S.Pellegrino

S.Pellegrino is an Italian premium natural mineral water and sparkling drinks brand produced by Sanpellegrino S.p.A., a company owned by Nestlé since 1997. Its principal mineral-water plant is located in San Pellegrino Terme in Lombardy, while the corporate headquarters are in Milan. The brand is exported internationally and is particularly associated with restaurants, hotels, culinary professionals and premium food occasions. The brand’s roots are connected to the mineral springs and spa culture of San Pellegrino Terme. The local water industry developed over several centuries, with the springs attracting visitors and being discussed for their supposed therapeutic properties. Commercial organization began in the nineteenth century, and Sanpellegrino S.p.A. was established in 1899. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the water was increasingly bottled and shipped beyond Italy. Carbonation was added in part to preserve the product during long-distance transport; the water itself is not naturally carbonated at the spring. S.Pellegrino’s defining product is sparkling natural mineral water. The water is drawn from an underground aquifer in the San Pellegrino area after passing through geological formations that give it a distinctive mineral profile. The company adds carbon dioxide during bottling to create its characteristic fine bubbles. The brand is sold in glass and PET formats, with packaging designed to preserve a recognizable Italian identity. The elongated Vichy-style glass bottle, red star, blue-and-white label and references to the local casino and Belle Époque heritage are central visual markers. The business expanded beyond mineral water into carbonated soft drinks. Its flavored range includes Aranciata, Limonata, Pompelmo, Aranciata Rossa, Chinò and Sanbittèr, as well as later fruit-beverage variants. These soft drinks use treated local water rather than the same mineral water as the flagship bottled-water product. The company also manages or has managed other Italian beverage brands, including Acqua Panna, Levissima and Vera. Ownership by Nestlé’s Perrier Vittel division in 1997 gave Sanpellegrino access to a global beverage network while leaving S.Pellegrino positioned as a distinctly Italian brand. Its market identity is based less on mass-market refreshment than on premium table service, design, provenance and association with food. Partnerships with fashion and cultural figures, culinary media activity and international restaurant placement have reinforced that positioning. S.Pellegrino has also faced scrutiny. In 2007, a German consumer television program reported uranium in a sample of the water. Nestlé responded that the reported level was below regulatory thresholds cited by authorities and that trace uranium can occur in both bottled and tap water. The brand’s highly mineralized composition also means that its product is not recommended for very young infants. S.Pellegrino remains an active international brand, with sparkling mineral water as its core offering and a broader portfolio of Italian-style carbonated beverages.

The history of S.Pellegrino is closely tied to the springs of San Pellegrino Terme in the Val Brembana area of Lombardy. Local accounts place the beginning of the area’s water industry in the late medieval period, and the springs were later used by visitors seeking spa treatments. Historical references from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries describe the water in connection with kidney and urinary conditions, although these historical therapeutic claims should not be treated as modern medical advice. The spa economy became more organized during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. A bathhouse was built in the 1760s, and subsequent ownership and access arrangements divided control of the spring between private interests and the municipality. Flooding of the Brembo River damaged local infrastructure and contributed to later changes in ownership and leasing arrangements. Construction and renovation of spa facilities continued through the nineteenth century, helping transform San Pellegrino Terme into a destination with baths, hotels and other resort attractions. Sanpellegrino S.p.A. was established in 1899. At the start of the twentieth century, bottled water from the springs was being distributed in Italian cities and exported to destinations in Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. When Queen Margherita visited San Pellegrino in 1905, the town’s publications emphasized the water’s increasingly broad distribution. Carbon dioxide was added during this period to help protect the water during transportation, especially on overseas routes. The practice became part of the product’s enduring sparkling style. The company gradually modernized its facilities. Spa buildings received updated diagnostic and laboratory equipment in the 1920s, while bottling operations were reorganized and expanded. Early production involved manual work and was subsequently mechanized. A first major bottling machine was introduced in 1930. The company later built a larger factory as demand increased, and a new high-speed PET line was installed in 2012. S.Pellegrino’s portfolio broadened in 1932 with Aranciata, an orangeade made with concentrated orange juice and S.Pellegrino as a principal ingredient. Later additions included Limonata, Pompelmo, Aranciata Rossa, Chinò and Sanbittèr. In the early 1970s, the company stopped using the same mineral water in its soft drinks and instead used treated spring or local water to achieve consistent flavor and production characteristics. On 20 April 1970, the company changed its corporate name from Società Anonima Delle Terme di S.Pellegrino to Sanpellegrino S.p.A. The brand developed a stronger international profile during the second half of the twentieth century, including a 1968 appearance on the cover of the British newspaper The Observer. Its bottle and label design retained references to San Pellegrino Terme, the historic spa identity and the brand’s Italian export heritage. In 1997, Perrier Vittel SA, a Nestlé division, acquired Sanpellegrino S.p.A. The acquisition placed S.Pellegrino alongside other international water brands while preserving its premium Italian positioning. Paolo Luni, who had initially joined as a consultant, became general manager and later chief executive. He left in 1999 after the company’s centennial celebrations, which included an event at Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Glass bottles have retained the elongated Vichy-inspired form associated with the brand’s early history. The red star was historically used as a symbol for high-quality products exported from Italy, while the neck and label incorporate imagery connected with the local casino, the founding date and Belle Époque aesthetics. PET versions were introduced in the late 1990s and were designed to reproduce the brand’s recognizable silhouette and sparkling presentation. Additional PET sizes were introduced during the 2000s. S.Pellegrino’s modern marketing has emphasized the relationship between water, Italian style and food culture. From 2010 to 2013, the “S.Pellegrino Meets Italian Talents” project involved collaborations or tributes connected with Missoni, Bulgari and Luciano Pavarotti. The brand has also used culinary media, restaurant partnerships and international events to reinforce its role as a premium accompaniment to meals. By 2017, reference material reported annual global bottle sales of approximately one billion, although the figure should be understood as a historical company-related claim rather than a current performance measure. Today, S.Pellegrino remains an active Nestlé-owned brand. Its principal identity is premium sparkling natural mineral water from San Pellegrino Terme, supported by flavored sparkling beverages and other Italian drinks. Production and distribution extend beyond Italy, while the brand continues to rely on provenance, packaging, mineral character and gastronomic association as its main sources of differentiation.

• 2014

  New Sparkling Fruit Beverage flavors launch

  [1]S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org

  Melograno e Arancia and Clementina were introduced and promoted at an Eataly installation in New York.

• 2012

  High-speed PET bottling line is installed

  [1]S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org

  A high-speed PET production line was added as the company continued expanding bottling capacity.

• 1999

  Centennial celebrations take place in Milan

  [1]S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org

  Chief executive Paolo Luni left the company after inaugurating centennial celebrations at Teatro alla Scala.

• 1997

  Nestlé acquires Sanpellegrino

  [1]S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org

  Perrier Vittel SA, a Nestlé division, acquired Sanpellegrino S.p.A., bringing the brand into Nestlé’s international water portfolio.

• 1970

  Corporate name changes to Sanpellegrino S.p.A.

  [1]S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its legal name from Società Anonima Delle Terme di S.Pellegrino to Sanpellegrino S.p.A.

• 1968

  S.Pellegrino appears on The Observer cover

  [1]S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org

  The brand appeared on the front cover of the British Sunday newspaper The Observer, reflecting its growing international profile.

• 1932

  Aranciata is introduced

  [1]S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org

  Sanpellegrino expanded from mineral water into orange-flavored carbonated beverages with the launch of Aranciata.

• 1899

  Sanpellegrino S.p.A. is founded

  [1]S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org

  The company that developed the S.Pellegrino brand was established in Italy, marking the commercial foundation of the modern brand.

• 1899

  Commercial brand foundation

  [3]San Pellegrino official websites-pellegrino.com

  San Pellegrino is commonly dated to 1899, when commercial exploitation and bottling of the mineral spring at San Pellegrino Terme became the basis of the modern brand.

• 1509

  Leonardo da Vinci is associated with the springs

  [1]S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org

  Historical accounts state that Leonardo da Vinci visited San Pellegrino to examine or sample its water, although the details are part of the area’s historical tradition.

Showing the 10 most recent.

Premium Italian mineral water and sparkling beverage brand associated with fine dining, hospitality, Italian style, and culinary occasions.

• Natural mineral water · 1899

  S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water

  The core S.Pellegrino product is sparkling natural mineral water sourced in San Pellegrino Terme. Its mineral profile develops as groundwater moves through local geological formations, and carbonation is added during production rather than occurring naturally at the spring. The product is sold in glass and PET bottles and is positioned for restaurants, hospitality, meals and premium everyday consumption. The glass bottle’s elongated Vichy-style form, red star and blue-and-white label are among the brand’s most recognizable design elements. The flagship product is sparkling natural mineral water associated with the San Pellegrino Terme source in Lombardy. It is sold in individual and multipack formats, with glass bottles particularly prominent in restaurants and hospitality. The product’s premium identity is built around mineral character, Italian origin, the red-star mark, and use with meals.

• Carbonated soft drink · 1932

  S.Pellegrino Aranciata Rossa

  Aranciata is an orange-flavored carbonated beverage introduced in 1932. It uses concentrated orange juice and is part of the company’s expansion beyond bottled mineral water. The drink is presented as an Italian-style orangeade and is sold in selected markets in formats that may differ by country. Aranciata Rossa is a blood-orange-style sparkling beverage. It builds on the company’s longstanding orangeade line while offering a deeper citrus profile and a distinct variant within the flavored-drinks portfolio.

• Carbonated soft drink

  S.Pellegrino Limonata

  Limonata is the brand’s lemon-flavored sparkling beverage. It belongs to the broader Sanpellegrino soft-drinks portfolio and extends the brand’s Italian citrus and meal-occasion positioning beyond the flagship mineral water.

• Carbonated soft drink

  S.Pellegrino Pompelmo

  Pompelmo is a grapefruit-flavored sparkling beverage. It is one of the company’s fruit-based carbonated drinks and is marketed as part of the wider Italian beverage range associated with S.Pellegrino.

• Carbonated soft drink

  S.Pellegrino Chinò

  Chinò is a chinotto-based Italian carbonated drink. It represents the brand’s connection to traditional Italian bitter-sweet soft-drink flavors and broadens the portfolio beyond conventional citrus profiles.

• Bitter aperitif beverage

  Sanbittèr

  Sanbittèr is a non-alcoholic bitter-style aperitif associated with the Sanpellegrino company portfolio. It is distinct from the flagship mineral water but contributes to the group’s broader Italian drinks and aperitif offering.

• Flavored sparkling beverage · 2014

  Sparkling Fruit Beverages

  The Sparkling Fruit Beverages range includes fruit combinations such as Melograno e Arancia and Clementina. These products were developed as a more fruit-forward extension of the carbonated portfolio and were introduced to selected international markets through launch activity in New York.

• Flavored sparkling beverage

  Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa

  An orange-flavored sparkling soft drink in the Sanpellegrino beverage range. It extends the brand from mineral water into a sweeter, fruit-based refreshment occasion while retaining the visual language and Italian positioning of the parent brand. Formulation, pack sizes, and availability may differ between markets. A blood-orange-style sparkling beverage that uses the Sanpellegrino identity to present a distinctive Italian citrus flavor. It is part of the brand’s flavored-drink extension and is distributed selectively according to market portfolio decisions.

• Flavored sparkling beverage

  Sanpellegrino Limonata

  A lemon-flavored sparkling beverage sold under the Sanpellegrino name. It is positioned as a citrus-forward Italian soft drink and is commonly marketed alongside the brand’s orange and blood-orange variants. Regional availability and recipe details are not uniform across the international portfolio.

• Still mineral water

  Acqua Panna

  Acqua Panna is a still mineral-water brand marketed within the Sanpellegrino company and Nestlé water portfolio. It complements San Pellegrino’s sparkling proposition in restaurants and hospitality, although it is generally treated as a separate brand rather than as a San Pellegrino product line.

• 2007

  Uranium report concerning S.Pellegrino water

  German consumer television program Markt reported that testing found uranium in S.Pellegrino. Nestlé stated that the reported concentration was below thresholds used by cited governments and health organizations and argued that trace uranium can occur in bottled and tap water. The report generated product-safety scrutiny but the available reference does not document a recall or regulatory ban.

  Source

Read more

• 2014Sparkling Fruit Beverages New York Launch

  United States

  New Melograno e Arancia and Clementina flavors were presented through a floral installation featuring oversized cans at Eataly’s La Scuola Grande in New York.

  Outcome. Created an experiential launch for the expanded fruit-beverage range.

  Source
• 2013S.Pellegrino Meets Italian Talents

  International

  The program continued with a tribute connected to operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti, using Italian cultural heritage as a brand platform.

  Outcome. Reinforced S.Pellegrino’s cultural and Italian-origin credentials.

  Source
• 2011S.Pellegrino Meets Italian Talents

  International

  The continuing collaboration program linked the water brand with Italian cultural and luxury talent, including Bulgari.

  Outcome. Extended the brand’s association with Italian craftsmanship and premium culture.

  Source
• 2010S.Pellegrino Meets Italian Talents

  International

  The project used collaborations with internationally recognized Italian creative figures to connect S.Pellegrino with contemporary Italian excellence and design. Participating names and associations included the fashion house Missoni.

  Outcome. Strengthened the brand’s Italian luxury and design positioning.

  Source
• The Sopranos short-form advertising videos

  United States · Digital markets

  San Pellegrino produced or sponsored a series of short videos featuring actors associated with The Sopranos. Online discussion described multiple clips and a longer compiled presentation, linking the brand to recognizable entertainment talent and Italian-American cultural associations.

  Outcome. The supplied reference documents online circulation and audience discussion but does not provide verified performance results, spend, or a formal campaign case study.

  Source

• 2012

  PET production capacity is expandedStrategy

  Background

  Growing demand required additional high-volume packaging capacity.

  Action taken

  A high-speed PET bottling line was installed at the company’s Italian production operations.

  Aftermath

  The investment supported larger-scale production of portable plastic formats while the brand continued to maintain its glass-bottle identity.

  Source

• 1997

  Nestlé acquires SanpellegrinoM&A

  Background

  Sanpellegrino was acquired by Perrier Vittel SA, the Nestlé division responsible for a number of bottled-water businesses.

  Action taken

  Ownership transferred to Nestlé, with S.Pellegrino joining a broader international water portfolio.

  Aftermath

  The brand retained its Italian source and premium identity while operating within Nestlé’s global beverage structure.

  Source

• 1970

  Soft drinks move away from the mineral-water sourceStrategy

  Background

  The company needed a consistent water base for its growing carbonated soft-drinks business.

  Action taken

  Sanpellegrino stopped using the same mineral water in its soft drinks and substituted treated spring or local water.

  Aftermath

  The change separated the production logic of the soft-drink portfolio from the flagship mineral-water product while supporting consistent flavor.

  Source

• 1900

  Carbonation is adopted for transport and preservationStrategy

  Background

  As bottled water began traveling over longer domestic and overseas routes, carbonation was used to help limit bacterial development and preserve the product.

  Action taken

  The company added carbon dioxide during production, creating the sparkling format that became central to S.Pellegrino’s identity.

  Aftermath

  Sparkling mineral water became the brand’s signature product and a major element of its restaurant positioning.

  Source

• 2026

  Nestlé explores a potential stake sale involving its European water business[7]Nestlé explores a potential stake sale involving its European water businessreuters.com

  M&A

  Reports said Nestlé was examining a possible sale of a stake in its European water business, which includes S.Pellegrino, Perrier and Acqua Panna. The supplied reports described the process as exploratory and did not establish a completed transaction.

• 2025

  Sanpellegrino promotes Ciao! with a Sopranos reunion[8]Sanpellegrino promotes Ciao! with a Sopranos reunionadweek.com

  Campaign · Product launch

  Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa appeared together in Ogilvy-created “With Love, Italy” advertising for Ciao!, a Sanpellegrino sparkling beverage.

• 2024

  Nestlé begins a strategic process for its bottled-water business[9]Nestlé begins a strategic process for its bottled-water businessbaike.baidu.com

  M&A

  Nestlé was reported to have begun a process to review or potentially divest parts of its bottled-water business, with S.Pellegrino included among the brands affected by the review. The brand continued to be described as operating under Nestlé in related coverage.

• 2024

  S.Pellegrino marks its 125th anniversary with limited-edition packaging[10]S.Pellegrino marks its 125th anniversary with limited-edition packagingfoodinc.com.cn

  Other · Product launch

  The brand marked the 125th anniversary of its commercial founding with a luxury limited-edition bottle featuring anniversary visual elements.

• 2024

  Nestlé announces standalone operation for its water and premium-beverage brands[11]Nestlé announces standalone operation for its water and premium-beverage brandsfoodmanufacture.co.uk

  Leadership change

  Nestlé said that S.Pellegrino, Perrier, Acqua Panna and Maison Perrier would be operated separately from the wider group from January 2025 under Muriel Lienau, with partnership opportunities to be evaluated.

• 2024

  Nestlé moved San Pellegrino into a standalone water and premium beverage business[11]Nestlé announces standalone operation for its water and premium-beverage brandsfoodmanufacture.co.uk

  Other

  Nestlé announced that San Pellegrino and other brands in its water portfolio would be operated separately from the wider Nestlé Group from January 2025, under the leadership of Muriel Lienau. The plan was presented as an effort to improve operational performance and evaluate potential partnerships.

• 2023

  S.Pellegrino expands Chinese-market activity beyond formal dining[12]S.Pellegrino expands Chinese-market activity beyond formal diningfoodinc.com.cn

  Campaign

  Coverage described efforts in China to connect the brand with younger consumers and additional occasions, including outdoor and casual settings, while retaining its association with premium restaurants and Italian food culture.

• 2023

  Michel Beneventi became chief executive of Sanpellegrino Group[13]Michel Beneventi became chief executive of Sanpellegrino Groupbargiornale.it

  Leadership change

  Michel Beneventi succeeded Stefano Marini as chief executive. Marini moved to a leadership role in Nestlé’s Waters strategic business unit.

• 2023

  Sanpellegrino reported its 125-year heritage and sustainability organization[14]Sanpellegrino reported its 125-year heritage and sustainability organizationsanpellegrino-corporate.it

  Other

  The group’s 2023 sustainability report described Sanpellegrino as a Nestlé Group legal entity, outlined its international distribution, and identified a dedicated sustainability department reporting directly to the CEO.

• 2023

  Michel Beneventi becomes Sanpellegrino Group CEO[14]Sanpellegrino reported its 125-year heritage and sustainability organizationsanpellegrino-corporate.it

  Leadership change

  The group's 2023 sustainability report records the departure of Stefano Marini and the arrival of Michel Beneventi as chairman and chief executive.

Showing the 10 most recent.

1. 1S.Pellegrinoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2S.Pellegrino official websitesanpellegrino.com
3. 3San Pellegrino official websites-pellegrino.com
4. 4Nestlé corporate websitenestle.com
5. 5Discussion of San Pellegrino advertising videos featuring The Sopranos castreddit.com
6. 6San Pellegrino logo and brand identity overviewfabrikbrands.com
7. 7Nestlé explores a potential stake sale involving its European water businessreuters.com
8. 8Sanpellegrino promotes Ciao! with a Sopranos reunionadweek.com
9. 9Nestlé begins a strategic process for its bottled-water businessbaike.baidu.com
10. 10S.Pellegrino marks its 125th anniversary with limited-edition packagingfoodinc.com.cn
11. 11Nestlé announces standalone operation for its water and premium-beverage brandsfoodmanufacture.co.uk
12. 12S.Pellegrino expands Chinese-market activity beyond formal diningfoodinc.com.cn
13. 13Michel Beneventi became chief executive of Sanpellegrino Groupbargiornale.it
14. 14Sanpellegrino reported its 125-year heritage and sustainability organizationsanpellegrino-corporate.it
15. 15Sanpellegrino S.p.A. becomes a Certified B Corporationbcorporation.net
16. 16Stanley Tucci partners with S.Pellegrinothedrum.com
17. 17S.Pellegrino introduces upgraded sparkling fruit beverages in Chinafoodaily.com
18. 18Stanley Tucci becomes San Pellegrino ambassadorbevnet.com
19. 19S.Pellegrino source receives Alliance for Water Stewardship certificationcn.chinadaily.com.cn
20. 20San Pellegrino releases TOILETPAPER limited-edition packagingadsoftheworld.com
21. 21S.Pellegrino marks its 120th anniversaryforbes.com
22. 22S.Pellegrino partnered with the Michelin Guide for Gastronotrendssanpellegrino.com
23. 23S.Pellegrino launches “Enhance Your Moments”sanpellegrino.com
24. 24Stefano Agostini discusses the Sanpellegrino Campus projectinabottle.it
25. 25Sanpellegrino sells San Bernardo businessoaklins.com
26. 26Sanpellegrino introduces “The Life Deliziosa”sanpellegrino.com
27. 27San Pellegrino maintained its design-led premium identitycampaignlive.co.uk
28. 28S.Pellegrino launches a global short-film campaignsanpellegrino.com
29. 29San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna launch FineDiningLovers.comsocialmediatoday.com
30. 30S.Pellegrino refreshes its Live in Italian campaign with Elliott Erwittarchive.nytimes.com
31. 31San Pellegrino launches the Live in Italian international campaigneverythingpr.com
32. 32S.Pellegrino becomes part of Nestlézh.wikipedia.org
33. 33European Commission clears Nestlé acquisition of San Pellegrinoec.europa.eu
34. 34Sanpellegrino announces an architectural project for its original plantsanpellegrino.com
35. 35San Pellegrino featured in short-form campaign with The Sopranos cast membersreddit.com