Feature Drink Waters
A Greener Way To Go
Drink Beverages, with its trade name Drink Waters, is a French brand with a strong social
purpose and ecological ethos. IRIS ARSIC, our features editor, talks to GUILLAUME ZARKA, CEO and co-founder, about what the company stands for and its vision for growth.
Tackling plastic
ocean waste Drink Waters, which sells water and functional beverages in aluminium bottles, was borne out of passion for surfing and tackling the scourge of the oceans swirling with plastic. Recalling his discussion in late 2019 with Kev Adams and Franck Hadjez, the co-founders, Zarka says: “While we were surfing, one of the discussions I had with them is that I didn’t understand why wherever you go in the world you can see more plastic than fish in the oceans.” After conducting research, he
Europe and Above: Guillaume Zarka, CEO and co-founder
explains, we found that plastic wasn’t used in the beverage industry before the 60s. “We were drinking water before plastic became widely used and humankind thrived well. It’s not like we need it.” And so, Zarka set out to find the best option to replace plastic and help fight the rising tide of plastic in the oceans. He drew inspiration from his childhood memories of France’s mustard maker Amora Maille sold in a glass jar, which “once the mustard was finished it became a drinking glass”. Founded in 2020 in between
lockdowns, the journey of Drink Waters begins. But it didn’t come without its challenges. “It was difficult to find a good aluminium bottle. We knew we didn’t want to use cans as they can’t be refilled.” Within mature markets, such as the US and Asia, it’s not new to sell water in cans and aluminium bottles, Zarka remarks, adding: “We were very happy to be the first to come up with water in aluminium bottles for retailers in France and in Europe.” Its first supplier of aluminium bottles was Ball Corporation, and this has changed since, with Zarka only commenting that “we’ve been approached by other players in Europe”.
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beyond A small business, which started with no more than €10,000 in capital, is going from strength to strength. As Zarka explains “we reinvest back all the profits” in the business. Not surprisingly, Zarka says that France “is our lab” and it remains its No. 1 market. Drink Waters is currently sold in over 3,000 sales points across
the country, including Monoprix, Carrefour and Intermarche stores. It has a smaller presence in Belgium, and, as of this May, the company secured a distribution channel in Ukraine. “It took us a very long time to open this account due to logistics, but now we make shipments every month through a third party,” he says. Next in line are the UK’s retail outlets, set for this quarter, followed by Spain and the US early next year.
From retail to the hospitality sector, festivals
More recently, the company’s pivot to B2B has put it in a strong growth position. It has turned its attention to hospitality, with Zarka noting
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