Abstract
Since the end of the last century, Spain has become a country of reference in the European Union due to its volume of bottled mineral water. This study aims to analyze the evolution of the key aspects of this sector over the last two decades. Through this research, it has been verified that (i) Spanish mineral water has been analyzed for a long time from a medicinal and geochemical point of view, and not so much in commercial analysis; (ii) water has great diversity due to the abundance of hydrogeological domains that this country offers; (iii) a very strict legal framework must be complied for its commercialization; (iv) its consumption has been growing; and (v) the business structure is characterized by the predominance of a small group of companies, with a very important role in multinational corporations. Three nature reserves: Montseny, Sierra Nevada, and Guadarrama Mountains, stand out from the rest of the Spanish territory in terms of catchment and packaging of natural mineral water, which is an increasingly strategic resource.
Highlights
The development of the bottled water industry in Europe occurred from 1960 onwards
This study shows the current state of the sector in Spain, its legislative adaptation to the different community regulations (European directives), its recent evolution in terms of production and marketing of mineral waters, and some data and considerations about the environmental impact generated
Legal documents and related regulations were reviewed (European Legislation: Directives, Spanish: Official State Gazette). (ii) How has the volume of packaging and number of companies evolved? The sources consulted to find out this evolution were, among others, the list of mineral waters recognized by member states (European Commission) and the data provided by the European
Summary
The development of the bottled water industry in Europe occurred from 1960 onwards. From a business point of view, important processes of concentration and internationalization began, as the leading companies absorbed smaller ones, giving rise to large multinational corporations competing in the world market. A geographical expansion began through the establishment of points of sale abroad or the exploitation of springs in other countries, in such a way that some large water producers acquired the character of multinational companies [1]. There is the group mainly controlled by Nestlé–Waters, which includes its own brand, Aquarel, and is present in other countries such as Italy, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain (Viladrau and San Narciso brands). The magnitude of this duopoly led to the intervention of the European Commission in order to protect the interests of French consumers. The intervention allowed the wine group led by Pierre Castel to enter the sector through the acquisition of brands that were in the hands of Perrier [2]
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