Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This paper presents the initial findings of an ongoing research project examining the birth and evolution of the Italian bottled water market until the WWII through an analysis of a variety of documentary sources. The study examines the development of the production and consumption of this fundamental commodity, with a particular focus on the economic, social and cultural variables that affected supply and demand. The paper reveals that the growth of the industry during the period under examination - which commenced at the inception of the country's overall developmental trajectory - was constrained by two key factors. Firstly, the prevailing inefficiency of the system - characterized by a fragmented market, small size enterprises and high production costs - limited the potential for expansion. Secondly, the gradual shift in consumer preferences, which was largely aligned with the traditional perception of mineral water as a medicinal product. Consequently, despite the undeniable expansion of the sector, the scale of production remained relatively limited, and the domestic consumption persisted at a modest level, failing to become a daily habit.
Author: Francesco Colzi
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4405407483