Only 15 of all 146 Bulgarian Mineral Water Springs Are Used for Bottling Water

There are 146 mineral water springs in Bulgaria but only 15 are used for production of bottled water, which is a very small share of the usable sources, Zhana Velichkova, executive director of the Bulgarian Soft Drinks Association (BSDA), told BTA. According to recent data, the water in about 65 springs has been tested and is drinkable.

Velichkova said that 2018 has been a good year for the soft drinks business, with BSDA companies selling more than 1,700 million bottles of water and non-alcoholic beverages and reporting growth in almost all segments of the industry. According to BSDA data, bottled water continues to grow as a product in the food industry, with a 7 per cent increase from 2017. For other non-alcoholic beverages, the growth is about 1.5 percent.

Velichkova noted that BSDA companies have various social projects and support a number of sustainability policies. Their priorities include phasing in more environment- friendly packaging, using their resources more efficiently and addressing the issue of obesity by promoting a balanced diet and active lifestyle.

"We are the only industry that has taken real steps to support the government's efforts in meeting its commitments to the EU in terms of reducing sugar and calories," said Velichkova.

Bottled water accounts for about 48 per cent of the sector's output which is the largest share in the entire industry portfolio. It is the largest market segment and is bigger than that of non-alcoholic beverages, Velichkova said.

Source: BTA Daily News