Who Owns S.Pellegrino?

S.Pellegrino's history begins with the natural springs of San Pellegrino Terme, a small spa town in the Bergamo province of Lombardy, northern Italy. The mineral waters of San Pellegrino Terme were known and valued since at least the 15th century, with Leonardo da Vinci reportedly visiting the springs in 1509. The springs' waters were prized for their mineral content and perceived health benefits.

The commercial bottling of S.Pellegrino water began in 1899, when the Societa Anonima delle Terme di San Pellegrino was established to bottle and distribute the naturally sparkling mineral water. The company built a bottling facility at the source and began distributing the water across Italy and to international markets. The distinctive green glass bottle with its red star logo became the brand's signature packaging.

S.Pellegrino gained international recognition in the early 20th century, becoming a staple at fine restaurants and hotels across Europe. The brand's association with Italian cuisine and fine dining helped establish its premium positioning. By the mid-20th century, S.Pellegrino had become one of the most recognized Italian food and beverage exports, alongside brands like Barilla pasta and Lavazza coffee.

The brand expanded its distribution significantly through the post-war period, entering markets in North America, Asia, and other regions. S.Pellegrino's distinctive bottle and the concept of sparkling mineral water as a premium dining accompaniment helped create and define the premium sparkling water category in many markets.

In 1997, Nestlé acquired Sanpellegrino S.p.A., the company that owned S.Pellegrino and the related Acqua Panna still water brand, for approximately $1.1 billion. The acquisition brought S.Pellegrino into Nestlé Waters, the company's water division. Under Nestlé's ownership, S.Pellegrino expanded its global distribution significantly, leveraging Nestlé's worldwide sales and marketing infrastructure.

In 2021, Nestlé sold most of its water brands in North America (including Poland Spring and other regional brands) to One Rock Capital Partners, which renamed the business BlueTriton Brands. However, S.Pellegrino and Perrier were retained by Nestlé as premium international brands and continue to operate under Nestlé's ownership through Sanpellegrino S.p.A.

S.Pellegrino has expanded its product portfolio under Nestlé's ownership, introducing S.Pellegrino Essenza (flavored sparkling water) and other variants to appeal to consumers seeking premium flavored water options.