The article tells the story of Bisleri, a leading packaged water brand in India, and its journey to becoming a Rs 7,000 crore empire. The story begins with Ramesh Chauhan, a visionary entrepreneur who introduced bottled mineral water to the Indian market in 1965, a concept that was unheard of at the time. Under his leadership, Parle Exports acquired Bisleri in 1969 and launched the brand in India. Chauhan’s dedication to expansion led to the launch of iconic beverage brands such as Thums Up, Gold Spot, Citra, Maaza, and Limca. He diversified the brand’s offerings with “Bisleri POP,” a range of fizzy drinks, and introduced PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) recycling in India to reduce environmental impact.
Ramesh Chauhan’s wife, Zainab, played a crucial role in the company’s success, particularly in laying the foundation for several beloved brands. Their daughter, Jayanti Chauhan, now serves as the Vice Chairperson of Bisleri, bringing a fresh perspective with her global exposure and diverse background. Under her leadership, Bisleri has continued to innovate and expand, with a focus on sustainable development. In 2022, Jayanti decided to retain ownership of the brand, choosing to keep it within the family rather than selling it to the Tata Group.
Throughout its history, Bisleri has been committed to sustainability, having set a Guinness World Record in 2015 for collecting 1.1 million plastic bottles in eight hours with the help of school children. The company’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its PET recycling initiative, which has been collecting approximately 600 tonnes of PET annually since 1995. With Jayanti at the helm, Bisleri is poised for continued growth and success in the future.