Yes, today it is. Bisleri is owned and run by the Indian company Bisleri International, led by the Chauhan family, and it is made and sold mainly in India. Its origin, though, is Italian. It started as an Italian company founded by Felice Bisleri, which brought bottled water to India in the 1960s. Ramesh Chauhan’s Parle Exports bought the Indian business in 1969 and built it into India’s best-known packaged water brand.
Bisleri Brand Overview
Bisleri is India’s best-known bottled water brand, to the point that many people use “Bisleri” as a word for any packaged water. Bisleri International sells packaged drinking water, along with soda and other drinks. Its headquarters are in Mumbai. The company has also built its brand on distribution reach and on marketing a safe, packaged alternative to water carried from home.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bisleri |
| Category | Packaged drinking water, plus soda and other drinks |
| Origin | Italy (founder: Felice Bisleri) |
| Came to India | Mid-1960s (sources say 1965 or 1967) |
| Indian ownership since | 1969, when Parle Exports (Ramesh Chauhan) bought the Indian business |
| Purchase price | About ₹4 lakh, per press reports |
| Company | Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd. (formerly Parle Exports and Parle Bisleri) |
| Chairman | Ramesh Chauhan |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, India |
| Other directors | Jayanti Chauhan and Zainab Chauhan |
Origin
The Bisleri name comes from Felice Bisleri, an Italian who built a business in the 19th century. One source says the name was linked to an alcohol-based remedy drink he created. His Italian company brought the idea of selling bottled water to India in the 1960s and initially sold mineral water in glass bottles, only in luxury hotels and restaurants in Mumbai. The business made losses, and the Italian owners wanted to sell. In 1969 Parle Exports, led by 28-year-old Ramesh Chauhan, bought it. Some accounts say Chauhan initially wanted Bisleri for soda as well as water. The company only focused on packaged water after Chauhan sold the Parle soft drink brands (Thums Up, Limca, Gold Spot) to Coca-Cola in 1993. It later moved from glass to PVC and then PET bottles.
Ownership
Bisleri International is a privately held Indian company controlled by the Chauhan family. In November 2022, Ramesh Chauhan said he was in talks to sell Bisleri to Tata Consumer Products for an estimated ₹6,000–7,000 crore. The talks stalled over valuation, and one report says Tata ceased negotiations. As of the latest sources I found, the brand remains in the Chauhan family. Ownership can change, so check recent news before relying on this.
FAQ
Is Bisleri Indian or Italian?
Italian in origin, Indian in ownership. It has been owned by an Indian company since 1969.
Who owns Bisleri?
Bisleri International, controlled by Ramesh Chauhan and his family.
Did Tata buy Bisleri?
No. Tata Consumer Products held talks in 2022 about buying it, but the talks stalled and the brand stayed with the Chauhan family, according to the latest reports I found.
Who founded Bisleri?
Felice Bisleri, an Italian entrepreneur, founded the original company. Ramesh Chauhan built the Indian business.
Is Bisleri related to Parle?
Yes, historically. Bisleri was bought by Parle Exports and came from the Parle family business. The Parle group split between Ramesh Chauhan (Bisleri) and his brother Prakash Chauhan (Parle Agro, which makes Frooti and Appy Fizz).
Is Bisleri mineral water?
It markets packaged drinking water and mineral water products. Check the label for the exact product type.
Is Bisleri made in India?
Yes, it is bottled at plants in India.
