Vended water in the form of water coolers or bottled water from machines can seem like an unnecessary expense, given that water is free from the tap. In the last decade however, an increased awareness of obesity and other dietary related diseases has seen an over reliance on the quick fix of sugar laden drinks giving way to a new consumer consensus that health and well being is vital. Bottled water has become a consumer favourite, the average person taking the lead from celebrities glowing with health - branded bottle in hand - in all our favourite magazines!

Studies have found some alarming results about the importance of water for assisting our body to function - research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water per day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. Furthermore, drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45% and the risk of breast cancer by 79%. Installing a mains-fed water cooler is a great way of providing an unlimited source of chilled, filtered, drinking water to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Marco Beverage Systems, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of water boilers and bulk coffee brewers, is distributing water treatment systems under its own brand.

Marco recommends fitting a water filter to all its equipment. Not only does this produce a better tasting beverage, it also helps to prevent limescale build-up in machines, a major cause of equipment failure.

Aqueduct’s revolutionary Bag in Box coolers seems to have hit a chord… especially amongst the Vending fraternity.

The reason is clear… For the first time Bag in Box (BIB) now offers a real alternative to Bottled water coolers… but without the hassle and logistical nightmare of the returnable bottle.

Vended water in the form of water coolers or bottled water from machines can seem like an unnecessary expense, given that it is free from the tap. In the last decade however, there has been a shift in consumer preference. Gone is the laissez-faire approach to health. Beverage consumption has not escaped the revealing glare that increased awareness of obesity and other dietary related diseases has cast. An over reliance upon the quick fix of sugar and salt laden snacks and drinks has given way to the new consumer consensus that health and well-being is vital.

Wenlock Spring have recently scooped 3 BBI awards at the recent British Bottlers Institute Awards for the excellent taste and presentation of its still and sparkling waters.

In the ‘Taste' category Wenlock Spring won a Diploma and Gold Award for the excellent taste of its still and sparkling waters and in the ‘Packaging' category Wenlock Spring won another Gold award for the bottle dress of their glass bottles and the innovative label design, produced after many months of planning and customer research. The awards will be presented on 23rd November at Vintners hall in London at the BBI Gala Awards Dinner. 

Just days after raising a staggering £1 million for charity, Harrogate-based Thirsty Planet bottled water has been highly commended by judges in a prestigious national awards ceremony which was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The met office predicted a barbecue summer and so far, it's been a scorcher. None of us can deny that the weather enjoyed so far this year is more akin to the Mediterranean than here in the UK. Unprepared for such rising temperatures, we wear the wrong clothes, forget to use sun protection and fail to drink nearly enough water. According to online consumer lifestyle portal, goodtoknow, "Government guidelines reckon we should try to drink at least eight glasses a day and some nutritionists claim that a staggering 80% of us are walking around dehydrated!" Worryingly, many of us will admit to drinking considerably less than that in a day, but would this still be the case if we fully understood its health benefits? And what do employers have to gain from keeping workers hydrated?

When it comes to office appliances, water coolers have developed a poor reputation in recent years for having a negative environmental impact. However, the emergence of more innovative water cooler products now offers a more energy efficient option to providing a fresh supply of chilled and hot water in the office, plus, the right water cooler can even save your company energy and money when compared to other appliances such as kettles.

Vivreau - the originator of the environmentally-friendly mains-fed Bottler system - is launching its latest venture, the b.blu water vending machine. The b.blu system, developed in conjunction with Waterwerkz, will revolutionise how we drink on the move. It provides a greener alternative to the heavy carbon footprint of traditional vending machines which offer pre-bottled mineral waters that have been shipped from far off sources and b.blu is the first water vending machine with an integrated recycling system.

Thirsty Planet water is a high quality spring water brand dedicated to bringing clean water to millions of people in sub Saharan Africa by working together with the charity Pump Aid.

Leading UK vending machine manufacturer Westomatic Vending Services Ltd has developed the Azure mains fed water dispenser for businesses that want to capitalize on the increasing demand for quality water products. The innovative mains fed technology was developed by Westomatic's engineers to provide operators with a business opportunity that taps into the demand for healthier lifestyles and the need for environmentally friendly vending solutions.

It's all very well receiving detailed product training and memorising flow rates and media properties, but when you're on one end of the phone and the engineer is on the other, how much are you really going to learn about his requirements? With that in mind, Aqua Cure Business Development Manager Steve Watson headed to Brontë Water Coolers Ltd in Huddersfield to meet Matt Lawton, their P.O.U. Manager. "The basic idea," says Steve, "is to go and see what he does at each site. To get a feel for what he does and to see things from the side of the people we're selling to."