We found this article in a Middle Easter publication that offers their Top 10 Beverage Trends for 2012. Their third trend highlights the increased demand for luxury bottled water.
Trend 3: Luxury Water
Bottled water continues to rule in the GCC, as does the trend towards pure spring water with natural ingredients.
Danone’s Middle East brand manager, Habib Bahri, says: “In the specific case of bottled water, our consumers are valuing more and more the water with natural mineral content, as opposed to treated water or purified water. Evian comes from the heart of the French Alps, naturally filtered through glacial sand layers over 15 years.”
Business development manager Adil Parkar from Al Morooj Hotel Supplies, distributor of Highland Spring water, agrees: “The trend for 2012 and the future is ‘back to basics’, to incorporate as much as possible organic products in your lifestyle – people are willing to pay a premium for this,” says.
Taking this further, at O by OKKU, co-founder Markus Thesleff says he is looking to carry different artisanal waters, combining them with dishes based on PH levels and mineral contents, as well as the amount of gas in the water.
Chairman Jasem Al Shehhi says such waters should become a counterpart to beverages such as champagne and fine wines in the region, with versions including pear-vinegar that can be used as an aperitif or accompaniment to a one-of-a-kind dinner, as well as still, sparkling, lemon-elderflower, raspberry-ginseng and pineapple-coconut compositions: “Guests who prefer non-alcoholic drinks are delighted to be offered an exclusive drink, instead of run-of-the-mill soft drinks and juices,” he says.
You can read the full article at HotelierMiddleEast.com