BE WTR and Cafés Richard Join Forces to Innovate in the French Water Market
BE WTR France, a premium, filtered, local and sustainable water brand, and Cafés Richard, France’s leading coffee supplier for the hospitality industry, announce the creation of a strategic joint-venture. Together, they aim to offer a complementary and responsible alternative to existing water solutions, in line with the growing expectations of professionals and consumers.
A Human and Strategic Alliance to Meet the New Challenges of the Hospitality Industry
Through its holding Ricardo, Cafés Richard becomes a shareholder of BE WTR France, bringing its commercial expertise and its extensive network within the hospitality sector to support an innovative company that is driving change.
This collaboration is built on shared values and a common desire to accompany the environmental and technological transformations of the beverage industry with a spirit of complementarity.
BE WTR remains an independent company that will now benefit from the operational strength of Cafés Richard and BE WTR International to strengthen its position in France.
“The entry of Cafés Richard into our French operations allows us to better meet the growing demand from HoReCa venues seeking more responsible solutions.
We are proud to collaborate with such a respected family-owned company to jointly develop an innovative water offering tailored to today’s challenges,” explains Mike Hecker, Founder of BE WTR.
“Our clients today are looking for products that have meaning. This partnership will offer them high-quality water, produced locally, with minimal environmental impact,” adds Arnaud Richard, President of Cafés Richard.
This alliance also marks the appointment of Gautier Richard as Managing Director of BE WTR France, while Jonathan McNicol becomes Chairman of BE WTR France. It will enable BE WTR to continue expanding across France.
Accelerating Local and Circular Distribution Through Two Distinct Models
Locally Filtered and Sealed BE WTR Bottles
BE WTR’s locally produced, refillable glass bottles are distributed within a radius of about 10 km from BiG by BE WTR sites.
Responding to increasing demand for local, high-quality solutions, the brand offers a flexible approach combining its on-site filtration systems installed directly with clients, and its local bottling model through the BiG network.
In a context of heightened scrutiny over water quality and traceability, BE WTR offers a transparent and sustainable solution.
Produced and bottled locally in reusable glass bottles—refilled up to 300 times—BE WTR water meets the highest hygiene standards while reducing CO₂ emissions per litre by up to 88%.
Each installation operates under prefectural authorization and ARS (Regional Health Agency) approval, ensuring strict compliance with reinforced sanitary standards—exceeding those applied to tap water.
This approach meets the demanding expectations of the fine dining and hospitality industries.
Already adopted by prestigious Parisian establishments such as the Royal Monceau Raffles and Pullman Hotels, BE WTR has become a new premium and responsible water brand for venues seeking to combine quality with sustainability.
This partnership follows the collaboration initiated earlier in 2025 with Richard Vins & Spiritueux, which oversees the distribution of BE WTR’s filtered, sealed, and reusable bottled water from the BiG Paris plant.
Next Step: Opening of BiG Nice by the End of 2025
Patented AQTiV™ Filtration Systems
Designed to meet the specific needs of the hospitality sector, BE WTR’s patented AQTiV™ filtration systems provide on-demand distribution of ultra-filtered still or sparkling water directly from the local water network.
The systems are connected via BE CONNECT technology — an IoT solution that enables real-time performance monitoring, proactive maintenance, and continuous service optimization.
This sustainable and tech-driven approach helps hospitality professionals transition toward environmentally responsible operations while ensuring an optimal guest experience.
A new-generation water brand, BE WTR offers a local, circular, and plastic-free alternative to traditional bottled water.
By working with hospitality professionals, BE WTR aims to accelerate change and establish a new industry standard — one that is more sustainable, more responsible, and aligned with tomorrow’s expectations.
About Cafés Richard
A historic partner of cafés, restaurants, and hotels, Cafés Richard has perpetuated its expertise for three generations to deliver the very best of the French coffee experience.
The company supports over 40,000 professional clients, making it the #1 coffee supplier in France’s out-of-home sector.
With twelve regional offices and dedicated technical teams, Cafés Richard offers personalized consulting and reliable nationwide technical assistance. Its training center passes on expertise to more than 1,000 people every year.
As the first French coffee roaster to obtain the “Engagé RSE” label, Cafés Richard cultivates its activities with care for people and the planet — from bean to cup — fostering a positive impact every step of the way.
