Bisleri’s Journey: From Italian Brand to India’s Bottled Water

Many people in India ask for a “Bisleri” when they want a bottle of water. Even if they receive another brand, they still call it Bisleri. When you think about it, you may wonder how the company became so successful. It holds 60 percent of the market share. It is almost a synonym for bottled water.

What people once called a crazy idea now dominates the market. This happened because of Bisleri’s smart marketing strategies. When you see how the company recognised the potential of packaged mineral water, you understand how it became a worldwide name.

Today, Bisleri runs 17 factories. It also has 33 co-packers and 11 franchisees. It has a strong distribution and retail network across India. When you look at these numbers, you see why Bisleri leads the Aqua Green Revolution.


Bisleri was originally an Italian company. Parle bought it in 1969. Since then, it has grown into one of India’s biggest brands. Its rise comes from steady customer trust and smart business decisions.

BISLERI Advertisement 1978
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Since then, the company has introduced new products to keep you interested. It has also set prices that are affordable for its target customers. The company uses strong advertising to convince you to choose its brand.

Bisleri Water History

Bisleri was created by an Italian businessman, inventor, and scientist named Felice Bisleri. He was born in Verolanuova on November 20, 1851. At first, Felice Bisleri made Bisleri as a remedy for alcohol. He used herbs, cinchona, and iron salts to prepare it.

Felice Bisleri passed away on September 17, 1921. After his death, his family doctor Dr. Rossi took charge of the Bisleri company. He did this because he had a close relationship with Felice Bisleri.


Felice Bisleri
Felice Bisleri wikimedia

How did Bisleri become an Indian brand?


Dr. Rossi had a close friend who worked as a legal advisor for the Bisleri company. His son, Khushroo Suntook, was also a lawyer. You will see that he played a major role in bringing Bisleri to India.

A few years after India became independent, the country needed new businesses. During this time, Dr. Rossi got an idea for a new venture. He believed that the water industry would grow in the future.

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Even though water was available everywhere, many people did not have clean drinking water. So Dr. Rossi began to work on his business plan. He did this with the help of Khushroo Suntook. Together, they started the journey that later made Bisleri an Indian brand.

Dr. Cesare Rossi
Dr. Cesare Rossi. sothebys

When did the first Bisleri factory open in India?

In 1965, you see Dr. Rossi’s dream finally come true. That year, Khushroo Suntook opened the first Bisleri water plant in Thane in Mumbai. Many people thought Rossi and Suntook were crazy for trying to sell water in India. They did not listen to anyone. They went ahead with their plan and started producing bottled water.

At that time, Mumbai’s drinking water was of very poor quality. People from lower and middle classes somehow managed with it. But rich families and foreign visitors in big hotels found it difficult. For them, clean bottled water felt almost like nectar.

How did Bisleri become the common man’s need?

Bisleri began by selling water only in five-star hotels and expensive restaurants. It served only the rich. But soon, the company understood that real success would not come by targeting only wealthy customers.

So Bisleri slowly entered the general market. It made its products available to everyday people. This move changed everything. Bisleri shifted from being a luxury item to becoming a household necessity.

How Parle reinvented Bisleri?

Ramesh Chauhan, one of the key leaders of the Parle company, bought Bisleri from Khushroo Suntook for just Rs 4 lakh. This happened in 1969, only four years after the first plant started.

After the takeover, Parle and Bisleri began producing beverages, soft drinks, and soda at the same time. This helped them grow quickly. As the brand became popular across India, the company decided to expand globally.

The firm launched both carbonated and non-carbonated mineral water. This led to a major rise in mineral water production in the country.

Ramesh Chauhan Bisleri
thehindubusinessline

Bisleri’s Counterfeit Challenge

Bisleri water bottles are the top brand in the country. Because of this success, many companies have started copying Bisleri. They sell look-alike bottles in the market.

When people copy you, it usually means you are doing something right. This is true for Bisleri. Many brands have created bottles with names like Belsri, Bilseri, Brislei, and Bislaar. These names sound similar, and they try to confuse you.

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To build your trust and help you spot the original bottle, Bisleri launched a campaign called Samajhdaar Bisleri Peete Hai. This campaign teaches you how to identify fake products.

fake bisleri bottles
Twitter

Over the years, Bisleri has also added many new products. This helped the brand grow and reach more people. In 2006, the company changed its bottle label from blue to green. This helped it stand out from other water brands.

Even with heavy competition in the bottled water industry, Bisleri still holds a 60 percent market share. The brand offers many products, but it is best known for its bottled drinking water.

Bisleri’s Marketing Strategies

Bisleri uses many promotional methods. It uses TV ads, print ads, direct selling, billboards, posters, and banners. Many people still remember its first catchy line, Bisleri is veri veri extraordinary. This line helped the brand get a lot of attention.

The company also ran campaigns like One Nation, One Water. This campaign used many languages to connect with people across India. Another campaign, Har Pani ki bottle Bisleri Nahi Hoti, reminded people that not every bottle of water is pure and safe.

har paani ki bottle bisleri nahin
Youtube

Location-based pricing strategy

Bisleri uses different prices for different places. You pay more in restaurants and theatres. You pay less in normal retail shops. Parle’s research team always looked for ways to make Bisleri easy to access for the common person.

Today, you can find Bisleri at railway stations, bus stops, malls, fuel pumps, and roadside eateries.

From a Crazy Idea to a Leading Indian Brand

In 2019, Bisleri was valued at 24 billion dollars in India. Experts say that by 2026, this value may reach 70 billion dollars.

From 1969 to 2021, the brand has grown a lot. You can see this in its massive customer base and strong position in the market. Bisleri has led the Indian bottled water industry for more than two decades. It offers many products and has even expanded to other countries.

Today, the company has more than 103 factories in India and nearby nations. You can also find Bisleri in countries like the United States and Canada. No matter where you go in India, you usually spot the green-cap bottle in every shop.

bisleri-water-bottle
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