first instance authority, in its resolution did not find that we had violated the patent rights of any member of the ClearWater Group - such as Waterservice Kft - or anybody else’s.

Portola is committed to both ethical and environmental working practices and will continue to improve its working procedures in order to minimise its impact on the environment.

We respectfully ask the Editor to publish our letter in the next issue of cooler innovation, to make sure that our point of view receives proper publicity and our clients are properly informed concerning this matter. We are ready to provide all documents verifying this letter. We wish you further success in your work.

The audit was carried out by an independent professional body. Managing Director Glenn Heighington commented:

Recently Portola UK achieved its Level 1 BRC/ IOP re-certification and is ISO90001/140001 accredited.

Respectfully yours, György Róna, János Ocsenás Budapest, 24 September, 2009

8 NEWS

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NSF sponsors children’s exhibit on water safety and conservation

ublic health organisation NSF International is helping sponsor a multimedia exhibit at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum featuring the popular character Bob the Builder. The Bob the Builder — Project: Build It exhibit was created by the Indianapolis Children’s Museum to help children learn about sustainable home construction and provides workshops that demonstrate how to assemble new sink

parts, use tools and conserve water. Bob the Builder and his Can-Do Crew teach children environmental awareness, social, team building and other development skills. NSF International is adding to this by including an exhibit to highlight the importance of water conservation, sustainable home construction and ways to protect the quality of drinking water. There will be a replica of a house where the NSF Mark

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will be displayed on home building products that NSF International tests and certifies. The exhibit is now open and closes on 28 February 2010. It is part of NSF International’s mission to help cultivate a more sustainable

future to protect public health and the environment. To help consumers choose ‘green’ products with confidence, NSF International offers green living tips on its consumer website, which provides eco-friendly cleaning tips for homeowners, information on the importance of recycling and water conservation, and ways to protect water quality.

NEWS 9

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Cosmetal Niagara water coolers provide drinking water at COP 15 Summit

osmetal, and its Danish partner Air Consult, are proud to be among the suppliers of the COP 15 - The United Nation Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen. John Christensen, Air Consult founder and owner, commented: “Air Consult regularly supplies the Bella Centre and other important conference halls in Denmark. “The constant business relationship, the reliability of the products provided

and the excellent service contributed to create an outstanding reputation and confirmed the company’s role as a supplier also in such an important international event.” As a result, Cosmetal Niagara water coolers

provide fresh drinking water to government and NGO delegates from all over the world at the UN conference. Water coolers represent an effective, efficient and green alternative to bottled water. The opportunity they offer to reduce pollution and CO2 carbon footprint is very important and widely appreciated, especially in such a context.

The Italian manufacturer is committed to promoting sustainable development and preserving our planet for future generations, through eco-friendly products and a ‘green’ attitude. It has recently introduced an energy saving device on its Niagara range and is only sending out electronic Christmas greetings as part of this commitment.

North Cove Springs receives expansion grant

orth Cove Springs has been awarded a $310,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund that will assist with the company's growth and expansion at its production facility in Marion. North Cove Springs, located along the boundaries of the Pisgah National Forest in the North Carolina mountains, taps water directly from natural

springs. North Cove bottles, markets and distributes spring water as well as a line of 100% naturally flavoured water beverages to regional and national retailers.

The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant

funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches. North Cove Springs, whose ownership includes Able Rebuilders LLC, a national tools remanufacturer headquartered in Florida, will invest more than $6.3 million and create 138 jobs in McDowell County.

Sparkling water on Domino Day 2009 from Watercompany

ince 23 September, more than 90 builders from 14 European countries have been busy building fields of domino stones, which will hopefully all fall down. To meet the hydration needs of the ‘builders’, Netherlandsbased water cooler supplier Watercompany has supplied pure drinking water by installing a number of Waterlogic water coolers. When the challenges are in progress, people will be able to make use of these water coolers. The 2009 event is called ‘The World in Domino The Show with the Flow’. Organisers plan to show different aspects of the

world, with the display moving from continent to continent. The design uses 4.8 million dominoes. 4,345,028 dominoes need to be toppled in order to break the standing world record. Domino Day is a world record attempt for the highest number of toppling domino stones, organised each year by Endemol Netherlands. Together with Robin Paul Weijers, also known as Mr Domino, parties team up to set a new world record. © cooler innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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Aqua Cure appointed Style distributor

K supplier company Aqua Cure has recently been appointed UK distributor for Style, Italy’s range of products. Style produce a range of up market, recycling receptacles. These are mainly aimed at the vending market but two of the models fit well with the water cooler market. These are high quality metal units designed to last.

The company is also busy working with Lancaster University and have a post graduate student on an Environmental Masters Course. Johanna Jung is a German national and as part of her degree assignment

will carry out a study with its Aqua Dosa product in mind to look at the German water cooler market, specifically regarding sanitisation. Founded in 1859, Aqua Cure, is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of water filtration, purification and treatment systems. The company's headquarters are located

in Southport, Merseyside and has extensive facilities for manufacturing and assembling as well as supplying parts and components for most known systems. British owned and independent, it offers an extensive range of both branded and Original Equipment Manufacturer products.

Greencore sells water business to Highland Spring

reencore Group has announced that it has agreed to sell its bottled water business - Greencore Mineral Water - to Highland Spring. Established in 1987, Greencore Mineral Water is the UK’s largest provider of customer brand mineral water, supplying over 200 million litres to UK supermarket retailers as

well as to wholesalers and foodservice customers around the country. It operates from two facilities located at Campsie Springs in west Scotland and Blaen Twyni near

Swansea in Wales. In the year ended 25 September 2008, Greencore Water generated a loss before taxation of £3.8 million. As at 28 September 2008, Greencore Water’s net assets were £15.9 million and gross assets amounted to £21.2 million.

Through this deal, Highland Spring will become the leading supplier of bottled water in the UK.

R920 gas success for Blupura

lupura, the Italian manufacturer of mains-fed water coolers, is proud to announce the receipt of the official Intertek certification for the safety of the natural gas R290 used in the refrigeration circuit of its Fontemagna range. Intertek is a worldwide group of testing laboratories for

a number of industries and the world’s largest testing, inspection and certification company. After several months of testing the Blupura mains-fed coolers in its UK laboratories, Intertek stated in its final report that: “The Blupura appliance has been identified as complying with the definition of clause 22.107 of EN 60335-2-24 for “Compression-type

appliances with protected cooling system which uses flammable refrigerant, in this case, Propane,” and “The Blupura chiller passes the requirement for appliances with protected cooling system per EN 60335-2-24 22.107.” Blupura claims to be the first manufacturer in the water cooler industry to use R290 natural fluoridefree refrigerant gas instead of R134. R134 is an HFC gas - it contains fluoride and was named in the Kyoto Protocol as 12,500 times more potent

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than carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming. R134 has already been banned by the European Community in other industries, such as use in car air conditioning systems. It will be banned in the near future in all industries, including that of water coolers. The European Point of use Drinking Water Association is lobbying to delay this ban.

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Wenlock Spring scoops hat-trick of awards

enlock Spring took home three awards at the British Bottlers Institute (BBI) awards for the taste and presentation of its still and sparkling waters. In the taste category, the UK based, family run firm won diploma and gold awards for the taste of its still and sparkling waters, while in the packaging category, it has been awarded gold for the dressing of its glass bottles and innovative label design, which was the outcome of months of planning and customer research. The awards were presented on 23 November at Vintners

Hall in London at the BBI Gala Awards Dinner. Wenlock Spring offers still and sparkling waters in recyclable glass and PET bottles, which are suitable for restaurants, cafés, bars, sports clubs, lunchboxes and at home. Glass bottles are available in 33cl, 75cl and 1 litre sizes, and PET bottles are sold in 50cl, 50cl (sports cap), 1 litre, 1.5 litre and 2 litre sizes.

Wenlock Spring's teaser campaign for their forthcoming website

NSF International celebrates 65 years of protecting human health

SF International is celebrating 65 years of protecting and improving human health and safety worldwide.

Since its founding in 1944, initially as part of the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, but now an independent, not-for-profit, NSF International has become one of the most trusted names in human health. NSF writes national public health standards and certifies products to help ensure the safety of food and drinking water, dietary supplements, and consumer goods. Widely recognised for its scientific and technical expertise in the environmental and health sciences, NSF is a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety, and Indoor Environment.

NSF’s heritage dates back to November 1944 when two professors from the University of Michigan, and a public health official from Toledo, Ohio, established NSF. NSF’s founders - Walter Snyder, Henry Vaughan, and Nathan Sinai - saw a need to standardise public health requirements for foodservice equipment. They developed a framework that enabled the participation of all involved parties - regulators, manufacturers and consumers - in developing these safety standards. The transparent, consensusbased process they established to develop NSF’s first standards, which addressed the sanitation

of soda fountain and luncheonette equipment, became the process by which NSF developed other public health and safety standards. Since that time, NSF has developed more than 72 American National Standards to protect food and water, dietary supplements, pools and spas, and consumer goods. Part of NSF International’s legacy was assisting the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) water treatment and distribution systems program in the 1980s to improve national drinking water standards by evaluating products that come in contact with drinking water. A majority of states now require

drinking water products, such as plastic, plumbing and water filters, to be certified to NSF standards. NSF International began developing standards at a time when few national sanitation and human health standards existed in the US. Today, NSF remains at the forefront, developing standards and certification programs that address important public health issues worldwide. As NSF develops new human health and environmental programs and expands operations to other regions of the world, it remains dedicated to its mission of “protecting and improving human health.”

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Tomlinson combined display stand and colour kit

omlinson Industries’ Pro-Flo product line offers a unique display stand that lets dealers showcase a Designer or Contemporary RO Faucet along with a colour kit that features the nine finishes available for either faucet style. This colour kit gives customers true colour choices and each sample piece is engraved with the finish name. This attractive display stand base measures approximately 10” wide by 51/2” deep.

AA First FloodGuard protection UK based water cooler manufacturer AA First is offering the FloodGuard as standard across its AA4400 range of mainsfed water coolers. The FloodGuard device consists of an inlet solenoid valve which is normally closed. It only opens when the solenoid dispensing valve dispenses water. It will then re-fill the tank with the amount that has been dispensed, before closing.

Manufactured of high density polyethylene, it has non-skid feet in each corner to hold the base firmly in place. Tomlinson’s Pro-Flo products are certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 61 - Annex G. This certification means these products are low-lead plumbing products and are in compliance with California’s Health and Safety Code (section 116875; commonly known as AB1953).

This means any leak from within the cooler is restricted to the 2.5 litres of water in the tank.

Waterlogic to provide drinking water for COP 15 Climate Conference

ssuring that delegates are refreshed with clean, purified drinking water from a truly sustainable source throughout the conference, the COP 15 has chosen to install Waterlogic water dispensers, has been appointed to provide drinking water for all 19,000 plus delegates expected to attend. The company was asked to install forty of its premium Waterlogic 4 water coolers at the Bella Center venue. These dispensers will ensure that the conference attendees have a clean source of cold and sparkling drinking water to fuel them through the duration of the conference. Aligned with its goals toward promotion and support of sustainable solutions as embodied by the Sustainable Food initiative at the COP 15, the Conference opted for Waterlogic plumbed-in

water dispensers, which purify the existing tap water supply at the point of dispense. Rather than other water alternatives such as bottled water, which has received much recent backlash and negative media attention, the choice for Waterlogic dispensers “implies a considerable energy saving advantage because production, transportation and disposal of water bottles will be avoided,” according to the COP 15. The newly released Waterlogic 4 model water dispenser,

in particular, achieves new levels of drinking water purification through cutting edge technology whilst consuming drastically less energy than other water dispensers in its class, making it the environmental choice for drinking water. It is being described as “The New Benchmark” in the industry. It enhances the existing Waterlogic range of water dispensers, all designed with environmental impact and long term sustainability in mind.

superior water solution whilst replacing other water alternatives that do not achieve that same result. We are pleased to be the drinking water provider of the COP 15.”

Jeremy Ben-David, Waterlogic founder and CEO, states, “There is great synergy in Waterlogic involvement in the COP 15. The very nature of our products and technology is to attain a sustainable and

Waterlogic is already popular across the whole Scandinavian region, and it was a natural choice for the Danish office to be selected as the organisation to provide this solution for the COP 15.

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The Editor’s pick of the latest products

Fontemagna hits the Italian streets

lupura, the Italian manufacturer of mains-fed water coolers, recently launched the Fontemagna City, an outdoor water cooler that could be considered the modern version of a public water fountain.

The machine is connected to the water mains and supplies almost unlimited quantities of cool, fresh, still or sparkling water. A Blupura patent, it works with the help of photovoltaic solar panels and is provided with a screen to project video and advertisements. An ever increasing number of local councils and water authorities are looking for ways to encourage the use of mains water by highlighting its quality and safety aspects. Citizens and tourists alike can fill and refill reusable bottles and containers from a Fontemagna City for free, or for a nominal charge of a few cents (a payment system is an optional feature), avoiding the use of one way bottles and the related costs of transport and disposal.

Countless tons of wasted plastic bottles can be eliminated, consequently reducing local council recycling expenses whilst at the same time having a positive effect on the environment. Blupura believes its applications are endless in every type of public location from parks, campsites, railway stations to golf clubs and shopping centres. The company has already reportedly closed a deal with an important international company, a long standing water utilities supplier. Blupura plans to manufacturer a few dozen machines in 2010. It will also continue to manufacture its range of water coolers for the hospitality sector, and is set to launch a 50 litres per hour and 80 litres per hour model, to join its existing 150 litre per hour machine.

Kleena Coola comes unstuck Only Westomatic goes large on table tops UK based water cooler supply company Kleena Coola has added a a foodsafe glue remover to its range of products. According to the company, just a spray and wipe will remove any residue left on coolers and bottles when re-labelling. This product is widely used in the food and drink industry, and tests have been really successful. It comes in a 500ml trigger spray bottle and minimum orders are just one bottle.

estomatic Vending Services, a leading UK vending machine manufacturer has launched its new ‘Go Large’ Prelude table top hot beverage machine.

The ‘Go Large’ Prelude serves both 9oz and 12oz premium quality café style drinks, from one machine. Westomatic’s Marketing Manager, Mark Rhodes commented: “We develop concepts that help our vending operators grow and develop profitable businesses. Our latest innovation, the ‘Go Large’ table top Prelude hot beverage machine gives customers the same choices and options as they would

expect in a coffee shop. The Prelude gives operators the opportunity to take business away from the high street coffee shops, by delivering coffee house choice, quality and drinks from an easy to operate, low maintenance machine.”

It is designed to provide operators with a unique profit earning opportunity.”

Westomatic believes it is the first manufacturer to offer a ‘Go Large’ facility on a table top machine. Mark added: “The ‘Go Large’ facility is not just another feature.

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

PRODUCT NEWS 17

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Innovations highlights

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Highlights of 2009 This year has proved that innovation is still alive in the water cooler industry, from eco-friendly filters to the latest designs in water coolers. In this last issue of 2009, the Editor selects the top ten innovations we’ve see this year . . .

Culligan Aqua-Cleer Culligan launched a new line of Aqua-Cleer mains-fed coolers for commercial businesses and residential homes. The coolers use the company’s most advanced Aqua-Cleer filtration system. This next-generation filtration technology features 13 filter options that can be tailored to local water conditions and individual needs. Customers can choose from a simple sediment or carbon filter up to a multistage reverse osmosis system. The Aqua-Cleer family also includes specialty cartridges for contaminants such as arsenic, perchlorate and volatile organics.

Brita

Waterlogic

Purity and Quell filters

Waterlogic 4

German filter manufacturer Brita launched two new filters at the Eu’Vend trade fair in 2009. First was the Purity C1000 AC, an active carbon filter developed especially for the vending market and mains-fed water coolers. The Purity C1000 AC ensures that water has a pleasant taste and smell as well as being clear and hygienically safe. Secondly, there is a new decarbonisation filter: with the purity C500, the cartridge filters in Brita’s Quell ST product range see a high performance boost.

UK distributor PHS Waterlogic launched the new Waterlogic 4 drinking water dispenser, in a move the company believed would significantly enhance its product range. The Waterlogic 4 unit delivered double the volume and purity of water alongside unrivalled aesthetics and technology thanks to its revolutionary design and engineering.

Cosmetal Nives Italian cooler manufacturer Cosmetal released its new Nives water cooler on the European market. The compact Nives model was specifically designed to make drinking water provision in homes and offices more simple, efficient and economic. It is available as both under counter and table top, and in three different colours: white, metallic black and metallic ruby red.

Blupura Fontemagna To meet demand for fresh drinking water in public places, Italian manufacturer Blupura launched its outdoor water cooler station, the Fontemagna City. Ideal for local councils and water utilities companies, the new water station should prove popular in Italy, and other similar markets, where demand is growing. It is aimed at busy public spaces, including parks, campsites and other similar areas. The

contemporary looking outdoor water fountain has solar power panelling on the roof which will provide a share of the machine’s power.

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

PRODUCT NEWS 19

Innovations highlights Vivreau

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Oasis Europe

V3 Vivreau’s latest version of its bottler system - the V3 became more desirable thanks to the introduction of a bespoke reusable glass bottle. Designed to look like a carafe of purified water, the bottle has a specially designed one piece cap which improves hygiene and permits storage and carbonation. The new bottles are made of translucent glass dyed with a hint of blue. To reduce water wastage, Vivreau has moved away from 1 litre bottles. The new bottle design will come in two sizes - 750ml and 425ml, a size unique to Vivreau. The company’s research has shown that 1 litre bottles are rarely returned empty and that 425ml is the perfect size for a small meeting or for two to share in a restaurant.

Tana Water T5 Fizz Mains-fed water cooler manufacturer, Tana Water (UK) launched a new carbonated water model at the Total Workplace Management Show, Olympia, London. The T5 Fizz features an energy saving mode and delivers up to 30 cups of freshly filtered sparkling water per hour.

Green filter Oasis Europe introduced its environmentally friendly green filter water filtration system. Not satisfied with the impact that disposable replacement filters have on the environment, particularly landfill, Oasis worked with a UK company specialising

in filtration systems to supply the KaliX range with the new green filter. The patented green filter concept provides top range filtration performance by employing colour coded filtration inserts manufactured by world leading suppliers of water filtration technology.

Ebac Logistics software Water cooler manufacturer Ebac launched a logistics management system, aimed at simplifying the administration of customer transactions and driving down operating costs for cooler companies. Ebac Water Logistics offered a completely automated and paperless system which promised to significantly reduce the risk of errors and eliminate lost

paper work. The web based system works in conjunction with a customer’s existing accounts package by integrating sales orders into an optimised route management system.

Baribua The U 2009 saw the launch of an innovative modular plastic water bottle rack, designed and manufactured by Israeli design firm Baribua. Along with design excellence and a modern look, the U offers many benefits both for Home and Office Delivery (HOD) companies and their customers. Its design offers endless assembly configurations for storing 11 and 19 litre water bottles. © cooler innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

20 PRODUCT NEWS

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Vending

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Lavazza and Seymour Valentine on the road

orking with distributor Seymour Valentine, Lavazza has been bringing Italy’s favourite coffee to the UK offices of a leading American financial services firm. With the current economic climate encouraging higher coffee consumption in the workplace as employees cut back on visits to local cáfes, it is important to have a system in place that really delivers in terms of quality and investment. Responding to this trend, Lavazza, in conjunction with authorised distributor Seymour Valentine, has been helping prospective clients to make the right choice based on their specific company needs.

Throughout summer 2009, Lavazza and Seymour Valentine have toured the UK offices of a leading global financial services firm, demonstrating machines such as the freestanding Astro (right) and Brio machine, which is well suited to large office environments, offering free trials and imparting technical know-how. As well as being able to sample the various beverages that can be produced, with thanks to Lavazza’s pod technology, the company’s employees

also received free goody bags and were offered the chance to win ¡Tierra! gift sets and a Pininfarina designed Lavazza Blue coffee machine for use on a smaller scale. Due to the premium standard of coffee produced through the innovative and exclusive Blue system, and as a result of first hand demonstrations at roadshow events, Lavazza and Seymour Valentine are finding that more and more companies are changing from free-vend to pay-vend systems, as employees become increasingly willing to purchase beverages from a vending machine that guarantees quality and enjoyment.

Datamonitor and EVA launch new vending market report

he European Vending Market & Consumer Landscape Report is now available from Datamonitor, written in conjunction with the European Vending Association (EVA). Datamonitor has joined forces with the EVA in order to conduct a comprehensive study of the European vending market. Designed to offer an in-depth understanding of the sector, it identifies the main drivers and barriers affecting the vending industry and analyses consumer trends. The study provides a market analysis supported by in-depth interviews with EVA members and an online survey of vending operators, as well as consumer analysis based on surveys with 9,100 consumers that focuses

on attitudes, purchase behaviours and vending experience. The combined results of the market and consumer analysis forms a timely market assessment and offers actionable recommendations for vending stakeholders looking to maximise the most lucrative opportunities in the vending industry.

Key findings • The vending industry’s ability to provide product solutions conveniently is its key competitive advantage versus other channels. However, in order to recruit non users into the vending

channel and retain existing users, it is imperative that more effort is placed on ensuring the purchase process is more convenient through ease of payment, increased footprint of machine locations and ensuring availability of products through fully stocked machines. • Operators believe a wider availability of payment systems would increase revenues, but several barriers exist for introducing more cashless systems. • Across Europe, sales in the vending industry have been driven by consumers who seek a break during the day and look for an indulgent snack to help escape the pressures of daily life. Consumers are also purchasing vending products

for a quick and readily available energy boost. In order to satisfy both of these needs, consumers most commonly purchase a hot drink. • Industry experts have identified that consumers are increasingly demanding vending machines serve drinks in larger volumes to compete with coffee shop options. • As consumers are more exposed than ever to a myriad of choice from distribution outlets competing against the vending industry, the vending industry needs to offer more product variety and pay attention to ethical, sensory and health credentials.

22 NEWS

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Marketplace © cooler innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com. For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

Global energy drinks remain dynamic sector

lobal energy drink volumes increased by 2% in 2008 to 3.9 billion litres, almost double the 2 billion litres sold in 2003, according to the latest report from leading food and drink consultancy Zenith International. Average growth over the past five years has been 14% a year. “Energy drinks remain a dynamic segment in the soft drinks market, with double figure rises in most regions. This is testament to the energy drink

concept’s staying power,” commented Zenith Market Intelligence Director Gary Roethenbaugh. North America is the leading region, with 37% of global volume in 2008, followed by Asia Pacific with 30% and West Europe with 15%. East Europe made significant volume gains over the last few years and now accounts for a growing 6% share. Asia Pacific was the only region to experience a decline in 2008, with consumption falling by 18%.

US using less water than 35 years ago

he United States is using less water than during the peak years of 1975 and 1980, according to water use estimates for 2005. Despite a 30% population increase during the past 25 years, overall water use has remained fairly stable according to a new US geological survey report. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Anne Castle announced the report, ‘Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2005’, as part of her keynote speech at the Atlantic Water Summit in the National Press Club. The report shows that in 2005, Americans used 410 billion gallons per day, slightly less than in 2000. The declines are attributed to the increased use of more efficient irrigation

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

systems and alternative technologies at power plants. Water withdrawals for public supply have increased steadily since 1950 - when USGS began the series of five year trend reports - along with the population that depends on these supplies. Nearly half (49%) of the 410 billion gallons per day used by Americans was for producing electricity at thermoelectric power plants. Irrigation accounted for 31% and public supply 11% of the total. The remaining 9% of the water was for self supplied industrial, livestock, aquaculture, mining and rural domestic uses.

NEWS 23

Events

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High demand for Aquatech India 2010

quatech India, the first edition of Aquatech Global Events in India, is winning great support from the international water industry. The current market leaders have signed up to exhibit and 85% of the trade show floor is booked. New this year is that at least 80% of exhibitors originate from outside India. The event also sees the premier of various conferences and educational sessions to be held parallel with the show. Aquatech India will be held from 3 to 5 February 2010 in New Delhi. The water market in India holds great potential, illustrated by the fact that exhibitors such as Dow, GE Water, Kirloskar Brothers, Norit, Pentair, Philips and Veolia will all be present.

Aquatech India focuses on drinking water, process water and waste water. It also features a conference on innovative technologies in water sustainability and the Indian Water Works Association (IWWA) will organise the Utility Leadership Forum. Aquatech India will also include the AquaStages, AquaJobs and the Innovation Zone.

Signing of the Aquatech India contract by (left to right): Theo Lingmont (Amsterdam RAI), Rajan Sharma (Inter Ads-Brooks), Ids Boersma (Amsterdam RAI) and Stephen Brooks (Inter Ads-Brooks).

Aquatech global events calendar • • • •

Aquatech India: 3 to 5 February 2010, New Delhi, India WQA Aquatech USA: 9 to 12 March 2010, Orlando, USA Aquatech China: 2 to 4 June 2010, Shanghai, China Aquatech Amsterdam 2011: 1 to 4 November 2011, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Leading vending trade fair bucks general trend

oth organisers and exhibitors were upbeat at the conclusion of Eu’Vend 2009, the international trade fair for the vending industry. The event’s exhibitor and visitor numbers bucked the

general trend in vending trade fairs, demonstrating

stability at a high level. “Eu´Vend 2009 has proved that Cologne occupies a leading role in the international vending sector,” emphasised Michael Maurer, Spokesman for the Board of Directors of the German Vending Association (BDV).

around 1,900 - of the visitors came from abroad. The fair also attracted the interest of visitors from Scandinavia, France and especially the Middle East. Due to the economic conditions, visitor numbers from Spain and Portugal, in contrast, declined slightly.

Eu’Vend presents a comprehensive overview of all relevant topics in the world of vending: from machines and filling products to operating systems, payment systems and services.

The highlight of Eu’Vend 2009 was once again the Vending Party in the Rheinterrassen with the award of the ‘Vending Star 2009’. This year’s winner was Stüwer, for its gourmet meal vending machine as a miniature canteen concept.

With around 5,000 buyers from 59 countries, visitor appeal at Eu’Vend remained constant. More than 38% -

The next Eu’Vend will take place in Cologne from 8 to 10 September 2011.

24 EVENT REVIEW

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

Drinking water issues

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News from the wider water industry

Hands free holy water

atholic churches in Italy are installing automatic holy water dispensers to help reduce the risk of spreading swine flu.

According to a BBC report, the outbreak of the H1N1 virus has led many churches to suspend the tradition of having holy water in open fonts into which people dip their hands. The new machine works like an automatic soap dispenser, squirting water when a hand is passed under the tap. Inventor Luciano Marabese says he is being inundated with enquiries. Father Pierre Angelo Mota, from Capriano Briosco, north of Milan, said squirtable holy water had surprised some of

his parishoners at first. “It has been a bit of a novelty,” he said. “People were initially a bit shocked by this technological innovation but then they welcomed it with great enthusiasm and joy. The members of this parish have got used to it,” he added. The design of the dispenser is similar to a traditional water font, but with an infra-red light that reads the presence of a hand and squirts holy water onto the person’s fingers. Mr Marabese says he is receiving hundreds of emails

Milan Cathedral

from all over the world requesting information about the product. “Some people even pretended to touch the water but they just touched the marble edge

of the font. I think that it is a pity to lose our traditions.” Milan Cathedral was among the places of worship to officially suspend the use of communal water fonts.

Katrine Water project wins prestigious award

cottish Water’s Katrine Water Project, which included the new £120 million water treatment works at Milngavie, has won a prestigious award in recognition of its contribution to the quality of life in Glasgow. The project has won the Edmund Hambly medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) which is awarded for the creative design of an engineering project that makes a substantial contribution to sustainable development. The Katrine Water Project has ensured that 700,000 people in the greater Glasgow area have been enjoying clearer, fresher drinking water since it became operational in October 2007. The medal recognises the sustainable manner in which these improvements have been achieved and, according to its award criteria, “emphasises the important contribution that civil engineering makes to

the wellbeing of mankind and the environment.” Mr Ronnie Mercer, Chair of Scottish Water commented: “This award is a great honour for Scottish Water and the team which delivered a key water treatment works which is so important to the health and wellbeing of the people of the Glasgow area. “The Katrine Water Project, as it is known within Scottish Water, was the largest water treatment project ever undertaken in Scotland and led the way in new innovations in the sector. It is now delivering massive benefits to the economy and public life in Glasgow and will continue to do so for generations to come.”

26 NEWS

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The secret power of water

ater is alive and can respond to emotions in a way that could greatly influence the health of human beings and the state of the planet. This is the belief of Dr Masaru Emoto (right), who recently delivered a talk about the extraordinary power of water, with torchlit Roman baths and hot springs providing a suitably mesmerising backdrop, reports cooler innovation Deputy Editor Medina Bailey. Taking to the lectern in the historic spa city of Bath, UK, the Japanese researcher, author and speaker talked about his research, which has led to the publication of a series of books and an ongoing world tour in which he shares his findings. As part of the ‘Messages from Water and the Universe’ seminar, the graduate of the Yokohama Municipal University’s Department of Humanities and Sciences, and doctor of alternative medicine, showed magnified images he has taken of water at the point of freezing. He took the world’s first photograph of a water crystal in 1994 and believes that the formations are visual manifestations of vibrations, or energy. The water taken from mountain streams and springs shows almost perfect

geometric designs and formations, while waters from industrial and heavily populated areas - such as London, Paris and Berlin reveal distorted and randomly formed crystalline structures. As he delved deeper, Emoto found that after being shown different words and pictures or played music, the water crystals seemed to alter in their appearance. For example, when a bottle of water was shown a heart symbol or the word ‘love’, the crystal seemed to form a heart shape at its centre, while a picture of the Izumo shrine in Japan resulted in the appearance of a roof outline. Since its release a decade ago, Emoto’s Messages from Water book has sold over three million copies in more than 75 countries, and been translated into 45 languages.

The famous Bath Spa

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

NEWS 27

Drinking water issues

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EPA issues final aircraft drinking water rule

he US Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a final rule to ensure that safe and reliable drinking water is provided to aircraft passengers and crew. The rule provides multiple barrier protection through requirements for coliform sampling, best management practices, corrective action, public notification, monitoring and operator training. It will better protect the public from illnesses caused by microbiological contamination. “This rule is a significant step forward in protecting people’s health when they travel,” said Peter Silva, Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Water. “The EPA has taken this step

to make sure the public has drinking water that meets standards, both in the air and on the ground.” The final aircraft drinking water rule tailors existing health based drinking water regulations to fit the specific characteristics of aircraft public water systems. Aircraft public water systems are subject to the requirements of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The rule amends NPDWRs for these systems, building on existing

The rule will help protect passengers’ health while travelling

aircraft operations and maintenance programmes. The rule applies to the aircraft’s onboard water system only. The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating the airport watering points that include the water cabinets, carts, trucks and hoses from which aircraft board water. EPA and the states are

responsible for regulating the public water systems that supply drinking water to the airport watering points. The rule only addresses aircraft within US jurisdiction, however, EPA supported an international effort led by the World Health Organisation to develop international guidelines for aircraft drinking water.

Full steam ahead for WaterAid’s new six year strategy

aterAid has launched a new six year global strategy in which, despite the difficult economic environment, the international NGO pledges to increase its commitment to its vision of safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation for all. The strategy involves ambitious targets such as providing a further 25 million poor people with safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene by 2015, and reaching 100 million more through a commitment to influencing the policies and practices of governments and service providers. The organisation hopes to significantly extend its reach by aiming to work in 13 new developing countries. The strategy also looks at some of the key challenges ahead for

WaterAid such as how to access socially marginalised groups within communities, rapid urbanisation, increasingly stressed water resources and a changing and unpredictable climate. According to WaterAid’s UK Chief Executive Barbara Frost: “These are challenging times for everyone but communities in the developing world need help to break the cycle of poverty more than ever. It is simply unacceptable that 4,000 children continue to die on a daily basis because they don’t have access to safe water and sanitation.

“WaterAid will continue to call for water and in particular sanitation to be prioritised by decision makers at all levels as, with the right political will, we believe that our vision of a world where everyone has access to these basic human rights is achievable. “Without them, many of the Millennium Development Goals set for maternal and child health, primary education and economic growth will fail. Such issues will become ever more relevant as the world’s population continues to grow, and there is increasing stress on global water resources. This, together with the threat of climate change, means that there is an increasingly urgent need to tackle the sanitation and water crisis.”

WaterAid’s four main strategic aims over the next six years are as follows: • To promote and secure poor people’s rights and access to safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation. • To support governments and service providers in developing their capacity to deliver safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation. • To advocate for the essential role of safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation in human development. • To further develop as an effective global organisation recognised as a leader in its field and for living its values.

28 NEWS

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

Drinking water issues Human powered water purification island

unique installation at the Synchronicity Architectural and Arts Festival in Warsaw, Poland provides purified water in exchange for some exercise. Designer Jakub Szczęsny created the floating ‘island’ which is fitted with exercise machines connected to a water pump and purifier. The island was floated out on the local Vistula River but was designed to be located anywhere. Along with being a clever solution to providing fresh water, Jakub also wanted to make a social statement with the installation about empowering people to affect positive change.

Putting excercise to good effect

Although the idea was conceived specifically for the festival, these islands could as easily be installed at waterfront parks and near coastal communities desperate for clean water.

Preventing water wars

wo University of Georgia researchers will determine how to prevent and manage conflicts between nations which share sources of freshwater. The two year project, conducted by international affairs professors Jaroslav Tir and Douglas Stinnett, will focus on the role of international institutions and the efficacy of treaties in governing the use of international rivers.

as a result. Already a topic of high level national security debates around the world, the prospect of conflicts arising over shared water sources has been recognized in US strategic planning documents.

Their research is being funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense.

“The practical importance of this project is hard to overstate,” said Tir. “Finding effective ways to manage the use of rivers through international institutions would not only address an emerging global security issue, it would be a natural response to the growing problem of water scarcity.”

Due to population growth, pollution, development and climate change, there is considerable concern about the increasing demand on freshwater sources, and the conflicts that will emerge

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Drink water to boost your whole diet

eople who receive much of their daily liquids from plain water rather than other beverages may have healthier diets overall, a new study has suggested. According to a report of the study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the reverse was true of people who got much of their fluids from other beverages. Using data from a national health survey of more than 12,000 Americans, researchers found that people who drank more plain water tended to eat more fibre, less sugar and fewer calorie dense foods.

Lead researcher Dr Ashima Kant, a professor at Queens College of the City University of New York, speaking to news agency Reuters, said: “The findings do not prove that drinking water makes for healthier eaters. “But they do suggest a connection - and a reason to encourage people to choose water over other beverages.”

Water refill stations now on London streets

ondon has set up its first water refill machines at rail and bus stations this October.

In the first trial, Hydrachills were installed at

Hammersmith bus station and at the Tower Bridge museum by Thames Water. The machines can fill bottles of up to 500ml with chilled water for a small charge, with all proceeds donated to Waste Watch, a charity working to change the way people use natural resources. If London’s water stations find favour with the 400,000 visitors who annually pass through the two sites, the scheme may be extended to underground, bus and railway stations across London and the southeast before the 2012 Olympics.

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NEWS 29

Associations

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AWWA launches second edition of The Water Dictionary

he American Water Works Association (AWWA) has published the second edition of The Water Dictionary.

This desk reference has been newly updated and expanded, providing standardised definitions for more than 15,000 water and wastewater related words, phrases, acronyms, chemicals, microorganisms, units of measure, calculations and formulas. The average person knows the definition of

about 30,000 words. Water and wastewater professionals need to know 15,000 additional words to do their work effectively. The Water Dictionary addresses this need, while including 3,000 new entries. The Water Dictionary is only available in AWWA’s online bookstore at www.awwa.org/bookstore

Bottled water container recycling rate increases 32%

he national recycling rate for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottled water containers (0.5 litre or 16.9oz) now stands at 30.9% for 2008, an improvement of 32% over the 2007 rate, according to two new studies by the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR): 2008 Post Consumer PET Bottle Bale Composition Analysis and 2008 Report on PET Water Bottle Recycling. “This big improvement in bottled water container recycling over the 30% mark, while encouraging, reminds us that still more needs to be done,” said Tom Lauria, Vice President of Communications at the International Bottled Water Association. The 2007 NAPCOR study on water bottle recycling showed the recycling rate for water bottles was 23.4%, representing a 16.42% increase over the 2006 recycling rate of 20.1%.

The 2008 studies examined post consumer PET bottle bales in 15 locations in 14 states, and the analysis found: “NAPCOR determined that the total number of pounds of PET bottles and jars available in the US for recycling in 2008 was 5.366 billion. This number reflects the total amount of PET bottle resin used by US bottle manufacturers from US, foreign, and recycled sources, less scrap generated and not reused, exported bottles and preforms, and bottles less than 8oz in size.”

IWO renames as Institute of Water

WO (Institution of Water Officers), the only professional body that’s dedicated to supporting the careers of people working in the UK water industry, is being renamed the Institute of Water. The move was agreed by the organisation’s members at a recent general meeting, and will take effect from 1 January 2010. “Our name change to Institute of Water reflects

the modern approach that we will be taking to helping anyone in the industry to develop their careers,” said the organisation’s Chief Executive, Lynn Cooper.

30 NEWS

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Associations Click here to subscribe

New video highlights family owned water bottlers in US

he International Bottled Water Association’s consumer website has produced a two minute video entitled, ‘I Am Bottled Water’, which highlights the key role of small, family run businesses in producing bottled water. “We’re showing an important aspect of the bottled water industry,” said Tom Lauria, IBWA’s Vice President of Communications. “Activists want you to think bottled water companies are strictly big business, but in fact the majority of bottled water companies in the US are small, family owned businesses. IBWA proudly represents both large and small companies. 90% of IBWA members are small business owners.”

are involved in the US market. The truth is that, from coast to coast, a wide majority of singleserve and home and office delivery five gallon bottled water providers are local or regional businesses that play important roles in their communities.

In the ‘I Am Bottled Water’ video, bottlers from Virginia, North Carolina, California, Oregon and Pennsylvania share stories of how building a small business from scratch creates bonds within families and their communities.

Bottled water is a safe, healthy and convenient food product that’s comprehensively regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. The families appearing in the video are indicative of all IBWA members, who are good stewards of natural resources, supporters of strong curbside recycling programmes in their communities and generous contributors to many community based charities.

In recent years, those critical of the bottled water industry have suggested that only large, multinational corporations

Watch the video on Foodbev - www.foodbev.com/news/ new-video-highlightsfamily-owned-waterbottlers-in-us

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NEWS 31

Associations

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EPDWA makes Brussels representation on R134a Gas

ia its partnership with the European Vending Association (EVA), the European Point of use Drinking Water Association (EPDWA) has added its weight to a vending/water cooler industry position paper on R134a refrigerant gas.

R134a has been classified as an ozone depleting gas and is destined to be phased out over time. The problem is that there is currently no practical replacement for this gas for water coolers and vending machines.

policy. The general meaning of the EVA/EPDWA position paper is that, whilst the industry as a whole supports the move to a more environmentally friendly refrigerant, it is imperative to acknowledge that:

Brussels policy makers rely on industry stakeholders to provide in-depth knowledge to help them formulate

• such a gas is not yet readily available with current compressor designs • that there are at any one

time a very large number of vending and water cooler units with R134a Gas already installed and that any decision to discontinue the use of R134a needs to be phased over a reasonable time span. Formulation of Brussels Policy is likely to take years, but it is important that industry input is provided at the earliest stage, before even a White

Paper is drawn up. It is at this stage that industry can exert maximum influence. Its association with EVA allows the EPDWA not only to give the European water cooler industry a voice in Brussels, but also to strengthen that voice by association with the larger and more influential European vending industry.

Appointments Tana Water UK appoints Telebusiness Manager

Everpure welcomes new Regional Sales Manager

ana Water UK, manufacturer of mains-fed water coolers and owner of the Tami 4 brand, has announced the appointment of a new Telebusiness Manager at its Guildford headquarters.

Gilly Maher will manage the UK telesales teams in Surrey and the Isle of Wight, with responsibility for business generation and customer support when the Tami 4 brand is launched to the domestic sector next year.

following a career within the customer service departments of BT, The Post Office and PHS. This is Gilly’s third consecutive appointment within the UK water cooler industry. She was one of the original team that built UK Water Group into the most successful mains-fed water cooler company in the UK prior to its acquisition in 2001. At Tana Water UK, Gilly will be working with five key employees who drove the sales, field service and customer care departments at UK Water Group.

Gilly brings a wealth of experience to the role,

Commenting on her appointment, Gilly Maher

Gilly Maher

lobal water treatment solutions company Everpure has appointed John Hiner as Regional Sales Manager in the Coffee and Office Water (COW) Market. In this role, Williams will be responsible for driving sales and developing opportunities for growth in the Eastern division of the US. He will report directly to Jim Nelson, Sales Director of the COW market for Everpure. John has spent over 20 years in the coffee industry with a long track record of growth, business development and sales success. John was most recently Regional Manager

said: “I am delighted to be rejoining my former colleagues and friends at Tana Water UK at such an exciting time in its history.

John Hiner

for Newco Enterprises, managing four rep groups, while solely responsible for developing sales in other markets.

Together we make an unbeatable partnership and I am looking forward to repeating our successes at Tana Water UK.”

32 NEWS

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

Appointments

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New CEO for Automatic Vending Association

he Automatic Vending Association (AVA) has appointed Jonathan Hilder as new CEO.

Jonathan Hilder brings over 20 years career commercial experience, of which a significant proportion has been involved directly in the finance, leasing and vending markets where he managed sales teams that were responsible for funding in excess of £200 million of machines into the vending sector over a number of years.

Jonathan Hilder

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

More recently as consultant to a number of vending companies, Jonathan has specialised in working with small to medium sized businesses and large food

brands, advising and mentoring on business development and the introduction of new technology into the vending market. Jonathan commented: “AVA membership provides the clients of vending companies with a real confidence that they are dealing with professional companies who have high standards which are regularly checked and ensure a quality product for their end users.” As a trade body the AVA represents the £1.65 billion refreshment vending industry.

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Homing in

Page 36 Ask the experts interview

Page 40 Acrokool’s Koolbabe system

Page 42 The latest cooler models for the home

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he water cooler. Every home should have one. But how? And when? Deputy Editor Medina Bailey explores how the cooler home market is progressing and if leading players are still competing to crack it.

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Homing in

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Ask the experts

The panel Canaletas Paz Ausin (PA)

Clover David Ilmook Moon (DM)

Cosmetal Federica Diotallevi (FD)

Crystal Mountain Diane Koyich (DK)

Dieau Edafim Anouk Averous (AA)

Ebac John Elliott (JE)

Oasis Europe Peter Benua/Florent Perrin (PB/FP)

Spectrum Water Coolers Jeff Doughty (JD)

How would you describe the state of the home cooler market, in view of the current economic downturn?

PA: “Although we realise that there has been a decline in sales, there are some segments of the market where concerns over health are still at the forefront and are helping sales. The economic downturn has been reported very widely in the press, but there are still lots of people who have retained high incomes and have not been negatively hit by the situation.”

DM: “We have an optimistic view on the home cooler market because bottled water is already indispensible to consumers worldwide.

Even in Korea where we play our largest part as a cooler provider, the bottled water market (including 3 and 5 gallon bottles) has grown since its inception 20 years ago. Cutbacks in household spending won’t impact on people’s potable water expenses.” FD: “Despite the economic downturn, many companies have invested in the home cooler market. The market itself hasn’t taken off yet, but it is generating lots of interest. It could actually represent an opportunity to recover from the economic crisis.” DK: “Like in all cooler markets, this has been a year to ensure end user

customers are getting the best service that can be provided, and that they understand all of the options available to them. Tap water is not the beverage of choice for most people and depending on the customer’s sophistication, they will prefer chilled or heated water, bottled or filtered. But if they have to fight to get deliveries or have problems with their coolers, it would be easy for them to cancel the service at the moment and use tight budgets as an excuse.”

There is plenty of time to see the home market grow once the economy begins to recover AA: “Consumers are not always aware of the advantages of having a water cooler at home, and with the effect of the crisis, investing in marketing is really essential to convince end users. Furthermore, the market depends on the country and quality of the tap water.”

JE: “All sectors of the cooler market have been affected by the current economic downturn. The home market in the UK has been expected to grow for the past decade, but unfortunately this hasn’t happened. In comparison to the American market, the European market is still very young so there is plenty of time to see the home market grow once the economy begins to recover.” PB/FP: “Once a household takes 19 litre bottled water into their home, it’s hard to live without it. From an economic standpoint, the price per litre is very competitive when compared to other PET packaged beverages. In some markets where mains tap water is perceived to be of decent quality, we are seeing a trend towards mains-fed systems and machines in the home.” JD: “The state of the US home mains-fed cooler

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market has not been strongly affected by the current economic downturn. The reason is that there are very few companies marketing filtered coolers to homes, very few retailers selling mains-fed coolers, and low demand from home consumers.”

and there is an increased awareness about the importance of hydration. Most people who make use of a cooler in their workplace, university or gym now also want to have one at home.” DM: “In Europe where the bottled water market has matured and become saturated by tough competition, consumers are more sensitive to hygiene issues. I would therefore assume that there will be increased demand if bottlers try to differentiate the benefits of their products, such as the hygiene aspect.”

How are you making the most of opportunities in the home sector?

PA: “By offering an attractive product at a competitive price. Also, providing distributors with good marketing material is very important as the appropriate message must be communicated to the consumer. Each country has differing habits when it comes to water consumption and it is therefore vital to recognise these habits and work in co-operation with the distributor to provide consumers with the most suitable product.” DM: “We believe that Bag in Box (BIB) water offers the biggest opportunity for 2010, based on the inquiries we’ve had from a number of bottlers who are on the lookout for logistical innovations. BIB or one-way water will slash logistical costs and lead to new opportunities in sales and marketing.” FD: “We have studied and developed a specific product which has been explicitly designed to address the needs of water provision in homes.” DK: “Crystal Mountain continues to provide our bottler and distributor customers with coolers that do not leak and have extra protection from

Cosmetal

leaking bottles. We prioritise manufacturing coolers that will last and last, and require only standard servicing. We also try to offer a range of models to suit everyone’s water provision requirements in the home, regardless of how much space they have. Our countertop model - the Avalanche - is available in both chilled and hot&cold, bottle and mainsfed variants, while our new SublimO cooler provides a floor standing option. JE: “Our bottled SlimCool has done particularly well in Italy and Switzerland. As part of the development of the SlimCool, we conducted a pilot project to better understand the UK domestic market. This was a very insightful exercise and there was massive interest in the product consumers loved its ease of use, design and simplicity.” PB/FP: “Oasis Europe introduced the concept of a countertop bottled cooler to the European market in

1994. We have continued to evaluate the needs in this type of unit for the home market and as a result have recently introduced the Onyx cooler, in both bottled and mains-fed versions.” JD: “Spectrum is not currently taking advantage of the home cooler sector. We do not believe that coolers currently exist that would allow Spectrum to successfully sell to the US home market.”

Most people who make use of a cooler in their workplace now also want one at home Is there a demand among consumers for a cooler in the home?

PA: “Yes, more people are concerned about their health

FD: “There is still a lack of mass awareness about coolers in the home. However, the sector is gaining interest and it appeals to consumers.” DK: “There is a demand for well furnished homes, for healthy living products and for stylish accoutrement. So, yes! If the end user has not yet considered a water cooler part of a well equipped home, our customers have room for marketing the product.” AA: “Our Mini-Fountain has been a resounding success in many European countries because the product fits perfectly into the kitchen. The tabletop cooler will soon become a home appliance as common and essential as, for example, an espresso machine.” JE: “With the increase in awareness about the importance of leading healthier lifestyles and improving hydration, along with the need for convenience, the demand for home water coolers is growing. Consumers haven’t

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Homing in

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FD: “The different target market requires a different communication style; the difference has already been set with the choice of the design and of the brand.”

Dieau-Edafim

embraced the idea of having a cooler at home as much as we had hoped, but the market is still young.” JD: “We believe that strong consumer demand can be developed after coolers have been designed and developed specifically for the residential market.” Does your strategy differ when it comes to marketing your coolers for the home, compared to coolers for the workplace or public areas?

PA: “The marketing messages differ to a certain degree as it is important to emphasise the hydration and health aspect for families, as well as the comfort and convenience factor of having a cooler in your home. It is sometimes also important to point out the money saving aspect.” DM: “Our strategy does not differ, but the products we recommend are different. Normally, for home use, we would recommend compact, small capacity products, but for office use, our suggestion would be large size and capacity. However, the P15 performs well in a compact frame, so it is our

DK: “We market to the bottler and distributor, so we make sure they can market most of our coolers to domestic and commercial locations.” AA: “Contrary to marketing for the workplace or public areas, we must reach mothers and highlight the ‘wellbeing’ and ‘practical’ aspects of having a water fountain in the kitchen. Water is essential for our health and wellbeing and this is a strong argument to convince all mums. Moreover, coolers free up space in the fridge normally taken up by bulky plastic bottles.” JE: “As well selling the SlimCool through our usual channels alongside the rest of Ebac’s water coolers for the HOD market, we have sold the SlimCool through some major retailers to sell directly to the end user. The SlimCool Filter is also available to purchase directly from Ebac by the end user through our website www. ebacwater.com”. PB/FP: “Consumer demand for

Ebac

this into account when we initiated our product concept development of the P15, which will cut the rate of maintenance and filter replacement visits.”

current recommendation for mains-fed for either home or office.”

coolers in the home varies by market. Bottlers have experienced varying degrees of success depending on the market. We try to assist our water service customers by coming up with what will ultimately be the ‘holy grail’ to gain acceptance in homes in their markets.” JD: “Yes. The home water cooler segment is very different compared to marketing and selling coolers to offices and workplaces. The home market requires a lower price point, and simpler service requirements than the higher capacity coolers provided to businesses.” What’s the biggest challenge that the home market poses? And what’s the main advantage of targeting it?

PA: “The marketing effort that is required in order to make families get into the habit of having a cooler in the home and convince them of the benefits. Obviously, as it is a relatively new segment, there are many chances to develop new business and to create interesting opportunities.” DM: “Having to enter people’s homes is one of the issues that the HOD business has to overcome, and Clover is very well aware of that. So, we took

FD: “Lack of awareness is an obstacle to the development of the market, however it is still a young product and it is normal for it to take a while for it to be properly established. On the other hand, this situation is advantageous for those who are already in the market, as they will be the first to benefit once the product takes off.”

It is important to emphasise the hydration and health aspect for families DK: “I think that organising cooler servicing and sanitising is key. So our customers must provide theirs with flexibility to serve a working population, ie deliveries or filter changes at night, providing effective sanitisation that is easy enough to do with an aftersales kit etc. Also, lack of space in European homes is a challenge we don’t see in North America, but it is a big issue there.” AA: “The home market offers lots of interesting opportunities and is providing new ones all the time - for example, the mobile home market shows great potential for tabletop coolers. “Service plays a vital role in the home market and the

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Homing in end user must be advised appropriately, treated well and kept happy, otherwise they will take their custom elsewhere.” “The home market has had many difficulties, but once you have a customer and you have your foot in the door, there are other opportunities available from each customer, such as living room appliances, coffee, tea, small pack water etc. So you might be dealing with a different type of customer, but you’ll still have as big an opportunity.” JE: “Our research has shown that consumers have a requirement for chilled water but haven’t determined that a water cooler is the answer . . . yet. To drive

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the market forward, there needs to be more pro-active marketing about the benefits of having a home cooler and continuous awareness building. It will not happen overnight, we need a major player to have a sustained, ongoing campaign. The home cooler market could be a fantastic source of new business and profits. There are 25 million households in the UK. If only a small fraction were to adopt a cooler, this would represent a phenomenal opportunity.”

Oasis

JD: “In the US, the ideal home cooler has not yet been manufactured and there are very few marketing dollars targeting the home water cooler consumer. “The main advantage is that there is very little competition in a virtually untapped market, with tremendous sales potential on offer to those who can develop, sell and service efficiently.” What does the future hold for the home sector? And will you continue to be a part of it?

PA: “We believe that the sector offers great potential, but it will take longer than previously expected in Europe due to the international financial crisis. However in a few years time, we are convinced that the cooler will be a commonplace appliance in the home. Canaletas is investing to improve its product range and launch new models in

order to continue to be one of Europe’s most reputable manufacturing companies in the market.” DM: “We have tried to build strong Clover brand loyalty, so at a certain level, our name is linked to good quality products among customers. Based on that, if we focus our efforts on R&D as we have done for the past 20 years, we should be very optimistic about the future.”

In a few years time, we are convinced that the cooler will be commonplace in the home FD: “Cosmetal believes in the home market. We launched a domestic product last spring and will

It’s kool, babe UK cooler manufacturer Acrokool has highlighted the benefits of its Koolbabe water cooler for homes. Compact, easy to use and versatile, the system can be used for water, as well as for chilling other drinks, such as fruit juice or wine. It doesn’t use refrigerants, but instead employs an electronic cooling process and stainless steel tank. The unit comes with two options: Option 1 - Bottling it Using bottles frees up much valued fridge space and ensures that the consumer can still drink their preferred brand of mineral or spring water. With a Universal Moulding system, the cooler is compatible with virtually any size bottle up to 15 litres, with no adaptors required. It is ideal for self-filled reusable or recyclable one way bottles. Option 2 - Filtering it For consumers who want to filter and chill mains water, a tank with a carbon filter (such as Brita or a similar brand, which is replaceable and available from supermarkets) will remove contaminants and the chloriney taste that puts a lot of people off water. © cooler innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

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Ebac

expand the range with other models at the beginning of next year.” DK: “We manufacture and sell coolers all over the

world, and in some places, a home cooler is essential due to water quality, so yes, we will always be part of it. Continued awareness of the limitations of tap water, even where it is generally ‘safe’ will mean that people who are diligent about a healthy lifestyle will always seek a more trustworthy source. We see that both bottled mineral and processed waters, and mains-fed options, continue to be choices demanded by consumers, so with good marketing, we expect all our customers to grow in this area if they prioritise it.” AA: “We believe that this market began in Europe and is increasingly spreading to other countries. Sure, we’ll continue to be part of it.”

JE: “As consumers become more focused on issues such as the cost and environmental aspects of buying small pack, this will lead to an increase in the adoption of home coolers. A number of years ago Ebac identified the potential in the

The biggest challenge is to develop the ‘perfect’ machine market and developed the SlimCool. The SlimCool offers consumers a convenient alternative to buying small

pack and we will continue to be part of the home market as it grows.” PB/FP: “The biggest challenge is to develop the ‘perfect’ machine that fits consumer demand for aesthetics and a small footprint, while simultaneously increasing their consumption of bottled water.” JD: “Spectrum will be involved in the development of the home mains-fed cooler market in the future. We believe that we have a very clear view of how the residential US mains-fed cooler market will evolve which will allow us to quickly penetrate this segment of the industry.”

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Homing in

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What’s your latest model?

Oasis Europe

Canaletas

Names: Onyx (countertop) and Odyssey (floor standing)

Name: Minicool

Features and benefits: • Both coolers fit very well into a home environment • The mains-fed versions of both machines incorporate Oasis’ new Green Filter • The environmentally friendly filter system features all reusable parts so no plastic is thrown away when it is time to change the filter • The filter comes in a wide assortment of filter media to suit any type of incoming mains water • The Onyx is a stylishly designed unit featuring brushed aluminium and high tech black finishes, electronic activation and a very small footprint for kitchens • The Odyssey boasts kitchen appliance grade stainless steel cabinetry • It features an optional electronic control panel, which allows the owner to programme the unit to turn itself off during low use periods • A Hot Boost feature takes hot water in the cooler and super heats it to nearly boiling for tea and other hot beverages • The Odyssey is Energy Star rated for its environmentally conscious performance

Features and benefits: • This undercounter cooler’s special cooling inner core makes it a very compact model which will fit perfectly in any kitchen • It boasts an inner fan and compressor to give a cooling capacity of 14 litres/hour • It offers different filtration options, which is important for different countries

An interior designer would describe them as: “Sleek, stylish and high tech yet simple and elegant.” Unique selling point: They have designs which fit into a modern home environment, offer Oasis performance and quality, are environmentally responsible and available at reasonable prices.

An interior designer would describe it as: “An object that would blend into any kitchen décor as it is constructed from stainless steel. It also has a professional, high quality look which will give the whole family consumer confidence.” Unique selling point: It is one of the smallest undercounter coolers on the market and offers the best cooling capacity rate for such a small unit. This is extremely important in a domestic situation, particularly a kitchen where space is at a premium.

Spectrum Name: There is currently no home cooler in its product mix Features and benefits: Although Spectrum doesn’t have a specific cooler for the home, it believes that a successful home cooler would be: • Small in size • Equiped with hot and cold water options • Energy efficient • Attractive • Similar in appearance and colour options to other kitchen appliances currently popular in the US

An interior designer would describe it as: “A cooler for the home that is environmentally responsible, energy efficient, sleek and attractive with colour options that allow it to blend into the kitchen décor of US households.” Unique selling point: It should be easy on the eye, energy efficient, and have the ability to provide high quality filtered water in all regions of the US.

Watch this space

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Clover Name: Aquverse Features and benefits: • Developed to answer household needs for safe and fresh water and infrequent service visits • Aquverse P15 has its own patented cooling system, which enables users to access instantly filtered water at their fingertips • Unnecessary functions have been left out in order to minimise the chance of breakdown in the field • The need for maintenance calls is dramatically reduced An interior designer would describe it as: “Simple with strong colour options. Wine red seems to fit in particularly well with modern kitchen designs.” Unique selling point: Aquverse P15 offers financial as well as health benefits. People who have experienced problems with conventional reservoir systems will be attracted to a concept which could cut hygiene related costs.

Dieau-Edafim Name: Mini-Fountain Features and benefits: • The unit has been specifically developed for home use • The parts in contact with water can be easily dismantled and are dishwasher safe • It is compact in size and fits easily on a worktop • It is compatible with a wide range of bottles and caps An interior designer would describe it as: “An aesthetic looking product suited to all interiors thanks to its silver colour and ergonomic shape. Because of its small size, it is also easy to place it on a kitchen countertop.” Unique selling point: Professional buyers can only purchase it from Dieau-Edafim.

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Homing in

Click here to subscribe © cooler innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

Cosmetal Name: Nives Features and benefits: • It has been specifically designed and developed to make management of drinking water in homes more simple, efficient and economic • Its compact dimensions and appealing exterior make it suitable for any environment • The intuitive control panel makes it very simple and easy to use • As there is no tap or covered dispensing area, water is protected from external sources of contamination • The height and the positioning of the dispensing area make it suitable for any size of cup, glass, bottle etc • The filter and CO2 cylinder are housed inside the cooler and can be quickly and simply replaced through the front panel An interior designer would describe it as: “An object that combines efficiency and stylish design. This smart looking tabletop cooler, available in three fashionable colours, would enhance any kitchen.” Unique selling point: It has many: compact dimensions and great performance, easy to replace in-house filter and CO2 cylinder, customisable water temperature and the option of sparkling water.

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Ebac Name: SlimCool Features and benefits: • This bottled/filtered cooler has a slimline design with a footprint of 200mm in diameter to save space and conveniently provide chilled water • It is easy to maintain and hygienic • It comes with changeable side panels that can fit into any room or stand out, for example to encourage children to drink more water if located in a playroom • It features the patented cassette WaterTrail, which offers a convenient, quick and easy method of sanitising the cooler • The illuminated adjustable drip tray means that the user can fill any size cup/sports bottle/jug using one hand An interior designer would describe it as: “Elegant and stylish, with the flexibility to fit into any room in the house, both in terms of looks and portability/installation. It is in a range of colours and comes with changeable side panels so you can change the look of the cooler to suit any room.” Unique selling point: Ebac’s unique WaterTrail, which ensures 100% sanitisation of the cooler every time. It offers the quickest and easiest change time of any Ebac cooler. It’s so easy a child could do it.

Crystal Mountain Name: SublimO Features and benefits: • A small footprint • It boasts a chilling compressor for a large capacity • It has a concealed, one piece hygienic faucet and blue drip tray light feature • It has a quality construction • It is easy to sanitise An interior designer would describe it as: “Just the best looking water cooler for any location! It is contemporary, polished and stunningly stylish.” Unique selling point: A patented interior, hygienic removable reservoir design that doesn’t expose the reservoir to contamination by hands or air. Also the patented DryGuard that offers 100% protection from leaking bottles.

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The soft approach

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In this age of paperless offices, the right software is vital for water cooler companies to function efficiently and cost effectively. cooler innovation spoke to Database Workshop and Ebac to find out more about the latest developments in the industry.

an excess charge. ProWat SE now manages packages for individual sites and even for groups, meaning that a package could be set up for 500 bottles per annum for example, with a number of delivery addresses drawing against the master package.”

How has water cooler industry software developed over the last year?

Alison Peters, Managing Director at Database Workshop: “Much of our recent development has been the handling of package deals. This is to allow bottled coolers to compete more effectively with mains-fed coolers. One of the key selling points for mains-fed coolers is that the monthly bill for a bottled cooler normally depends on how many bottles, cups etc the customer has had during the month. This of course means that, typically, summer months will cost more than winter months and months during which the cooler has been

sanitised may also be higher. “Mains-fed cooler operators can point to the fact that their coolers cost exactly the same every month, making it easier to budget. Many bottled cooler operators now

wish to offer their customers a package consisting of, for example, 30 bottles per annum plus one cooler with quarterly sanitisations for a fixed charge of £25 per month. Exceeding the package quantity will incur

Baribua’s U from OP will help boost logistics French rack manufacturer OP Crates, part of the Semo group, is now distributing Baribua’s new modular bottle rack system on an exclusive basis. With over 12 years of experience in producing its original plastic racks, OP Crate has now become the sole worldwide distributor of an innovative modular plastic water bottle rack, designed and manufactured by Israeli product development and design firm Baribua.

Laurent Alozy, OP Crate Marketing and Sales Manager, said: “It’s only natural for OP Crate to complete its product range with a rack that will fit perfectly near to any water cooler. The U is our answer to storage for the end user, with the most modular, practical and design solution on the market.” Regarding the major challenges

facing the water cooler bottle storage industry, Laurent felt that giving the opportunity to its customers to optimise their long term costs by investing in OP 4+4 racks made in recycled raw material would be a great benefit, helping to increase the bottles’ life. “Our racks will also help them with the daily expenses by lowering storage and delivery costs.”

Graham Currie, IT Director at Ebac: “Over the last decade we have seen many new technologies emerge, that we now take for granted in our everyday lives. Examples include satellite navigation, voice over IP telephone systems, MP3 players, push email systems and mobile internet. Each of these technologies is useful in its own right, but recent advances within water cooler industry software provide an integrated framework leveraging these best of breed technologies, providing the operator with a cost effective, seamless, functionally rich environment to work in. “For example, we are now able to initiate a call to a customer by clicking on his contact record within software, have the call routed in the most cost effective manner, and store the content of the call within the database as an MP3, tagged to the customer record.” What will be the key issues for the next five years?

AP: “The key issues for all operators will continue to be providing good service, efficiency and reducing costs. We are now a very

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competitive industry and the winners will be those who embrace efficiency. Ten years ago I visited a company with 2,000 coolers - they had around 20 staff in addition to drivers. “Today, if they were still in business, I would expect a quarter of that number. The only way to manage this is through effective Information Technology (IT) systems and using everything that these provide. “There should be no duplicated data entry, scheduled orders should be completely automatic and the business should be as paperless as possible. For every 1,000 customers who accept email invoices you will

save at least £6,000 every year. Hand held computers instead of printed delivery notes and route planning software can probably save close to this amount again. You can’t change the price of diesel, or vehicles - but you can be more efficient in their use.”

Activewhere adds integration Over the last few years, software company Activewhere has brought more integration between different modules in its software. One example of this integration is the CRM module, accessible through other system modules and allowing the user to generate calls, events and other work flow management items from these modules. It has also tackled route planning. New versions will be more focused on built in, active BI reporting: users will be able to easily build their queries in the system through a user friendly interface, name and save their queries and filters and perform actions in the system based on

their results. This will provide a major increase in user autonomy and management (near) realtime decision making. Logistics will also be improved: more intelligent route management, plus geo-reporting and geomarketing. Intelligence in route management will help Activewhere users to drastically improve their daily and strategic routing efficiency; while geo-reporting and geo-marketing are powerful tools to support marketing research and routine operations. These tools, together, will definitely improve its customer’s carbon footprint, allowing significant fuel savings.

GC: “Enabling customers to reduce their carbon emissions will continue to be of growing importance. Further enhancing business to business web based transactions will also be a key area of development with features such as customers being able to view invoices, orders and being able to make payments directly from the web.” How important are environmental issues to both your business and your clients? How can the software help?

AP: “The environment is of course important to us all, and protecting it is crucial. It is also important to be seen to be green for public relations and marketing reasons. However, most of the factors involved in ‘greening’ your business are also good for you as well. If you use less fuel and paper then you are greener - and you will save money and make your business more profitable. “Pressure from the government and the media will continue to make this more important, and you can be certain that your competitors won’t hesitate to tell potential customers

that they are greener than you are. Environmental issues will become key to your prosperity, and even to your survival. The Route Planning tools in ProWat will help with this, as well as going paperless - this is why they are key issues for the coming years.

Most of the factors involved in ‘greening’ your business are also good for you “As for our own business, in an effort to be greener we no longer issue sales brochures at trade shows, but provide our sales literature on CD instead. Updated user manuals and release notes are emailed to our customers instead of being printed and posted. We also do as much support as possible via the internet using LogMeIn or other remote control software, reducing the need for site visits.” GC: “Customers are becoming increasingly

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FOCUS 47

The soft approach comes to water coolers. Ebac has addressed this by developing our energy efficient hot tank for significantly lower electrical consumption.

concerned about their carbon footprint and are now seeking greener and more environmentally friendly solutions when it

“In terms of water logistics, many traditional packages rely on printing an individual despatch note for each delivery. I have visited the offices of many cooler companies, and witnessed reams and reams of despatch paperwork, neatly organised into pigeon holes. Each pigeon hole represents a day’s deliveries. Each individual sheet of paper represents damage to the environment.”

“Ebac’s water logistics system can help to reduce a customer’s carbon footprint by: EWL Office: • Groups deliveries into geographic clusters, ensuring that you can promise delivery dates to your customers, without

Each individual sheet of paper represents damage to the environment

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compromising your fuel and driver efficiency. • Facilitates document delivery by email, reducing print and delivery carbon footprint. EWL Route Management: calculates the most efficient sequence for you to deliver to your customers on a daily basis, reducing driver miles and fuel. EWL mobile: • Eliminates the need to print despatch notes • Uses satellite navigation to reduce driver miles • Allows drivers to work remotely, without driving to the office to pick up or deliver paperwork.”

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www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

Event review

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The latest from Host 2009 Cosmetal Marketing Manager Federica Diotallevi reports from the show. A particularly lively atmosphere characterised the 36th edition of Host, the International Exhibition of the Hospitality Industry, which took place in the Fieramilano area in Rho, Milan, from 23 to 27 October 2009. An edition characterised by an increasingly international atmosphere, as the figures confirm: attendance by overseas visitors reached 33,000 from 143 countries, almost a fifth of the total figure of 125,000 - in line with the 2007 edition. International exhibitors increased by 10% and water cooler manufacturers followed the trend with the French new entry DieauEdafim. The company has a specific line of products for the hospitality industry but took advantage of the event to show the whole range. Italian manufacturers Cosmetal, Zerica and Frigeria confirmed their presence, as in the previous edition. Zerica’s professional solutions are designed to meet the requirements of bars, restaurants, canteens and community settings. Its Catering Line includes a range of products with different features to be used in all related fields. Production is entirely made in Italy to guarantee high standards and consistent quality. The company developed a high performance direct chill, HPDC, which guarantees greater hygiene and performances, chilling water in just three minutes.

Frigeria presented a wide range of products, resulting from over 30 years of experience in the production of refrigerating and dispensing equipments. Along with the well established professional water coolers, it presented the latest models for office and/or homes which are all characterised by very compact dimensions. The company range also includes a special dispenser for juices. Cosmetal, a leading Italian water cooler manufacturer, used the event to present its 2009 novelties, and in particular, the ones related to Horeca. In 2009, the Niagara model experienced many aesthetic and technical progresses. The dispensing head and all the parts in contact with water, including the neck and the drip tray, are entirely made from stainless steel on all versions, including the standard basic one, to prevent rust and guarantee greater hygiene. In addition, the new version of the cooler, available from mid June, features two cutting edge innovations: the self diagnostic system and the energy saving functions. The self diagnostic system identifies the machine’s conditions and promptly signals possible failures or malfunctioning. The energy saving system, in turn, decreases the amount of power used when the machine is in standby mode;

on energy saving mode the cooler uses as much as 50% less energy than when in regular operation. With the

ever increasing awareness of the environment and ‘going green’, energy efficiency is now a prerequisite.

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EVENT REVIEW 49

Looking East

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The water cooler market in East Europe is buoyant and fast paced, although not as consolidated as in West Europe. While the main players such as Nestlé, Eden, La Fantana and Clear Water Company continue to play a large part in the market, there is more scope for consolidation in the future.

Key facts There are 1.65 million coolers installed across the region. Russia and Poland remain the largest markets. There is low penetration in Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine. The mains-fed sector has not yet had a significant impact. Average litres sold per cooler is 1,031 in East Europe (788 in West Europe). The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia all have high water cooler penetration levels

Eastern Europe now 10% of Ebac sales Whilst the water cooler market in Western Europe enters a phase of stability after the boom of the 1990s, the Eastern European market shows no signs of slowing down. To capitalise on this growth, Ebac opened an Eastern European office in December 2008. Based in Warsaw, Marcin Popiolek’s primary task is to expand Ebac’s presence in Eastern Europe. Within 12 months, Eastern Europe now

accounts for almost 10% of Ebac’s total water cooler sales. One of Ebac’s main objectives has been to introduce people to Ebac’s WaterTrail system for sanitising coolers and to highlight the hygiene benefits of renewing all water contact parts. The campaign has been successful and a number of customers have replaced their entire water cooler fleet with new Ebac coolers.

Commenting on the WaterTrail system, Miroslaw Bialowski, Sales Director at KOBO said: “The WaterTrail is an absolutely fantastic method to sanitise coolers - no unnecessary logistics to take a cooler out of your customer’s site to clean it and send it back. We have been observing an increasing number of customers really eager to switch onto the ultimate hygiene solution offered by Ebac and we will be obviously drawing more attention to promote it further.” To target more price sensitive segments of the Eastern European market Ebac has developed the Classic cooler and the Classic mains-fed. These entry level coolers are designed for customers who simply want a reliable cooler without the extra features. The Ebac Classic coolers are

manufactured in the North East of England to the same high quality standards as the rest of the Ebac range which makes them more reliable than their far eastern equivalents. Although primarily a bottled cooler market, the mainsfed market is beginning to develop due to improvements in the quality of mains water and the ease of entry into the market. Marcin added: “In the next three to five years I would expect Eastern Europe to begin to repeat the pattern of the market in the West with mains-fed accounting for a larger percentage of the market. The Eastern European market is expanding rapidly. With our Polish office acting as a hub for our activity in Eastern Europe, I will be working to increase growth in this area in 2010.”

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Hungarian water cooler manufacturer Ronaqua was established in 2003, using the management’s wellknown experience in the design and production of carbonated cooler systems. Based on its knowledge of high quality and latest design of basic coolers, it created a range of carbonated coolers which are able to meet all customers’ demands. Managing Director György Róna commented: “We

produce bottled and mains-fed carbonated coolers. We offer unit type carbonated coolers, giving one cup for each cycle, and pump type carbonated coolers giving continuous flow of fizzy water.” The company also sells carbonated coolers within Hungary to many companies and also into other EU countries. “We are ready to install carbonation system into other type of coolers for our customer demands,” György continued.

“Due to the flexibility and innovation of a small company, we are able to carry out any modifications and satisfy special requirements installing these promptly.

undersink cooler providing cold and carbonated water, suitable for homes even with small kitchens.”

Our future perspective involves further development and use of direct cooling systems with ice bank, avoiding taps using solenoids. Our latest innovation is an

East Europe water cooler market advances over 8% Over the course of 2009, more than 125,000 new bottled water coolers, dispensers and pumps were installed across East Europe, bringing the total number to 1.65 million, an 8.2% increase on 2007, according to the latest findings from leading drinks consultancy Zenith International. Total water volume growth has consistently outpaced that of unit placement growth, and 2008 was no exception with the volume of water sold through coolers increasing 10.3% on 2007, to stand at 1,640.8 million litres.

to the downturn in the region’s economic climate, as cash-strapped customers opted for cheaper dispensers over bottled cooler units,” commented Zenith Director Mark Groves. Russia and Poland remain by far the largest cooler markets in the region, both in terms of unit installations and water volumes. In 2008 Russia retained market leadership, representing 39.6% of all unit placements, and 32.9% by volume. However, as these early-adopting markets begin to mature, faster

growing markets such as Serbia and Romania are eroding the share of the leading countries. Unlike West Europe, mains-fed has yet to make significant inroads into East Europe. Nevertheless its availability is increasing in some wellestablished cooler markets such as Poland, and so it is anticipated to become a key challenge for operators in the future, as is being seen across West Europe. Looking to the future, Zenith forecasts that by 2013, there will be just over 2 million

bottled coolers, dispensers and pumps installed across East Europe, of which just over 70% will be bottled coolers. The 2009 Zenith Report on East Europe Water Coolers contains 307 pages of market commentary, charts and tables together with company profiles. Contact Zenith International on: tel +44 (0)1225 327900, fax +44 (0)1225 327901 or e-mail: info@ zenithinternational.com

“Unusually in 2008, dispensers saw growth slightly above that of their electronic counterparts. Although both coolers and dispensers saw growth slow in 2008, bottled cooler units were affected to a much greater extent. It is believed that much of this can be attributable © cooler innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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MARKET PROFILE 51

EBWA 2009

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Burning issues addressed in Barcelona

espite a difficult economic climate, the water cooler industry put on a brave face in Barcelona, tackling the key challenges and opportunities alive and kicking in the water cooler industry. cooler innovation editor Hannah Oakman reports from the show.

“The fact that we are here today, even as a smaller group, proves that we are still trying to find creative solutions to take more market share,” he added. This sentiment seemed to be echoed by the conference goers who had braved an unseasonably wet and thundery day in Barcelona to attend events at the World Trade Centre in the Port Vell district.

This year’s conference welcomed a number of speakers from both Europe and the United States, covering varied hot topics over the two-day session.

EBWA Chairman Yariv Shapira

With the words, “We believe we are on the right path,” European Bottled Watercooler Association (EBWA) Chairman Yariv Shapira welcomed delegates to the conference of the 15th trade fair and convention.

“...we are still trying to find creative solutions to take more market share.”

On the first day, Chairman of the Spanish water cooler association (ADEAC), Joan Miró, spoke about the work the body is doing to boost the image of the

industry and the needs of its 34 members in Spain; the association represents 80% of the industry, with seven million bottles sold per year and 250,000 installed water coolers. ADEAC produces a directory of members, which is a great ‘business card’ when talking to local government and media. “In hard times, we need to send out a clear, strong message”, Joan added. Keynote speaker Domingo Jimérez Beltrán, Director of the Spanish Observatory for Sustainability, spoke about how issues of sustainability, climate change and crisis scenarios may affect the water industry in the future, in his words, “an industry that has all the elements to be a sustainable business. “If the economy had to fail to show how bad things are in the environment, then so be it,” he continued. “Sustainable

development is more important than environmental policies. There must be a new logic of sustainability - one based on knowledge. We must go back to a ‘real economy’, producing the right goods and properly.” Further speakers on day one included International Bottled Water Association President Joe Doss on the environmental challenge to bottled water, and Zenith International Mergers and Acquisitions Director Mark Groves with an East and West Europe water cooler industry overview. Tana Water Israel President Danny Taragan finished up by talking about the mains-fed cooler challenge. With over 307,000 active customers in Israel, Europe and the Middle East, Tana is well placed to talk on the topic. “We haven’t really talked about the home sector yet. In Eastern Europe,

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Day two saw another impressive line up of speakers. Joe Doss took to the stage again, this time with an address entitled: ‘Bottled water - fact, fiction and hype.’ “Bottled water makes up just one third of 1% of the US waste stream and all bottled water containers are 100% recyclable,” he explained. “I think bottled water companies are good stewards of the environment. We support responsible groundwater management policies based on sound science.”

Next up was Canadean Market Research Deputy Chairman Robert Shuttleworth, with a look at bottled water sales trends and analysis. His talk showed that most growth in bottled water has been in private label water rather than brands. “Bottled water is no longer driving European incremental volume. 2009 has been even more challenging

Shirley Cohen, Eden Springs

around 15% of coolers are in the home. This is where true opportunity and future innovations lie,” he argued.

“We are really trying to manage the crisis, rather than be led by it.”

than in the past, but longer term we will see volume growth,” he summarised. Shirley Cohen, Vice President of Operations at Eden Springs, then spoke about staying afloat in the economic crisis. “We are really trying to manage the crisis, rather than be led by it,” she explained. “We took this as a big opportunity to look deep into our business and decide if we would feel good about our actions in the long term.” Actions were taken on three levels: investing in the foundations; increasing efficiency; and developing the business for the future. Chairman of the British Water Cooler Association

EBWA on tour Canaletas, Greif Packaging Spain and Laboratorio Dr Oliver Rodés During the EBWA event, a tour was organised to visit several local businesses in the water cooler sector. Participants came from countries all over Europe, and differing segments such as bottled water distributors, moulding companies and bottle manufacturers. The tour began at Laboratorio Dr Oliver Rodés, with a look at the high tech processes going on and the amazing bottled water museum. Visitors were then escorted to Spanish water cooler manufacturer Canaletas, where they received an extensive demonstration of the sanitation systems on offer and explanations of the basic principles of refrigeration and how to apply these to a cooler.

The Canaletas plant

A complete tour of the factory took place, looking at manufacturing, quality controls, including traceability of the products. Canaletas also showed its new electronic cooler with sparkling water, set to be launched in winter 2009.

produces both water bottles as well as steel drums. The company showed its polycarbonate bottle production process, from start to finish, plus quality parameters and the particle reorientation process.

The final stop was to Greif Packaging Spain, located in Martorell, 30km from Barcelona, where the company

As well as visiting these companies, tour goers also enjoyed a whistle stop tour of Barcelona.

and Angel Springs John Dundon then addressed the audience on whether the water cooler industry is realising its green potential. “We have a conscience to be socially responsible. Customers want to know their supplier is doing the right thing and are normally prepared to pay a bit more for it,” he stated. “But it’s no good ticking all the boxes on the environmental side if you have a poor commercial offering. As well as ethical conduct, quality and service, you must add competitive advantage to stay ahead of the game.” Last but not least, Vice Chairman of the EBWA Michael Barnett gave a stirring speech, urging the audience not to ignore the mains-fed cooler challenge to the bottled water cooler industry. “It entered most markets quietly and below the radar, unchallenged by the traditional and dominant bottled water cooler companies. Over recent years, however, its growth has accelerated and has gained a momentum which is damaging to the bottled water cooler industry whilst receiving little recognition or any resistance. It is only over the past two years that one has seen some of the half-hearted defensive strategies employed by some bottled water cooler companies turned into proactive sales campaigns aimed at more than just damage limitation, but actual business growth. He added: “The market is telling us what it wants and we must respond. There is no more room for complacency. This is a real wake-up call for companies, National Associations and the EBWA.”

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EBWA 53

EBWA 2009

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On the trading floor

he latest products from the water cooler world were on show in Barcelona, from new coolers to filters and bottles in a range of colours. Exhibitors included: Activewhere, Aqua Pyrénées, Ase Plastik, Bericap, Blackhawk Molding, Canaletas, Capsnap, Clover, Crystal Mountain Products, Elkay Pacific, Greif Poland, Hesse Europe, Hodmeter, Krystal Kritis, Labeltech, Laboratorio Dr Oliver Rodés, Lamaplast, Mistral, MTN Products, NSF International, Ovio Corporation, Oasis, OP, Polymer Solutions, R Bardi, Sigma Home Products, Waterservice and Wonbong.

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Crystal Mountain reveals the SublimO The SublimO Premium Bottled Water Cooler, taking centre stage at the Barcelona EBWA Trade Show in the Crystal Mountain booth, attracted both bottlers and distributors looking for a new product to stimulate their markets and cater to their ever more sophisticated end user.

The smaller footprint makes it an ideal cooler for the residential market To create the SublimO, leading water cooler manufacturer Crystal Mountain, partnered with YESH. YESH contributed the cabinet design - a striking feature that won

an IF Product Design Award this year. Crystal Mountain designed the functional elements of the cooler, including the patented, hygienic reservoir system. It also manufactures the unit and has exclusive rights as the worldwide marketer. This new cooler is the result of months of co-operation and testing to guarantee its quality, providing confidence in performance at any enduser site and guaranteeing longevity without high servicing costs. According to Crystal Mountain, the features most admired by the delegates who stopped by the booth were predictably those which make improvements on the average water cooler already on the market. The small footprint makes it an ideal cooler for the domestic market, and fits

perfectly into the typically small staff areas and offices found in Europe. It is also in high demand for executive suites and designer salons.

in a small compartment, is both robust and efficient. SublimO is available in both hot & cold and cold & ambient models.

There has been no compromise in cooling or heating efficiency due to its small size and the cooler matches performance of both equally small and large models. The compressor refrigeration system, especially designed to work

The smaller size, 10 litre bottles mean that even the smallest adult can refill the cooler without strain. The compact bottles also ease the requirement for storage areas. The bottles, manufactured by Capsnap, are available in three colours.

Shhhhh . . . Capsnap has a secret Despite much pressing on behalf of the cooler innovation team, we were unable to discover the latest innovation from Capsnap, encased in a special perspex box under a velvet blanket at the exhibition. We are promised all will be revealed in the next issue of the magazine - so watch this space . . .

漏 cooler innovation 2009. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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EBWA 2009

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Clover confirms position as leading manufacturer At the EBWA show, cooler manufacturer Clover was exhibiting the following: • bottled cooler: B14A, the most stylish and popular model among Clover’s product range. • mains-fed: P15A, Aquverse has a simple, innovative and hygienic cooling system inside. In a short interview Hunt J Lee told cooler innovation the following: What are your predictions for 2010? “Simply, we can see a very positive 2010 due to global economic recovery. There will be a stronger transfer from bottled to mains-fed coolers and there will be new challenges on the new type of bottled waters featured with minerals and with different

packages in some growing and matured markets. “The current conversion trend to mains-fed will persist in 2010. Simultaneously, an impact on current players will be unavoidable and those who are not well-prepared will suffer a big loss. To recall our 2009 year, Clover has been enjoying a series of opportunities from various clients, and we believe that our continued effort on R&D and quality management is paying off finally. So, Clover’s prediction for 2010 is full of possibilities.” What will Clover be concentrating on in 2010? “We will aim to focus on new mains-fed coolers with hygienic and safe functions meeting with bottled coolers market requirements at the same time.

Coolers from the Clover range

“Product development will be our primary strategy in 2010. We want to increase our coverage while securing our strong position in bottled

and mains-fed coolers. Our top-notch engineers and designers are making their best efforts to develop world best coolers.”

MTN continues expansion Water cooler manufacturer MTN had its new range for the European market place on show at the EBWA show to highlight its presence as an EOM Supplier. The new product range, on top of the existing range of bottled and mains-fed coolers and supporting products shows the ambitions and growth plans that the company has. MTN strive for the right mix of looks, quality, reliability and value for money in a tough, competitive and evolving market place.

Kevin James, Sales Director Western Europe for MTN Europe, commented: “I continue to be surprised by the continual investment and research generated towards these new markets in Europe and the United States currently. “Mains-fed conversion kits to fit a range of different ranges and models and the SIP Omega Ozone generator are other perfect examples of MTN’S dedication to serving the water cooler distributors in this current, competitive trading environment.”

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EBWA 2009

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Hydropure wins Aqua Awards for Best Environmental Promotion 2009 Anticipating as early as 2007 that an attack on the environmental credentials of bottled water coolers was imminent, Hydropure Managing Director Michael Barnett felt strongly that the BWCA needed to launch a visual campaign to promote the simple message about the water cooler bottle’s multi-use and its end-of-life recyclability. The seed for the first initiative was planted when Michael visited Germany in October 2007. “I had ordered a 500ml bottle of still water and noticed that on the reverse of the label was a circular arrow implying return of the bottle and sum of €0.5 written within it. Having enjoyed the water I checked this meaning with the counter staff who refunded me the €0.5, I had unwittingly paid and took the empty bottle back to be stored in a large orange sack marked for recycling. The penny had dropped - the German government had initiated a recycling deposit scheme.” On his return, Michael sketched a similar design with the idea of using it on a label on the water cooler bottle cap and presented this to the

BWCA Executive Council for approval. It was universally liked and this label is now to be seen on every bottle supplied by BWCA members. This simple label was to comprise part of the BWCA’s Environmental Initiative and made the simple statement ‘Returnable’ ‘Reusable’ ‘Recyclable’. “As good as the label was, it could still be understood by the customer that the bottle was recycled after each use! Clearly that was undesirable and there was more to be done.” “Later that same year whilst leading an EBWA initiative to develop a higher consciousness in Europe for the greener stewardship of the water cooler industry, as opposed to the small-pack producer, it was pointed out to me that it was not only the multiple trips that our water cooler bottles make - some 50 times on average, but also their extreme lightness when considering that that same weight delivers some 1,000 litres (19 litres x 50+ trips). This brought me to think about a potential new ratio to demonstrate our industry’s green credentials - this being; the packaging waste ratio of bottled water dispensed from water coolers against that of other household products. “Simply put, if one takes take the weight of any packaging and divides this by the weight of the volume contents one gets a ratio eg an empty 1 litre Tetra Pack weighs 40g and holds 1 litre of juice. Its packaging ratio is therefore

calculated as 40g per 1 litre of fluid.” Investigating other common drinks and their containers, Michael discovered some interesting relationships: Drink & Container

Packaging Ratio

Water cooler bottle (19 litres)

1.5g per litre

Fruit Juice & Milk (Tetra Pack)

40.0g per litre

Canned Drinks (Aluminium)

75.0g per litre

By the time Michael had fully developed his thinking and had designed some graphics he had stepped down as Chair of the BWCA and so decided to continue with the project solely for his own company Hydropure.

When finalised in Spring 2009 the Hydropure campaign was titled the REFILL NOT LANDFILL campaign and composed of a doubleroundel bottle label fixed to every Hydropure bottle. A leaflet accompanied the newly marked bottles, with a variety of message highlighting the low cost, low power, durability, sustainability and low packaging ratio of cooler water bottles. “The response from customers was more than we had ever expected,” said Michael. “We had many calls asking for more details and saying just how relieved they were that drinking water from a water cooler was not as environmentally damaging as the media would have them believe.”

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Winners announced at EBWA Aqua Awards The jury announced its final decisions as to the winners of the Aqua Awards at the European Bottled Watercooler Association (EBWA) Awards in Barcelona, Spain. The event, held as part of the Chairman’s reception at the Grand Marina Hotel in Barcelona’s Port Vell,

was attended by a host of people from the water cooler industry. Prizes were awarded in six categories: • Best plant audit Winner - Montana Nevada, Spain. • Best distributor audit Winner - Servirreiner, Spain. • Best product innovation/design Entries from Activewhere, Aquajet’s Twist vending system, Yesh/Sipwell, La Fantana’s bag-in-box system, the U from Baribua

and Vicap Systems) Winner - Vicap Systems, Switzerland 2nd place - Baribua, Israel 3rd place - Yesh, Belgium

• Best promotion of healthy hydration Entries from Aquajet’s Twist vending system, Sipwell, La Fantana’s project for mothers and pregnant women and Eden Springs Europe for Well being at Work. Winner - Eden Springs 2nd place - Sipwell, Belgium 3rd place - La Fantana, Romania

• Best environmentally friendly practice Winner - Sipwell, Belgium • Best environmental promotion Entries from Aquajet’s Twist and Hydropure UK’s Refill not Landfill campaign. Winner - Hydropure, UK.

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Event preview

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BWCA to show innovation in a changing landscape

ooler innovation found out more from BWCA Chairman John Dundon and Secretary Phillipa Atkinson Clow about the upcoming convention at the Belfry, West Midlands from 9-11 February 2010. What are you planning for the BWCA event in February 2010?

We are planning a 2/3 day event that will provide information, networking and fun. Tuesday 9 February: Golf tournament Wednesday 10 February: AGM/conference and interactive workshops Industry gala dinner and golf presentation Thursday 11 February: UK water cooler trade show What are you planning for the conference?

Innovation in a changing market. Many of the initiatives we announced at our last AGM have either been launched or will be unveiled at this meeting. We will have more

participation and education with workshops that will give members the opportunity to participate and gain practical benefits and experience. What are you most looking forward to about the event?

Dancing at the Belair Nightclub until the early hours! And of course taking the initiative and adding value to membership. BWCA members are now beginning to take full advantage of the market migration between bottled and mains-fed coolers. These initiatives, both present and future, will ensure our membership have the tools to enjoy profitable growth. In your opinion, what are the prospects for the UK water cooler industry as we head into 2010?

A steady recovery, with the strongest companies emerging fitter and better prepared for the future. We believe the severe downward pressure on mains-fed cooler margins will continue. Conversely, as the migration from bottled to mains-fed slows significantly, bottled water coolers will maintain healthy margins in all areas, apart from large national accounts. However we believe markets will remain static for 2010. What are the top three actions the BWCA will be undertaking in 2010 to help members?

1. Ensuring all members maintain quality standards for mains and bottled water coolers that reassure the consumer that BWCA members remain the preferred choice for their drinking water solutions. 2. Implementing our industry carbon reduction strategy and reducing carbon emissions in a sustainable manner.

John Dundon and Phillipa Atkinson Clow

3. Delivering the health and hydration message to address the significant short term and long term negative effects of dehydration and establishing the BWCA as

the ‘guardian of hydration in the workplace’. How do you see the organisation and market developing in 2010?

The industry is splitting into two diverse categories: • Those companies that are competing aggressively on price and market share, for short term survival. • Companies, exemplified by BWCA members, that have a sustainable long term profit strategy that embraces high quality products, service and a profit culture; these companies will be better placed to face the challenges of the year ahead. The BWCA has the highest standards of regulations that protect the bottler, distributor and consumer. This dedication to deliver an unimpeachable supply of drinking water has served the industry since the 1980s. With all the main players being BWCA members, we truly hydrate the nation’s workforce with a safe and naturally refreshing service. How can delegates book to attend the trade show?

Delegates can register for their complimentary ticket at www.bwca.org.uk/show

60 EVENT pREVIEW

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Business continuity planning Bluefin Insurance Services looks at the major elements of protecting your business By Ian Cresswell

ny business can experience a major emergency - such as flooding, severe weather from blizzards to heat waves, flu epidemics and terrorism, or serious incident - fire, explosion, loss of power and loss of personnel - that prevents it from continuing normal operations.

Therefore, it is most important for your business to be prepared for all eventualities and to have a plan in place to enable it to return to normal as quickly as possible. It will reassure your customers and suppliers that you take the resilience and security of your business seriously and is good business practice. Also, small firms tendering for work with large organisations, including Local Authorities, could come under increasing pressure to demonstrate their own preparedness. A Business Continuity Plan describes the practical steps your business needs to follow if a particular problem arises. The planning process will involve: • identifying potential disasters or emergencies • looking at how you can minimise risks • deciding how you intend to react to eventualities

Why do I need a plan? If you have a Continuity Plan in place, you will be better prepared to cope in a crisis and should be able to minimise disruption to both your business and your customers. It will ensure that staff know their roles and responsibilities and respond by following recognised,

practised and agreed procedures. The most important functions, services and systems that are essential to running your business will be up and running in the shortest possible time frame. The impact on your business will be limited.

Assessing the risks It is important to identify the risks to the most critical aspects of your business. List the potentially serious incidents or points of failure that could affect your business and assess how each particular occurrence may affect the business. This will help you to determine what you would need to do if one of these things actually happened. To decide what impact an event might have on your

It is important to identify the risks to the most critical aspects of your business business think about some worst-case scenarios and how they might affect you. What would happen if your premises were destroyed by fire? How would an explosion or fire in your neighbours’ premises affect your daily operations?

You have invested heavily in your business and you need to ensure it remains safe, secure and viable.

If you lost all the information you held on customers through a computer virus, how would you recover the information and how would you contact your customers? If your staff rely on public transport to get to work, what would you do if the station was closed or the roads blocked by severe weather or due to a terrorist attack? What would happen if there was a sudden and continuous power failure; how would you operate machinery or be able to see? What if you lost key staff, through death or sudden illness? What if there was a break in your supply chain, eg a key supplier going out of business?

What should your plan contain? If your business is large enough, form a disaster recovery team who will have responsibility for developing and implementing your Continuity Plan, but assign overall responsibility for the Plan to one member of staff. That person would be responsible for recording the Plan, testing and ensuring it is kept up to date. The plan should include: • immediate actions to be taken, eg contacting emergency services and key members of staff • which business functions you need to get ‘up and running’ as a priority and how this will be achieved • what resources you will need to get these

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BUSINESS VIEW 61

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• what each individual’s role will be if there is a disaster or emergency. Who will deal with any media enquiries. Who will deal with the insurers. • details of alternative premises to be used - make reciprocal arrangements with other local businesses to share premises temporarily. • details of where and how key data and information is backed up and instructions for how to access those back-ups • contact details of those who need to be notified, eg insurance companies, customers, suppliers, utilities providers etc • details of service providers who can help, eg plumbers, electricians etc

With no recovery plan your business has less chance of survival • a map of the layout of your premises to help the emergency services The Plan should be in writing and kept securely. It can be retained on the premises but there should also be a copy kept away from the premises, eg at the home of a senior employee or at the Bank or Solicitors. A checklist approach will be helpful as key steps can be easily identified and this will enable you to tick things off once

they have been done. Make sure that all staff are aware of and familiar with the Plan.

Testing your plan Disaster Recovery Plans should be tested on a regular basis, which could involve a simple paper exercise, including a run-through by the people involved. The plan should be in the right order so that your business can be up and running as quickly as possible. © Maksym Filipchuk | Dreamstime.com

priority functions operating

Check the contact details contained in the plan regularly to ensure they are correct. A full test may involve a simulation of an emergency. Record the procedures and results of the plan and use this to review and fine tune the plan if necessary. If your plan is ever invoked to contend with a real incident, learn as much as you can from the experience and refine your plan to reflect where you think improvements could be made.

Minimising the risk There are several things you can do to prevent disasters occurring in the first place, or to minimise their impact: • Make health and safety a priority • Make sure there is a qualified first-aider • Install fire and security alarms • Keep paper documents in metal cabinets to minimise fire damage • Keep copies of irreplaceable documents away from the premises

• Protect IT systems with antivirus software, keeping back-up data away from your premises • Keep records of your business systems and procedures

Why bother? Disasters have no boundaries and whether you are a small or large business you may be affected. Research has shown that around 80% of businesses that suffer a disaster such as loss of computer data, damage caused by flood, fire or a major incident, cease trading within 12 months of the disaster. Without an effective continuity plan your business could suffer from: • loss of trade • damage to image/ reputation/brand

• loss of staff • loss or damage to equipment and / or premises • impact on insurance premiums With no recovery plan your business has less chance of survival, therefore the time spent in putting together a business continuity plan is good for your business, staff and reputation. The Civil Contingencies Act 2005 placed a duty on Local Authorities to provide advice and assistance to local businesses and voluntary organisations.

Useful links Business Continuity Institute - www.thebci.org UK Resilience - www.ukresilience.gov.uk www.bluefingroup.co.uk

• loss of customers

62 BUSINESS VIEW

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Watershorts

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News from the wider water industry

Hyde Park public toilets given startling makeover for World Toilet Day

ne of London’s most popular public toilets was transformed beyond all recognition this World Toilet Day, to resemble some of the most hellish loos on earth. Life without a proper toilet is a reality for 2.5 billion people in the developing world and, for one morning only, members of the public were invited to see for themselves the kind of squalid environment that billions across Africa and Asia live with every day. To raise awareness of the global sanitation crisis, international charity WaterAid and award winning ad Director Kit Lynch-Robinson created a chilling scene in the Hyde Park Corner men’s toilets - complete with rubbish dump, maggots, rusted pipes, a stagnant stream

and a unique toilet scent, Eau de Toilet. The transformation took place to support WaterAid’s ‘Loo’ve Been Framed’ campaign which has attracted support from some of the UK’s best loved celebrities. High profile supporters Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley and Ewan McGregor have all taken a picture of their toilet to highlight the campaign which calls on UK politicians to prioritise water and sanitation in the world’s poorest countries. To find out more about Loo’ve Been Framed and to add your support, visit www.wateraid.org/stink

The public toilets at Hyde Park Corner in London, which were transformed by international charity WaterAid to raise awareness of the global sanitation crisis.

WaterAid also launched a new iPhone application today, allowing iPhone users in the UK to locate their

nearest public toilet, while reminding them how lucky they are to have use of a clean and safe toilet.

Live Earth Run for Water gathers speed

ive Earth has announced Atlanta has been added to the list of cities hosting the largest worldwide water initiative on record to help combat the global water crisis. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water - on 18 April 2010

- consists of a series of 6km run/walks (the average

distance many women and children walk every day to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in countries around the world, featuring concerts and water education activities in aid of the global water crisis. Jessica Biel, Alexandra Cousteau, Pete Wentz, Angelique Kidjo and Jenny Fletcher will lend their names and their time in support of this important cause.

Source: John Maas

Water scarcity is an issue affecting countries, communities and families all over the world. One in eight people do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. Around 88% of diarrheal cases worldwide are linked to inadequate and unsafe

water. These cases result in 1.5 million deaths each year, mostly among children under five. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water is a global movement focused on the actions individuals can take to effectively address the issue. “Water scarcity is an issue that affects all of us and we all have a responsibility to do our part to help solve this global crisis,” said actor and Dow Live Earth Run for Water supporter Jessica Biel. “The beauty of the Dow Live Earth Run for Water is that it gives us a platform to encourage others to be part of the solution to help everyone have access to clean, safe drinking water.”

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

NEWS 63

Cooler views

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Distributor Audits – Some Frequently Asked Questions part 2 Although some EBWA member associations have been carrying out distributor audits for a while the concept is new to many. With the imminent arrival of an EBWA-wide Distributor Audit it is appropriate that we should look at FAQs that the audits create when first introduced. Here is the second ‘Cooler views’ on the topic. Why do field sanitisations need to be audited? The answer, unfortunately, is that one cannot be entirely sure that field teams or contractors are carrying out sanitisations as desired. The temptation to cut corners is strong especially when staff are either given very tough targets (25 coolers a day anyone?) or are paid per cooler. One individual actually boasted to me that he managed 30 coolers a day and that he earned a lot of money as a result. On pressing him, I found that he just wiped the outside of the cooler and the taps to make the cooler look good. I hope that this was not done with the agreement of his manager or even if the manager had thought about the numbers being claimed. It is therefore vital that a supervisor is appointed to keep an eye on things and to go out in the field from time to time (preferably twice a year) with each sanitisation operative to make sure things are done properly. This responsibility and the results of the visits should be recorded together with any remedial action required. I see we need to provide ‘formal sanitisation procedures’. How do we get these? Ask the cooler supplier/ manufacturer. Good cooler manufacturers and some sanitisation chemical suppliers have subjected

their machines/chemicals to the EBWA test protocols to prove that: a) the machine is sanitisable (some are tricky in this respect) b) the sanitisation method they have developed is effective in sanitising coolers. Less responsible suppliers leave it up to you to develop your own methods or, if you are lucky, offer one that has not been independently tested! Of course, if you have a method of your own that you are confident works, write it up as a formal technique. There are no ‘official’ methods as coolers, water characteristics and circumstances vary. The EBWA Technical Manual does give some general guidance on cooler care. Why are different sanitisation procedures needed for in the depot and at the customers’ premises? Conditions in the controlled high risk area at your depot will be very different from those found at the customers’ offices. At the depot there is the luxury of a known water supply, time to carry out sanitisations (even leaving things to soak overnight), and the ability to use chemicals such as descalers which may be too aggressive to carry to the customers offices. Also many companies use removable reservoir coolers

and choose to clean these together with taps and bayonets at the depot and send them out to replace soiled components in the field. Fitting cleaned reservoirs etc still counts as sanitisation. Clearly the procedures are very different. What are unsuitable cleaning chemicals? Those that should not be used on food contact equipment. At the benign end of the spectrum are scented and foaming detergents such as washing up liquids. At the other end are heavily caustic detergents used for degreasing industrial components and toxic disinfectants! Other disinfectants can leave tastes or even become ineffective. Why one-use wipes? Because multiple use cloths are notorious for spreading contamination Is placing warning notices on coolers undergoing sanitisation not rather excessive? Believe it or not, I have heard many reports of people trying to get a drink whilst cooler care staff are actually working on a cooler - even pushing past the operative to get one! There have also been instances of staff taking a drink when the operative has moved away from the cooler for a moment. In some cases, a sore mouth resulted. A simple notice saying something like ‘do not use -

Mike Hurst cooler undergoing cleaning/ sanitisation’ will reduce the chance of an injury liability claim. What happens if cooler components are packed wet? Some major coolers are fitted with removable components. This enables the company to remove soiled components and take them back to the depot for sanitisation, replacing them with components freshly sanitised under controlled conditions at the depot. Such sanitisations may be carried out using machinery such as commercial dishwashers. Unfortunately any water contact surface that has been sanitised does not remain in pristine sanitised condition if it is packed wet. The water bacteria and moulds remaining simply grow back - often causing unpleasant off smells and tastes. Therefore all sanitised components should be dried before being packed. Even that is not so simple. Drying and packing components in a warm room and then transferring the sealed containers to a colder store or vehicle can result in problems as the water in the warm air trapped inside condenses as the air cools (warm air holds more water vapour than cold air).

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

EXPERT OPINION 65

East Europe Water Coolers 2009 For detail and insight on this exciting market, Zenithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report examines the success of both the multinationals and smaller water cooler operators in East Europe.

Data 2004-08 Forecasts 2009-13 Market characteristics Leading distributors Leading bottlers and brands Support Unit placement your investment Identify decisions new growth Adapt quickly opportunities to change and allowing you remain aware to be early to of what your market competitors are doing

Cooler views Surely new coolers are clean and do not need sanitisation before issue? Although there are hardly likely to be any life threatening micro-organisms present in new conventional coolers, they will have manufacturing traces including mould release agents and protective films present in them. These traces can trigger microbial growth and smells. Hygiene is about cleaning and freedom from foreign bodies as well as the control of micro-organisms. There have been instances of more sophisticated coolers and vending machines containing contaminants such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These can be introduced if the machines pumps etc are tested before leaving the factory using the local tap water. The organisms then grow on plastics within the pumps/taps, valves etc during shipping to the customer. There are many good reasons why new coolers should be thoroughly cleaned before issue. I suggest you do it. The new EBWA audit requires that conditions in depots should permit effective and hygienic operations. Surely these are storage units? Many depots include sanitisation facilities. Even smaller storage units need to be in sound pest proof conditions. Damaged floors, leaking roofs, flaking paintwork, broken glass and pests can have a major impact on the cleanliness and safety of what is stored there. Anything in boxes (coolers, cups, drink sachets etc) will all suffer from the damp.

How do you think one of your customers would react if they received a filthy cobwebbed and mouldy consignment of boxed material from you? Why should we go to the expense of a pest control contract? We have no pests on this site. You do not know that. Just because you have not seen mice does not mean that they are not there. Most pests are nocturnal. There are two reasons for a pest control contract. Both are essential: 1. To monitor to spot pest invasion when it happens. This is what those bait boxes are for - to detect pest presence 2. Once (if) pests are detected, to remove them, usually by poisoning. A good contractor will not use poisons in a food premises unless pests have been detected first.

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practice. And of course do not leave rubbish (especially food waste) outside in insecure containers like bags that can be broken into by rodents, cats and foxes. Excessive plant growth around the outside of your building will hide rodents and enable them to move about freely in the day. Keep the vegetation around your buildings cut back. The requirement to store goods away from the wall will cause us difficulties as we are short of space. Why is it necessary? The requirement is not to store goods directly on the floor. Placing goods on pallets is fine.

Every ten weeks is standard for food premises but four times a year should be sufficient for most depots. Exceptions are those where items like coffee, sugar, whiteners, etc are stored.

In addition nothing at floor level should be stored directly against the wall. A gap of 30cm plus is recommended. The reason for this is that the main focus of pest activity in a store is against the base of the wall. Rodents usually move around with one side against the wall. This is an instinctive defence mechanism. If there is a gap behind the stored goods at the wall base you will be able to inspect and clean the area. This will discourage or drive away pests.

Please explain the need to keep the area around the depot free from plants and rubbish. We do not store outside.

If space is at a premium, a narrow brush can help - or alternatively introduce a practice of moving pallets to clean behind them every

How often should the pest control contractor visit?

Rubbish attracts and hides rodents that will then enter your buildings. The main danger areas are around the back of your buildings where few people go. A good auditor will walk round the outside of your building. A simple procedure of clearing rubbish once a week is sensible

Don't leave your car in the store!

week or so. However you will need to prove to an auditor that this is a regular and frequent practice. How? By having a written procedure and recording the fact that cleaning has taken place. If you are still in difficulty, then maybe your store is too small for the size of your business. What are dangerous or tainting chemicals? Remember that bottled water will take up odours from its environment and that cardboard boxes of goods are even more absorbent. Even cooler plastics can absorb odours. And then of course there are toxic chemicals. Things to avoid include: • solvents, paints, fuels, cleaning fluids (like ammonia), paint stripper and even, on one notable occasion, moth proofer being used on fur coats in the same store! • perfumed goods • toxic disinfectants like phenols • aromatic food stuffs like spices - and even some fruit and eggs. You might be amazed on what sometimes gets stored with coolers and water • vehicles. Never run vehicle engines in your store. I know that some companies keep their delivery vehicles inside to avoid theft and vandalism. I have even found evidence of owners’ hobbies in stores. These have included vintage cars undergoing restoration (including re-sprays) and aviation archaeology (dug up relics of crashed Spitfires with oils still present!). Look out for the next instalment in cooler innovation issue 25, out February 2010.

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

EXPERT OPINION 67

EBWA matters

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The latest news from the European Bottled Watercooler Association By Director General Gustav Felix

his year’s Barcelona event was a huge challenge and no one was sure up to the very last moment if the event would be a success or a disappointment for all participants, both exhibitors and visitors. Despite the economic climate, necessary cost reductions and the lower attendance, Barcelona turned out to be a success. It was a fantastic venue with interesting workshops, exciting conference sessions from top speakers from industry and politics, with exhibitors bringing innovative products and their latest developments. While visitor numbers were lower than usual, they were of high quality. Prior to the trade show, the EBWA held the Committee, Board and General Meetings. Below is a short summary of the decisions taken:

1. EBWA - Articles of Association The Board and General Meeting approved the revised Articles of the association. Following the advice of our lawyers in Brussels, EBWA will call an extraordinary Board Meeting in Brussels at the beginning of 2010, with a local public notary to facilitate the registration of the new Articles of Association.

2. Standard Auditing Grid for Distributors The Standard European Auditing Grid for Distributors was presented by the Education and Audit Committee and found full acceptance from the Board. Next year, the Education and Audit Committee will organise a training session

dedicated to EBWA Auditors, ‘Train the Auditor’ to support them in understanding and implementing the new grid.

3. Next Table Top Show in Prague After evaluating the positive results of the trade fair in Barcelona, the International Supplier and Trade Fair Committee decided in a follow up teleconference to call a Table Top (low cost) trade show in Prague in October 2010. The dates should be communicated at the beginning of 2010. The meetings in Barcelona showed undisputedly the wish and necessity of the industry to come together at least once a year.

4. Alex Mezquida new Chairman of Evaluation Sub-Committee The Board expressed great appreciation for the work done by Andrew Whybrow and regretted that, due to his new challenges, Andrew was not able to continue his engagement in the committee work. Alex Mezquida was unanimously elected as the new Chairman. The Committee is now looking for two more distributors to join.

5. Protocol - Module Three - The Challenge Test for mains-fed coolers The Board approved the new Module Three

- Standard Methodology for the Examination of the Microbiological Efficiency of mains-fed Sanitisation Methods, called ‘The Challenge Test for Mains-fed coolers’.

6. Review of the Technical Manual The Board sees the necessity to revise the existing Technical Manual. Mike Hurst is going to look into this project.

7. Chris Dunn elected as new Chairman of Environmental Committee Due to his other commitments, Andrew Whybrow had also to resign from this committee. The Board thanked Andrew for his great contribution and unanimously welcomed Chris Dunn as the new Chairman. Chris is already involved in environmental strategies worldwide and his knowledge and experience is a great added value to the committee work.

8. Public relations agency Fleishmann & Hillard appointed by EBWA In the event of any BPA related crisis, EBWA appointed the professional PR agency Fleishmann & Hillard to be used in any European country, ensuring the unity of one voice on the issue.

9. EBWA BPA PR Task Force and BPA (Technical) Sub-Committee merged The Board appreciated the considerable work done by Ian Painter as Chair of the Task Force and of Michael Frick as

Chair of the technical SubCommittee and decided to bring the two groups together and focus their further activities on PR work. Michael Frick remains the Chairman of the new Sub-Committee.

10. The Board confirmed the establishment of the Funding Task Force The EBWA budget is highly dependent on the income from trade shows and fairs and EBWA needs to find other alternatives of funding. For this reason a Funding Task Force was created. The members of this Task Force are: Jeroen Peters - Nestlé Waters (Chairman); Yariv Shapira - Eden Springs; Peter Hogervorst - Dolphin; Krzysztof Glinianowicz Greif; Alain Adler - SipWell; Gustav Felix - EBWA. Both as individuals and working as a team, the committee and board members have shown initiative and full commitment during the year to stay current with trends in the industry and provide their knowledge and professionalism towards consumer protection, modern products and improved services. On behalf of the EBWA management I would like to thank everybody for their contribution and wish you a happy and successful 2010. We hope to see all Committee and Board Members in April in Vienna and all HOD players in October in Prague. Merry Christmas!

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

EBWA 69

EBWA matters

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Bisphenol A-based consumer products deemed safe Bisphenol A (BPA) has been the subject of extensive scientific testing and governmental reviews worldwide. International authorities such as the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare have all assessed the comprehensive database on BPA. Based on the overwhelming weight of evidence, these assessments have consistently concluded that human exposure levels to BPA are low and within the safe limits set by government authorities. Over 50 years of research and extensive use throughout the world provide convincing evidence that products made from materials based on BPA are safe for their intended uses. The following provides an overview of regulatory assessments and a collection of statements from regulatory authorities in Europe and the world regarding the safety of BPA.

European Union (EU) Risk Assessment EU Risk Assessments, conducted under the lead of an EU Member State as rapporteur, are

widely recognised as one of the world’s most rigorous scientific assessments of a substance’s safety. A first risk assessment of BPA was published in 2003. For the update, published in 2008, independent scientific experts from EU Member States considered the scientific database of BPA, including several hundreds of studies that had appeared during recent years.

After exposure to BPA the human body rapidly metabolises and eliminates the substance In the updated EU Risk Assessment (2008) the European Commission and the representatives of the EU Member States identified no concern for consumers from products made from materials based on BPA. In the EU Risk Assessment the whole life cycle of BPA, from its production, processing and use through to the disposal of the final article, is comprehensively evaluated for potential risks to human health and the environment. In its update, the UK Health and Safety Executive, acting as rapporteur for the assessment of BPA, focused on recent scientific data that had become available

since the last report. This data included the results of large scale multi-generation guideline studies and covered, among other parameters, endocrinicity, low dose effects and neurodevelopment.

European Food Safety Authority EFSA EFSA is an independent expert body responsible for the assessment of and communication about potential risks associated with the food chain. One of its key tasks is the evaluation of substances which are positively listed for the manufacturing of food contact materials (Directive 2002/72/EC), such as BPA. In June 2009, as a response to recently published studies on BPA, EFSA reconfirmed its previous position on BPA: “None of the studies which have so far been published have brought into question EFSA’s previous findings on BPA.” In July 2008, in its updated opinion, EFSA reconfirmed its long standing position that BPA based polycarbonate and epoxy food contact products are safe for their intended uses for all age groups, including foetuses and newborns. It noted that the established safe intake level for BPA “provides a sufficient margin of safety for the protection of the consumer, including foetuses and newborns.”

In its reassessment EFSA explicitly took into account recent data and reviews by other authorities, such as the US NTP, Health Canada, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety. The key focus was on the mechanisms of BPA elimination from the human body: “The conclusions of the panel are that after exposure to BPA the human body rapidly metabolises and eliminates the substance . . . the panel concluded that the exposure of the human foetus to BPA would be negligible because the mother rapidly metabolises and eliminates BPA from her body. The scientists also concluded that newborns are similarly able to metabolise and eliminate BPA at doses below 1 milligram per kilogram of body weight per day. This implies that newborns could effectively clear BPA at levels far in excess of the TDI of 0.05mg/kg bw set by the panel and therefore its 2006 risk assessment remains valid.” For more information regarding individual countries visit: www.ebwa.org

70 EBWA

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

Products and services

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cooler innovation NEXT ISSUE: • Special Report - filtration

• Focus - coolers in high risk areas

• Insight - customer service

Contact the Editor: hannah.oakman@foodbev.com

72 MARKETPLACE

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010

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Water filters and fittings

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MARKETPLACE 73

Light at the end

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The lighter side of the industry

Bottle for Life concept launched UK based Life Pure Water is offering its Bottle for Life charitable concept to restaurants, following a successful pilot scheme. The initiative sees restaurants filling reusable glass bottles with filtered tap water and serving them to diners at £1 each.

Over a five month period, Due South has raised enough funds to provide more than 4,000 children with drinking water.

The money raised then goes to Life’s ‘drop4drop’ charity, which provides children in developing countries with clean drinking water. The scheme has been piloted by Due South in Brighton and Birmingham’s Kitchen Garden Café.

“This is a brilliant scheme and I would recommend it to other quality restaurants,” said owner Robert Shenton. “It fits in with our objectives to support local companies and limit food miles, while benefiting some of the poorest people in the world. And we can make our own sales figures stack up at the same time!”

foodbev com A world of food and drink

The stylish bottle for life

cooler innovation Advertiser Index

Abbeychart Activewhere Allpure Aqua Cure Aquis Azure Blackhawk Molding Blupura BWCA Canaletas Capsnap CEM Clover Cosmetal Coway Crystal Mountain Database Workshop Ebac

Page

30 27 59 68 48 68 57 23 57 33 43 13 39 9 75 45 44 2

Page

Fairey Ceramics 31 FoodBev.com 18 Jetsun 41 Kleena Coola 66 Lamaplast 34 Microfilter 25 Omnic 55 OP Sarl 15 Polymer Solutions 21 Portola 68 Sam Jin 26 Sigma Home Products 66 SIP Technologies 64 Tana Water 11 WQA 66 YoungOne 76 Zenith International 66, 71 Zerica 4

Images: screen © Irochka, bottle © Filipe Varela, tomato © Mailthepic, carton © Photoeuphoria, cheese © Edyta Pawlowska, glass © Konstantin Tavrov, orange © Les Cunliffe, bean © Monika3stepsahead, biscuit © Picsfive, strawberry © Braendan Yong | Dreamstime.com

74 FINAL WORD

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 24 - December 2009 · January 2010