What is a water sommelier? Selling water is both an art and a science.
In this Growth Brands and More episode, host Filiberto interviews beverage veteran and water sommelier Ganesh Iyer, who recounts entering the beverage industry before focusing full-time on water sommelier work. Iyer defines the role of the water sommelier and explains the art of pairing meals and beverages. He argues that water education lags in India compared to Europe due to a lack of cultural respect and hospitality training. He highlights common branding mistakes (such as generic messaging or an unclear value proposition) and emphasises tailored on-premise training, moving conversations from procurement to revenue, and future opportunities like water menus, culinary pairing, and meaningful functional benefits, and advises new entrants to define an uncopiable “moat.”
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:00 Ganesh Career Origins
04:59 Water Sommelier Explained
09:16 Key Water Attributes
16:42 Premium Water Positioning
25:34 Common Branding Mistakes
36:21 Training That Actually Works
47:35 Future Opportunities in Water
51:01 Final Advice and Wrap Up
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