Perrier Preference

Ryan Heshmati

July 1, 2022

Background:

As an avid drinker of carbonated soft drinks, I am quite familiar with the selection. Coke, Pepsi, Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, and so on. While all refreshing and delicious, they lack an increasingly more important quality to consumers: health. These options force customers to pay, with more than just cash, for pleasure. The seemingly healthy “diet” and zero calorie options have their own, potentially larger, issues, with researcher Susan Swithers, pointing out diet soda’s correlations with increased risks of diseases like diabetes. Sparkling water stands a superior choice that deserves a spot in consumers’ fridges.

The Sparkle:

Many find ordinary water bland, however an infusion of carbon dioxide in that same water yields a more refreshing and enjoyable beverage. If the sparkle is not enough, sparkling water is also available flavored, to give those interested a slight hint of options like lemon and orange. Best of all, this drink does not come with the health risks of soft drinks.

History:

Carbonated water's history goes back to Joseph Priestley, a philosopher and chemist, who, in 1767, came up with a new way to add carbonation to sparkling water. His new method, which involved combining water with “fixed air,”  led to the introduction of mass scale production in the 1780s. By 1783, J.J. Schweppe had founded the Schweppes Company and developed a way to adapt Priestley’s system for his production purposes. Over the next centuries, soda water has since seen a continued increase in popularity.

Today:

Sparkling water has seen an increase in demand in recent years. Grand View Research notes the projected compound annual growth rate of 12.6% in the industry and its impressive size of about  $30 billion in 2020. Not only can fans of the drink purchase either bottles and cans from brands like Perrier and La Croix, but now they can add the sparkle in their own homes. SodaStream, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, produces these soda water makers for home use.

Conclusion:

In an increasingly health conscious environment, traditional soft drinks no longer “do it” for many buyers. The options carbonated water presents should make its appeal even wider. With roots in the 18th century, the product remains one of interest to consumers. Today, not only do the likes of Perrier and La Croix have spots in the refrigerators of consumers, but soda makers have also begun adoption. To sum it up, the benefits, history, and trends of today all point to carbonated water.