Introduction and scope

Zenith Global Commercial has actively reported on the Hungarian water dispense market for nearly thirty years, providing unparalleled insights into the market’s dynamics and evolution.

To reflect the evolution of water dispense, Zenith revised the report in 2019 to include specific coverage on integrated tap systems alongside more traditional bottle free point of use and bottle fed dispense units The reports also now feature increased focus on market insights and opportunities with channel-specific commentary.

In producing our reports, we aim to contact every significant company active in the appropriate sector and to provide as complete a picture as possible at a price accessible to any business with a serious commercial interest. We are particularly grateful for the help we have received from these companies in compiling this report. Where direct company figures are unavailable, best estimates have been provided

The Hungary Water Dispense Report 2023 contains text, charts and tables providing analysis of recent market developments and innovations and forecasts to 2027. This report represents exceptional coverage of the Hungarian water dispense market and we hope that you find it useful in your business planning. As our research is updated on a regular basis, we always welcome any comments or suggestions about possible improvements.

The 2023 report for Hungary covers water dispense units where the primary function is the dispense of filtered/purified water Specifically bottled water dispense units, mains fed point of use dispensers and multifunctional integrated tap systems dispensing cold, hot, boiling still and sparkling water are within the scope of this report. The addition, since 2019, of integrated tap systems represents the most significant revision of scope in the last decade and was revised in collaboration with industry leading companies to reflect the evolution and innovation of this market.

Whilst beverage and soda dispense units can dispense water, this is not their primary purpose and as such these “hybrid” machines are referenced, where applicable, in the market innovation section but are not quantified in the report. Equally, vending machines and water boilers are not in the scope of this report.

The Hungary report is part of the East Europe Water Dispense Report which also covers Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.

Akos Petri Commercial Consulting Director

Water dispense: freestanding, countertop or under the sink/counter water dispense units where the primary function is the dispense of filtered or purified water Powered units dispensing ambient, cold, hot, boiling still and/or sparkling water are within the scope of this report as defined further below Bottled water dispense units (BWD): A unit that dispenses bottled mineral, spring or purified water that can be ambient, cold or hot, depending on machine functionality. Most commonly, water bottles or pouches are delivered direct to the customer by a distributor and empty bottles taken away. New bottles and pouches are either placed underneath the unit (bottom fed) or inverted and placed on top of the machine (top fed). For top fed coolers, a feed tube spike from the machine penetrates the watertight cap in the bottle and opens the valve within the cap, thereby allowing water to flow into the machine (or valve where just a pump is used). The same process is used with bottom fed water coolers with a pump to transfer the water to the point of dispense. The unit can be installed under a rental, lease or service agreement (considered “rental”) or purchased outright by the customer (considered “sold”, with or without a service contract). Bottle fed machines can be freestanding or countertop and are suitable for larger bottle or pouch formats greater than 10 litres, which are therefore larger than those distributed in small packaged formats through retail outlets

Pumps/ceramics (non-powered/non-installed systems) for formats above 10 litres are included at the topline for East Europe, where they have a significant market share.

Bottle-free Point of use units (POU): A device that is plumbed into a mains fed water supply, improving the quality of water via filtration or purification methods. These systems may utilise carbon filtration, combined/staged filtration, reverse osmosis (RO), Ozonation, and/or ultra violet (UV) technology to treat the water. Dispensed water can be ambient, cold, hot or sparkling, depending on machine functionality. Such machines have drip trays and some have drainage systems. Machines can be available as freestanding or countertop units. Large volume POU bottle fillers (BFS) are also included if they offer filtration/purification.

Bottle-free Integrated tap systems (ITS): A mains fed water system that filters or purifies mains water, adds functionality (hot/boiling/sparkling) and directs the water to the tap. Sometimes also called multifunctional taps. These systems may utilise carbon filtration, combined/staged filtration, reverse osmosis, Ozonation, and/or UV technology to treat the water. Dispensed water can be ambient, cold, hot, plus boiling or at various sparkling levels, depending on machine functionality. Three-way/mixer taps (dispensing cold, hot and filtered water only) are out of scope. The units are placed either under the sink or under the counter and are often referred to as ‘under counter’ or ‘under sink’ systems One unit in field is considered to include both the under sink unit and the tap attached. The report's scope includes only B2B units.

Out of scope: Units where water is dispensed but this is not their primary purpose: e.g. beverage and soda dispense units; automated vending machines that provide ready to drink hot and cold beverages, but whose primary purpose is not water vending; Flavoured water dispensers; Units where un-filtered or un-purified water is dispensed, whether chilled or ambient e.g. water fountains, domestic or commercial water filters for taps without added functionality; Water boilers where the primary function is to boil water for making hot drinks, but not chilled dispensed water; Whole home domestic POE filtration systems; Fridge dispensers, embedded filters and faucet-mounts; Non-installed dispense units, including jug filters or pitchers and soda makers.

Workplace: Private and Public sector offices and workplaces including factories, municipal, government, armed forces, police, fire, prisons.

HoReCa: Hotels, Restaurants and Catering, including bars, pubs, nightclubs, foodservice, cafés.

Healthcare: Public and Private sector medical centres, hospitals, care homes, nursing homes.

Education: Public and Private sector schools, sixth form colleges, universities, nurseries.

Retail: Shops and showrooms.

Transport hubs: Airports, railway stations, coach/bus stations.

Leisure: Leisure centres, gyms, sports centres, swimming pools, activity centres.

Domestic: Residential homes (B2C).