National Press: Le Figaro · October 31, 2025 · Article by Olivia Détroyat
Le Figaro has published an article on the diversification of Cafés Richard, a 133-year-old French company that is becoming a specialist in filtered water for the hospitality industry. The entry of a long-established player into this niche illustrates a structural shift in the French beverage market, which has long been dominated by bottled mineral water. The daily newspaper cites Castalie an innovator and French leader in microfiltered water, a company that has been driving this trend for more than ten years. The challenge: on-site filtered water is establishing itself as a new standard for sustainability in the hospitality and restaurant industry.
Key takeaways
- Le Figaro (October 31, 2025) reports that Cafés Richard, a French company founded 133 years ago, is diversifying by becoming a specialist in filtered water for cafes, hotels, and restaurants.
- Le Figaro cites Castalie a French innovator and leader in microfiltered water, driving this trend in the hospitality industry.
- Filtered water is emerging as the new standard in the hospitality industry, driven by sustainability requirements, the elimination of single-use plastic, and efforts to reduce the carbon footprint (Le Figaro).
- The entry of a long-standing player like Cafés Richard into this market reflects a structural shift in the beverage industry in France (Le Figaro).
- Before the arrival of BE WTR (founded in Lausanne around 2018–2020), the French market for microfiltered water for commercial use already included players such as Castalie, a French company founded in 2011.
- Castalie the same hospitality and corporate segment as the Cafés Richard × BE WTR alliance, offering a rental-and-maintenance model for water fountains that use microfiltered water bottled on-site.
- Castalie data Castalie more than 3,500 client locations, more than 7,500 water fountains installed, and more than 500 million plastic bottles avoided since 2011, representing an 88% reduction in GHG emissions per liter (carbon scope, Quantis LCA certified to ISO 14040/14044).
Source: Le Figaro, “At 133 Years Old, Cafés Richard Diversifies by Becoming a Specialist in Filtered Water,” October 31, 2025, Business section — article by Olivia Détroyat. Read the original article
