EUROPE – The British Water Cooler Association (BWCA) and the European Drinking Water Cooler Association (EDWCA) are considering a potential merger to form a combined trade association, according to FoodBev.
The merger which is expected to occur later this year seeks to create a new, combined association to replace the two separate existing trade bodies.
Members of both associations will be invited to vote for the potential amalgamation on 10 October 2019.
Following successful discussions between the members of the two executive councils which began in 2018, an outline proposal was put to the combined membership.
According to the associations, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken, with representatives from both association executive councils collaborating closely together.
If the majority of members in each organisation vote in favour of an amalgamation, a new association will be formally created, with an anticipated launch date of January 2020.
The British Water Cooler Association (BWCA) was established in 1989 to represent the interests of the water cooler industry in the UK.
In 2016, the association set out 5 sustainability actions focused on environmental sustainability, water management, social sustainability, financial sustainability and workplace sustainability, including employee wellbeing.
EDWCA is the trade Association that is dedicated to recognizing service excellence in the water cooler and hydration industry within the home and workplace environment.
Its members include bottlers, mains-fed and bag-in-box suppliers and distributors, represented through their collective interests in mission to recognise and reward the highest standards in the industry.
Formerly known as the European Point-of-use Drinking Water Association (EPDWA), the organization helps to maintain high standards within the European point-of-use water cooler market.
