The average per capita consumption of bottled mineral water amounted to 54.55 liters in 2011 going up by about 3 percent compared to the previous year, according to data from Rio Bucovina one of the main mineral water bottlers in Romania.
About 13 million hectoliter of mineral water were bottled last year in Romania and consumption is estimated to grow by about 3 to 5 percent in 2012, says the company.
According to a survey carried by Rio Bucovina, over 60 percent of bottled water consumers in Romania are women. Over 80 percent of consumers drink the water as it is while 17 percent choose to combine sparkling water with alcoholic drinks. 56 percent of the sold water is still and the rest is sparkling.
The highest consumption is in the capital – over 60 percent of Bucharesters drink bottled water each day. Bucharest is followed in the top by Southern Romania and Moldova, Transylvania and Banat.
Rio Bucovina is the third player on the local bottled water market according to data from Nielsen. The company also produces Rio soft drinks and distributes food and non-food products. Last year it has reported a RON 85 million turnover and has previously announced that it hopes to reach RON 110 million in 2011.
Simona Bazavan
Romanians will drink between 3 to 5 percent more mineral water this year estimates Rio Bucovina