Per Quarter: Sachet type mineral water posts double-digit growth

The distributor of sachet type mineral water retail brand 2BIG has registered double-digit growth quarter per quarter, as it introduced change of water retail purchasing habit in the mainstream market.

In the past, people especially in schools, wet markets, terminals, and other populated places had no choice but to buy "ice water" sold accessibly in the streets, and sidewalks, now mineral water is also available in sachets to provide hazard-free drinking water to consumers, said 2BIG distributor company Kinvara Corporation president Joy Climaco.

Climaco attributed the good performance of the newly introduced product, because of the company's strategy to enter into the lowest cost mineral water retail category, or in the P5 level.

Introduced early this year in Cebu, the mineral 2BIG, which is imported from Indonesia, has pioneered the sachet concept of mineral water retail, from bottled packaging, now available at P5.

"We were able to double our sales every quarter, from disposing only 1,500 boxes in January this year, to 9,000 boxes average disposal in the recent months," Climaco said.

She said unlike in the Philippines, water in Indonesia is very cheap, one of the reasons why the company was able to get a good business deal with an Indonesia-based company to distribute this purified water in the Philippines.

After its success in Cebu province, Climaco said the company is now planning to expand its business nationwide, working closely with sub-distributors in each province.

Next year, the company is looking at penetrating the Metro Manila market, as well as in Bohol and other provinces.

"We will be looking for sub-distributors in these areas," Climaco said.

Aside from the sachet packaging, the company has entered into the bottled water category business in the 600ML size, offering lesser cost compared to other brands.

The P5 2BIG product is packaged in a 5ML small cup, which replaced the "ice-water" trend sold in the streets, terminal, pier, markets, and schools.

Recently, the company has introduced another beverage product, an energy drink also from Indonesia called "Powermax".

Aside from the energy drink, and 2BIG, the company also distributes other beverage product such as NuZone flavored water, Iso Tonic Drink, and Jelly Drink.

Climaco said the company is banking on its cheaper price, with the same quality as the competitors, as their edge in each product line, especially with 2BIG and the Powermax.

She said most of their products are targeting the mainstream market, who is the most budget-conscious consumers.