Ever ordered “just a water” in a restaurant and they come back bringing you a bottle of water instead of from a tap? There are numerous reasons why restaurants opt to serve water in bottles, and bottled water can be in addition to their complimentary water, or their simply main water beverage option.
We’ve gathered the top reasons why restaurateurs choose to serve bottled water instead of tap water in their restaurants, and the reasons make more sense than you think.
Private Label
All restaurants have to serve water, that’s a general rule of thumb in the food industry. However, upscale restaurants may add a sense of luxury to their establishment by opting to serve bottled water instead of tap water as this connotes a more prestigious dining experience for customers.
Not all bottled water brands are noteworthy, and some restaurants go for private label bottled water instead of purchasing high-end brands that can drive up expenses, especially if the bottled water is given as a complimentary drink.
A private label on bottled water presents an air of distinction and quality in the establishment, particularly if the bottle is made from materials like aluminium or glass.
Safety Issues
A lot of people don’t like the taste of tap water, and tap water can also pose a hazard when the filters are not working properly. Safe drinking water must be filtered with a 1 micron carbon filter, which can easily clog up and would require replacement every so often.
Refillable gallon containers of water and water cooler stations would not be ideal in restaurants, as they would constantly be exposed to dirt, dust, and germs. Bottled water removes the threat of contamination by providing consumers with guaranteed fresh and clean water from a reputable source.
After the pandemic hit, restaurant safety protocols have become even more stringent, as strict standards are implemented to prevent the spread of disease through food and drink. Bottled water has become the top choice for restaurants to serve over tap or refillable water due to its sanitary processing and contact-free packaging.
Convenience
For some restaurant service crew, the choice to serve bottled water instead of tap water boils down to convenience. Bottled water is much easier to serve, as there is no preparation needed – just grab the bottle from the fridge or cooler and serve it up. Tap water, on the other hand, would require a clean glass and ice before water can be served up.
For some fast food restaurants and take-out kiosks, serving bottled water makes sense as they don’t have the time or space to deal with used drinking glassware and ice machines.
Additionally, eateries that spring for customized water bottles with their business logo can also use the packaging as a medium for brand awareness and extra advertising. Customers can bring their bottles around with them and raise more awareness for the brand, which is helpful for small and large businesses alike.
Storage
Restaurants need a lot of storage facilities to store their kitchenware, cookware, dinnerware, and ingredients. Having a large water filter machine and an ice machine would be difficult to make space in the already-cramped kitchen. Glasses and pitchers also take up space that could have been used to store other essential items.
Bottled water is compact, and takes up little space. Since they are consumable, they also deplete over time and take up less space. Most restaurants have a steady supplier who provides them with enough bottled water, customized with the restaurant’s logo, in an intermittent delivery schedule to make managing space much easier.
Premium
Above all, one of the main reasons restaurants choose to serve their customers bottled water is simply for the premium of serving bottled water instead of tap water. With bottled water, restaurants can charge their customers for their drinks instead of giving complimentary ones, and customers can enjoy the fresh, clean water that is guaranteed to have been filtered before drinking.
As a premium item, bottled water can come from a variety of sources like spring water, mineral water or distilled water, and can be served flavoured or unflavoured. Many restaurants choose to serve carbonated or non-carbonated natural spring water for its crisp taste and clarity.
