This Premium Water Company Capitalizes on its Unique Niche Position on Alibaba.com

Bottled water has been the rage for a while now for various reasons, such as flavor, safety, and sheer convenience. This trend shows no signs of slowing down. According to Precedence Research, the global bottled water market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.24% from 2023 to 2032.

This expansion, however, brings with it a mounting environmental challenge: the plastic crisis. Traditional bottled water packaging relies heavily on single-use plastics, contributing to waste worldwide.

Globally, there’s a noticeable shift among health-conscious consumers who now seek not only higher-quality water but eco-friendly packaging alternatives. Such a shift in consumer behavior presents a golden opportunity for brands to innovate and align their offerings with these preferences.

Enter Ly Company, a Spanish startup that has risen to the challenge by pairing premium water with sustainable carton packaging. Just three months after launching on Alibaba, this fast-growing firm landed a deal to supply 20,000 bottles to a U.S. buyer.

Diving into a Niche Market

Established in 2017 by three visionary founders, Ly Company set out to provide premium water that would minimize the impact of single-use consumer packaging on the planet. In just a few years, it has expanded its footprint to more than 40 countries on four continents, such as Italy, Mexico, and the U.S.

Ly is now synonymous with water carton packaging that is both biodegradable and recyclable. The company has built a new category by combining premium bottled water with promotional marketing on sustainable packaging. Innovative technologies like QR codes are incorporated on cartons to engage consumers and generate leads.

What also sets Ly Company apart is its focus on processing techniques rather than relying on a single water source. Whether it’s seawater or tap water, the company employs a proprietary five-stage filtration process across its plants worldwide to meet diverse health and dietary needs.

The water company sells through a variety of routes to market, including partnerships with distributors and importers. It primarily targets business clients, such as hotels and real estate firms, where the use of carton-packaged water is integrated into their ESG initiatives amidst growing pressure to show alliance with sustainability. Additionally, the company operates its own e-commerce platforms to serve local markets where it has set up plants.

This business model has proven highly successful. Over the years, the company has built a robust portfolio of more than 1,500 clients worldwide. In 2023, the company sold 60 million units and generated around 20 million in profit—a testament to its growing influence in the premium water market.

Getting It Right This Time on Alibaba

Ly Company’s early attempts at online selling were less than successful. On several third-party online platforms, the lack of background checks on buyers resulted in low-quality leads, often unverified and susceptible to scams.

That’s where Alibaba.com came in. With its stringent buyer verification process, comprehensive metrics, and enhanced data transparency, Alibaba.com provided Ly Company with a secure and effective platform to broaden its reach.

Upon joining the platform three months ago, Ly Company launched a targeted keyword search campaign to promote its products. The results were swift and promising, with inquiries pouring in from potential customers in France, Germany, India, Pakistan and even Western Africa.

This surge in interest not only highlights the effectiveness of Alibaba.com in connecting businesses with high-quality buyers, but also underscores Ly Company’s strong positioning within a niche market. With limited competition in this space, Ly is uniquely poised to seize the boundless opportunities that Alibaba.com offers.