The owner of Fiji Water is The Wonderful Company. Stewart and Lynda Resnick run it. They bought the brand back in 2004.
I got curious one day while grabbing a bottle from the store. How does water from a tiny Pacific island end up everywhere? Fiji Water ships millions of those square bottles yearly. Celebs like
Madonna and Barack Obama love them too.
It's not just any water. It comes from an ancient aquifer in Fiji. The company stresses its purity and that famous "Earth's Finest Water" tagline.
But who are these Resnicks? They're billionaires with a knack for turning farms and drinks into gold.
Stick around. I'll share their story, from buying the brand to building an empire. You'll see why this water dominates shelves despite the long haul from halfway around the world. It's a wild ride.
How Fiji Water Got Started
I love how it all began with one guy's hunch about pristine water halfway across the world. Before the owner of Fiji Water stepped in, a Canadian named David Gilmour sparked the whole thing. He spotted Fiji's artesian treasure and turned it into a global hit.
David Gilmour's Big Idea
David Gilmour ran a small food import business in Canada during the early 1990s. He took a trip to Fiji in 1995 and fell for the island's pure springs. Locals there drew water from deep artesian aquifers, untouched for thousands of years.
One spot grabbed him: an ancient aquifer in Fiji's Yaqara Valley on Viti Levu island. This underground source sits 600 meters below basalt rock.
Rain filters through for 15 years before bubbling up silica-rich and mineral-packed. No pipes or pumps needed; pressure pushes it out clean.
Gilmour saw gold in bottling it. In 1996, he started Natural Waters of Viti Ltd. They named it Fiji Water for the source.
First exports hit Canada in 1997, then the US soon after. Square bottles flew off shelves fast.
Early Sales and First Big Sale
Sales kicked off in high-end spots like Whole Foods and fancy hotels. Demand grew quick as word spread about the smooth taste and exotic origin. By 1999, Gilmour sold to Natrol Inc., a supplement company, for millions.
Natrol ramped up US distribution. Fiji Water hit celebrity circles and upscale grocers. Popularity soared on its purity claims and that signature square bottle. It set the stage for bigger owners down the line.
The Road to the Resnicks
It took a few hands before Fiji Water landed with its current owner, the Resnicks. I traced the path from Natrol's purchase in 1999 right up to 2004.
Each step built the brand amid stiff competition from brands like Evian and Voss. The owner of Fiji Water today owes a lot to those early shifts.
Ownership Shifts Before 2004
Natrol Inc grabbed Fiji Water in 1999 for about $50 million. They pushed sales hard into US stores and hotels. Growth hit snags though. Bottled water shelves got crowded fast. Rivals poured money into ads, and consumers picked cheaper options.
Natrol sold it in early 2004 to TriArtisan Capital Advisors, a private equity firm. TriArtisan saw upside in the premium niche. They tweaked marketing and cut costs.
Just months later, they flipped it to Stewart Resnick's Roll International for another $50 million. That group later became The Wonderful Company.
These quick changes fueled buzz. Production ramped up in Fiji. US sales topped 100 million bottles by 2004. Competition pushed owners to innovate on taste and packaging.
Square bottles stood out. Purity tests backed claims. Still, shipping costs from the Pacific bit deep. Private equity sharpened the operation for the next big player.
Why the Resnicks Said Yes
The Resnicks eyed premium drinks like POM Wonderful, their pomegranate juice hit. They built that brand on health perks and fancy taste. Fiji Water fit perfect. Same vibe: exotic source, clean image, high price point.
Stewart and Lynda Resnick run Roll International, heavy in agribusiness. They own pistachio and almond farms too.
Premium branding turns nuts and juice into billions. POM launched in 2002; Fiji came next. They saw water as the next star.
I love how they doubled down. Resnicks invested in artesian source protection. They hired top execs from Coke. Marketing stressed silica minerals and that soft mouthfeel. Celeb endorsements poured in.
By betting on story over just H2O, they grew revenue to $150 million in year one. It's smart. Who doesn't crave island purity on a store shelf? Their portfolio screams quality obsession.
Meet Stewart and Lynda Resnick
The owners of Fiji Water, Stewart and Lynda Resnick, run The Wonderful Company. This powerhouse pair turned California farms into a $10 billion empire. They started with pistachios and almonds, added pomegranate juice through POM Wonderful, and snapped up Fiji Water in 2004.
Their story grabs me because they mix sharp business moves with real heart. Stewart grew up in the Bronx, helping in his dad's store. Lynda, from a working-class family, shares his drive.
They met in the 1970s, married in 1972, and raised a blended family. Lynda collects art and gardens; Stewart golfs and reads history books. I admire how they keep family close amid the billions.
They rebranded Roll Global to The Wonderful Company in 2013 to spotlight their "wonderful" products. Fiji fits right in with their focus on pure, premium goods.
From Humble Starts to Billionaires
Stewart Resnick kicked off in sales during the 1960s. He hustled pantyhose door-to-door in Los Angeles. That grit paid off fast. By 1978, he bought Teleflora, the flower delivery service, for $4 million. Sales doubled in a year.
Here's a quick timeline of their rise:
- 1979: Acquired Teleflora; built it into a national name.
- 1986: Snagged The Franklin Mint for collectibles like coins and plates.
- 1996: Entered farming with Paramount Citrus orchards.
- 1999: Bought Paramount Farms for pistachios and almonds, now the world's top supplier.
- 2002: Launched POM Wonderful juice, stressing heart-healthy antioxidants.
- 2004: Purchased Fiji Water for $50 million; boosted it to global fame.
- 2013: Renamed everything The Wonderful Company.
Lynda handled marketing magic. She crafted POM's sexy ads with celebs. Pistachio sales hit record highs after Super Bowl spots.
They turned nuts into luxury snacks. By 2023, their net worth topped $9 billion per Forbes. Hard work and smart buys built it all. No silver spoon here; just hustle.
Giving Back with Their Wealth
The Resnicks pour billions back into communities. Their Wonderful Foundation focuses on kids' education and health. Since 2016, it gave $100 million for California classrooms. Grants buy books, tech, and teacher training.
They revamped museums too. At the La Brea Tar Pits, they spent $100 million on digs and exhibits. The Natural History Museum got a new wing for dinosaurs. Lynda's art passion shines in these spots. She collects Picassos and supports local galleries.
Health hits home for them. The foundation fights obesity with free veggies from their farms. Programs serve fresh produce to low-income schools. Stewart calls it "feeding the future." They pledged $750 million over 10 years for education alone.
Family drives this. Their grandkids attend public schools, so they fix what's broken. I respect how they stay hands-on.
No flashy yachts; instead, real change. Philanthropy keeps them grounded. Their giving matches their success.
Fiji Water's Hits and Misses Under New Owners
The owner of Fiji Water, the Resnicks through The Wonderful Company, turned heads with bold steps after 2004.
They mixed smart marketing with tough fixes. Sales jumped, but not without pushback. I respect their grit. Here's the good and the rough.
Smart Moves That Boosted Sales
The Resnicks nailed the bottle design right away. That square shape? It started as a practical fix for shipping from Fiji. Square packs tight, saves space on boats and trucks.
But they spun it into a story. "Earth's Finest Water in a bottle that stands out," they said. Shoppers grab it first on crowded shelves.
Ads sealed the deal. They poured cash into glossy campaigns. Celebs like Oprah, Taylor Swift, and even Barack Obama sipped it on camera. Madonna called it her go-to.
Those spots hit magazines, billboards, and TV. Sales rocketed from $150 million in year one to over $600 million by 2010.
They grew distribution too. Fiji hit Costco, Target, and airports worldwide. Premium pricing stuck at $2 a bottle.
Profits soared because fans paid for the purity tale. I grab one now and taste that success. Smart plays built loyalty.
Challenges with Workers and Environment
Tensions brewed in Fiji under the new owner of Fiji Water. In 2010, a union strike halted production. Workers demanded better pay and conditions at the plant.
Bottles piled up undelivered. Critics slammed the company for low wages in a poor nation. The strike lasted weeks. Talks dragged.
The Resnicks stepped in fast. They raised pay by 20 percent, added benefits, and hired locals for key roles. Production resumed. No strikes since. Unions now work with management. Fiji's economy got a boost too; the plant employs hundreds.
Shipping sparked green debates. Hauling water 8,000 miles burns fuel. Carbon footprint? Huge, say watchdogs. Groups pushed boycotts.
But here's the flip: that aquifer's silica-rich purity comes only from there. Local filters can't match it. Resnicks offset emissions with tree planting and solar in Fiji. They cut plastic use 20 percent.
I see both sides. Shipping hurts, yet the taste wins fans. They fixed labor issues and green up efforts.
Balance shows in steady growth. Fiji Water thrives today. Props to them for owning the misses and pushing forward.
Conclusion
The owner of Fiji Water boils down to Stewart and Lynda Resnick through The Wonderful Company. They grabbed the brand in 2004 and turned it into a powerhouse.
From humble starts selling pantyhose and flowers, they built a $10 billion empire with nuts, juice, and now this premium water. Fiji's artesian source shines thanks to their smart marketing, celeb buzz, and fixes for labor and green issues.
I grab a square bottle next time I'm at the store. That smooth taste reminds me of their story. It beats plain tap every day.
But it makes me think about our bottled water picks too. Do we chase purity from afar, or go local? Worth pondering.
Try Fiji Water yourself and see what the hype's about. Grab one, sip slow, and taste the island vibe.
What's your take on the owner of Fiji Water or premium brands like this? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. I read them all and love chatting.
Thanks for sticking with me on this dive into their world. More stories on big brands coming soon.
