Drop in sales for bottled water firm
Leading Perthshire- based bottled water manufacturer Highland Spring has revealed its sales volumes were “negatively impacted by the pandemic”.
It comes as the UK’s top producer of natural source waters, based in Blackford, posted its annual results for the year ending December 31, 2020.
The business says it still demonstrated resilience during 2020 and extended its position as the UK’s leading natural source water brand, against the backdrop of COVID-19.
Despite the impact, many consumers shifted to working and socialising from home, as well as cuts in non-essential expenditure, which the groups says
“enabled a return to a small operating profit in 2020 from continuing operations to be achieved”.
Operations staff continue to work on COVID-secure sites and office- based staff are now adapted to remote working, according to bosses.
During 2020 the group saw a sales volume decline of around nine million litres against a larger relative market decline.
The brand performed well enough to retain and extend its position as the UK’s number one plain bottled water brand with a market share of 10.3 per cent.
The group claims it will be carbon neutral by the end of 2021 and hopes to achieve its overall target of net zero emissions by 2040.
Commenting on the annual results, outgoing chief executive at Highland Spring Group Les Montgomery said: “Our focus in the last 12-18 months has been on protecting our employees and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the business.
“It is great testament to the commitment and dedication of all our staff that they adapted so well and continued to deliver strong performances.
“Despite the challenges of 2020, the business has remained resilient in the face of the pandemic, and we are currently in recruitment mode to ensure we have the right skills to meet demand as the country moves forward to a different way of life.
“After 36 years with Highland Spring Group, I recently announced my retirement as chief executive and will take up a non-executive position in the new year, and I would like to wish our new joint managing directors Simon Oldham and Mark Steven all the very best as they navigate the post-COVID landscape.
“I have full confidence that our business will continue to grow under their leadership, and through our longterm approach of continuing to promote the provenance of our portfolio, category leading expertise, focus on environmental sustainability and overall value.”