10 years and counting...

10 years ago today, I went to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and completed the paperwork to incorporate Sprudel? - the planet-friendly water company? as the second ever company to sell Point-of-use drinking water dispensers (we were, however, the first to have dispensers that could dispense sparkling water - hence the name, German for sparkling water).

As I reflect on the past 10 years, it's hard to believe that what started as a small ripple of an idea has grown into a wave of change across the UAE. In 2014, I embarked on a mission to challenge the status quo of water consumption, driven by a vision for a sustainable future, free of single-use plastics. Today, as we mark our 10th anniversary, I am filled with gratitude for the journey we've undertaken and the impact we've made together.

From our first water dispenser installation, to now - eliminating OVER 35 million plastic bottles from circulation every year with the help of over 120 different clients. Let that sink in for a minute, 35 million plastic bottles. I can hardly believe it myself and yet here we are.?

Every step of this journey has been a testament to what passion, innovation, and community support can achieve. Our products have not just purified water; they've been a catalyst for purifying our relationship with the environment, reducing plastic use and water waste.?

Overcoming skepticism was one of our initial challenges. Persuading companies to embrace filtered tap water before the concept became mainstream, as later highlighted by various BBC Studios documentaries, required unwavering dedication to education and quality. By using hard data in the form of water quality tests and offering a simple subscription-based service, we were able to overcome the challenge by offering the most professional service and always being there for our customers. To this day, Sprudel stands as an industry leader, renowned for our professionalism and customer service - this is something that I am extremely proud of.

The global pandemic further tested our resilience, pushing us to adapt and innovate. We were the first company to offer foot pedals as an alternative to push buttons for our dispensers. We didn’t just go to the dispenser manufacturer and sell their pedals, we designed our own and 3D-printed them using filament made out of upcycled single-use plastic bottles. Design and engineered with a purpose, right here in the United Arab Emirates.??

This was a turning point for my company, as we got the taste of doing things our own way and being able to directly influence how products are made.?

Hold my glass water bottle, and watch this!

During the covid lockdown, after being asked by an international hotel brand to install 6 of our office dispensers to allow them to fill glass bottles to replace plastic bottles in their hotel rooms, I found myself in my garden playing with water. A few months later, we found ourselves in Zabeel House by Jumeirah , testing a prototype filling system that would end up being installed in over 20 hotels (currently, with 15 more in the immediate pipeline).??

Through it all, we've remained steadfast in our mission, proving that our commitment to environmental sustainability is unwavering and our quality of service is matched by none. This milestone is not just a reflection of our past but a beacon for our future. The past 10 years have been about building a strong foundation for the next decade and beyond. We remain committed to expanding our reach, enhancing our technology, and most importantly, empowering businesses to make sustainable choices with every drop of water they consume.

What a ride it has been. From sneaking past security guards to get business meetings, taking the beach bottle picture at 1pm on a summer's day and almost passing out in my first live interview with Brandy Scott on Dubai Eye 103.8 (who knew I suffered from Performance Anxiety!), to becoming the preferred drinking water solutions to some of the most known brands, both international and UAE-based and trusted by thousands of people everyday.

To our clients, partners, and the entire Sprudel family: your trust and support have been the wellspring of our success. Here's to another decade of making a difference, one refill at a time. Our journey, complete with its challenges, has only made us stronger, and I am excited for what the future holds for us and our planet.