What have been European Watercare's challenges and main drivers?
One of the biggest, on-going challenges our industry faces surrounds knowledge and perceived benefits of the different technologies available to treat water. Our goal is to create a training and development centre of excellence. The aim with this is to provide a platform for distributors and other clients to gain a better understanding of different media applications and how these effect water, as well as dismiss some common misconceptions.
In addition to manufacturing our own products we supply products and endorse technologies used by Brita, 3M and Everpure. Although we are healthy competitors, as a group, one of our aims is to educate and inform customers on which technologies work and which don’t. There are a number of new brands and products in the market place, with technologies that are yet to proven. EWC have tested these with varying results.
What trends do you see emerging?
As the foodservice Industry is constantly evolving, water filtration and treatment for both catering and coffee needs to maintain the pace that is being set.
The coffee market goes from strength to strength for distributors, manufacturers and baristas and they are demanding more and more from water to provide the flexibility and consistency to produce world class beverages. Our aim is to provide a platform of high quality target water as a base for coffee innovators to continue to push the envelope and develop new tastes and trends within this vibrant market.
Our eco-friendly, cost-effective, optimised range of water treatment solutions offer clients the flexibility to add the correct product to meet their requirements – whether this be a cost effective, quick change cartridge solution, a larger filter offering for multi-site operators or Reverse Osmosis for speciality, bespoke products honed and perfected by world class barista’s.
Technology plays a big role in equipment. How do you keep up with its advancement?
As a manufacturer, technology plays a huge role in allowing us to develop new products and keep up with advancements in efficiencies, reliability and output. We have trained and skilled CAD and CAM engineers working with CNC machinery to produce our range of stocked products as well as develop new concepts through R & D.
We have recently purchased some 3D printers and are utilising these to run prototype designs and concepts. This allows us fantastic flexibility in the present to quickly and easily discuss and produce ideas before mass production. In the future, the possibilities of the 3D printing, in terms of mass production, speed and cost reduction are truly staggering. European WaterCare have always embraced new technologies and adopting these early can provide us with the small competitive advantages that are so important in today’s market place.
How is the coffee market faring?
Coffee shop growth is showing no sign of slowing down and in a competitive market pubs are developing their coffee offering as the cultural shift continues in our UK out of home market. With this in mind, expect to see a renewed focus and strategy from pubs to continue tap into this market.
In terms of new trends relating to coffee, I am expecting Speciality Tea to be the next growth sector within the beverage market and this may well come out of the coffee sector. Tea is yet to be mainstreamed by the hipster scene but in terms of developing the hot drink offering, it is surely only a matter of time before Tea starts to gain some serious traction and momentum within the market place.
What is European WaterCare’s long term goal?
Our long term goal is to leverage our position as a UK based manufacturing and development centre to win market share in the UK water treatment market using our unique position to promote environmentally and cost beneficial products.
As part of a Queens Award Winning group we have the capabilities to expand out into our home market as well as selected other European, Scandinavian and African based markets.
We have an ownership model that endorses and supports the plan to invest in growth and support and expand our large service network operation.