Bottled water sales continued to dip amid environmental concernsrnand the changing preference for tap water. To win back some consumers, companies have repositioned bottled water as a healthier refreshment option, industry analysts say.rnChicago-based SymphonylRI Group's sales data show that bottled still water sales slid 1.4 percent in the 52 weeks ending Aug. 8, 2010, in U.S. supermarkets, drug stores, gas and convenience stores, and mass merchandise outlets, excluding Wal-Mart. Sales recovered a bit from last year's larger slide of 6.6 percent, according to 2009 SymphonylRI data. Mintel International, Chicago, forecasts that the category will shrink by an average of 5.2 percent a year in current prices during the next five years, according to the company's "2009 Bottled Water" report.rnSimilarly, the enhanced water segment that had grown at a double-digit clip from 2004 to 2008 experienced its first decline in 2009 as sales fell 6.4 percent, according to Mintel. The research firm forecas recovery for enhanced waters, but it does not expect it to return to double-digit growth patterns, according to its May 2010 "Functional Beverages Segment Performance" report.
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