Casual chats, valuable insights

I joined Cape Capital very recently, it had been a while since I had interactions in a cafeteria. Yesterday, Tess Jasmine McLeod , shared an intriguing tip about adding a teaspoon of Himalayan or Celtic salt to 1.5 liters of water daily for health benefits.

Initially, I was skeptical. After all, we're advised against drinking seawater, which contains about 35g of salt per liter, due to the strain it puts on our kidneys. A teaspoon of salt, as Alexandre Micheloud pointed out, is approximately 5.69g (to be frank we looked it up). For context, a liter of tap water typically contains just 0.05g of salt. My understanding was that high salt intake could lead to increased blood pressure and headaches. However, Tess explained that a controlled amount of salt could aid in better fluid balance and muscle function, reducing perspiration during a warm day' workout.

This discussion prompted me to delve deeper into the topic: Sodium, as one of the key electrolytes, is crucial for maintaining the body's fluid balance. But it's not just about sodium; calcium, magnesium, and potassium are equally important. This is why mineral water, which contains these essential minerals, has been a staple for many. My wife, for instance, swears by her daily intake of Contrex (part of the Nestlé group).

The Tale of OFW and the Odeep

Our conversation reminded me of a venture by Regis Revilliod back in 2019. He purchased a 120m long ship with the ambitious plan to extract water from a depth of 300m in the Mediterranean Sea, reduce its salt content, bottle it on board, and sell it. The company, OFW, and its ship, Odeep One (article published at the time in Les Echos), had an innovative concept but ultimately failed due to high capital expenditures that investors couldn't stomach (link ).

Mineral Water

As our discussion in the cafeteria continued, it became clear that while Himalayan or Celtic salt might not have significant sodium benefits over table salt, the presence of other minerals like calcium and magnesium does make a difference. So, people have relied on mineral waters for these benefits for years;

For those not familiar with Roi Water, for the price of one liter one can buy 57 liters of Contrex ... ludicrously expensive but the magnesium and sodium content seem to be off the chart . Years ago while in Spain, I inadvertently ordered Vichy Catalan as I wanted to drink sparkling water, really not fond of the salty taste even though sodium only represents 1.1g per liter.

I believe that adding necessary minerals to tap water might be a more practical and cheaper solution! Mitigating the mineral taste is an issue.

The Cafeteria Epiphany

CAPE cafeteria's Quooker tap, which provides boiling and filtered water on demand, could be a game-changer. It's an energy-efficient and sustainable system run by the founders' sons, Niels and Walter Peteri. I can envision a future where such taps could be tweaked to add essential nutrients, much like what SodaStream is doing with PepsiCola.

The Bigger Picture

From a casual discussion about salt, it expanded to mineral water brands, salt producers, supplements, and innovative kitchenware. This conversation has sparked a curiosity in me to meet individuals like Regis Revilliod to understand why his venture didn't succeed and to talk to Niels and Walter about their company and vision.

At CAPE, every interaction holds the potential to uncover new opportunities.

Whether it's a casual chat in the cafeteria or a deep dive into market trends, we're always looking for ways to innovate and stay ahead. Because, as we believe, under every stone, there is money to be made—or lessons to be learned.

So next time you're in a cafeteria, pay attention to the conversations around you. You never know what business ideas might be brewing along with that cup of coffee (or tea in my case).