UK Bottled Water Market 2025: A Surge in ‘Better-for-You’ Choices
, by My Store Admin, 2 min reading time
Discover why bottled water is one of the fastest-growing beverage categories in the UK grocery market in 2025. With health-conscious shoppers prioritising low-sugar drinks, and top brands like Highland Spring and Buxton seeing double-digit growth, now is the time to tap into the rising demand for healthy hydration and sustainable bottled water.
Bottled water continues to make a splash in the UK grocery market, driven by a shift in consumer preferences toward healthier, lower-sugar drinks. With nearly 1 in 5 Brits consuming bottled water daily, the category is thriving — and not just in terms of volume.
🧃 Bottled Water: The Health-Conscious Choice
Consumers are increasingly reaching for bottled water as a "better-for-you" alternative to sugary carbonates. A massive three-quarters of shoppers now say that low and no sugar is an important factor in their drink choices — and water fits the bill perfectly.
👉 Key Insight: Dislike for the flavour of tap water remains the top motivator for bottled water consumption, showing strong demand for clean, crisp hydration.
📈 Category Growth: Strong Gains Across the Board
The bottled water category has experienced a 7.1% volume increase year-on-year, making it one of the fastest-growing grocery sectors in the UK.
Key contributing factors include:
-
A rise in larger pack sizes
-
Increased shelf space
-
Product innovation in packaging and functionality
🔝 Top-Performing Brands in 2024-2025
Eight of the top ten bottled water brands are showing positive volume growth. The standouts include:
-
Buxton: +17.5% volume growth
-
White Rock: +16.4%
-
Highland Spring: +15.9%
-
San Pellegrino: +14.4%
-
Evian & Volvic: +7.9% each
-
Pure Life: +8.7%
Notably, Glaceau Smartwater has seen a -13.9% decline, suggesting brand loyalty and innovation are more crucial than ever.
🌱 Sustainability Still Matters
Sustainability is a major consideration in purchasing decisions:
-
49% of bottled water drinkers say they prefer sustainable brands.
-
Interestingly, 51% of non-drinkers also agree — showing sustainability influences perception beyond direct buyers.
While preference doesn’t always translate to action, the data suggests that environmentally-conscious branding still matters.
📸 Suggested Image: A bottle of water with a plant growing out of it or a recycling symbol on a leafy background.
💬 Final Thoughts
The bottled water category continues to ride the wave of consumer health consciousness and premium product positioning. With shoppers craving cleaner, sugar-free options and eyeing sustainability more than ever, brands that innovate and communicate value clearly are poised to lead.
Want to stay ahead of the curve in healthy hydration?
Now’s the time to invest in the growing momentum of bottled water.