Gerolsteiner

What Gerolsteiner does

Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG is a German mineral water producer founded in 1888 in Gerolstein, Vulkaneifel, and majority-owned by Bitburger Group. The company extracts natural mineral water from protected volcanic springs reaching depths of up to 250 meters, and processes it through an ISO 6 cleanroom bottling facility with quality testing across more than 240 parameters (heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, nitrite, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). All five mineral water varieties — Sprudel (high carbonation), Medium, Feinperlig, Naturell (still), and the high-mineralization Ursprung — are certified as Premiummineralwasser by Institut Fresenius, exceeding standard EU mineral water requirements under the Mineral- und Tafelwasser-Verordnung. Adjacent product lines include fruit juice spritzers (Schorlen), full-bodied lemonades (Limonaden including Cola and zero-sugar variants), flavored waters, therapeutic Heilwasser, and the Flow fiber drinks sub-brand.

The technology stack supporting production and bottling is centered on cleanroom standards, an aeration/extraction system to remove microplastic contamination from packaging abrasion, and dedicated quality testing. Brand and consumer engagement are delivered through the Wissensquellen educational content platform, the TrinkCheck hydration mobile app, multi-platform social presence (TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, XING), event sponsorships such as PAROOKAVILLE, and the Erlebniswelt visitor center. CSR programs include the Zukunftswald reforestation partnership with Landesforsten Rheinland-Pfalz (207,000+ trees planted since 2013) and Team mit Stern (€50,000 annual community funding).

Commercially, Gerolsteiner generates revenue through wholesale distribution to Germany's four major grocery chains (Edeka, Rewe, Aldi, Lidl), convenience retail, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce via its Shopware-powered webshop. 2025 revenue was €348.8 million with 2.7% year-over-year growth on 8.3 million hectolitres sold. Customer segments are horizontal — general German consumers and health-conscious households — with fitness and wellness consumers addressed through the Flow line. Leadership is in transition: Nils Hemmerle (ex-Henkel Consumer Brands) becomes CEO effective 17 August 2026, succeeding Roel Annega; Sven Hoffmann succeeds Sabine Döße as Commercial Managing Director at end of 2026.

Name

Gerolsteiner

Legal name

Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://gerolsteiner.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gerolsteiner is a 135+ year-old German mineral water producer majority-owned by Bitburger Group, sourcing naturally carbonated water from volcanic springs in the Vulkaneifel. It sells premium mineral water, spritzers, lemonades, and Flow functional drinks via major German retailers and a DTC webshop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bottled Mineral Water and Beverages

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452)

SIC

Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mineral Water Bottling (Naturally Mineral) (AFAFACAB), Vitamin- & Mineral-Fortified Beverage Production (AFAFAFAC)

Keywords

• Bottled mineral water
• Mineral water production
• Soft drinks beverages
• Carbonated water
• Natural mineral water

Headquarters

HQ city

Gerolstein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Bottled Mineral Water and Beverages: Gerolsteiner generates revenue primarily through the sale of bottled mineral water products including Sprudel, Medium, Feinperlig, Naturell, Ursprung, as well as refreshment beverages such as Schorlen (fruit juice spritzers), Limonaden (soft drinks), flavored waters, and Flow fiber drinks. Revenue for 2025 was €348.8m with 2.7% growth and sales volumes of 8.3 million hectolitres.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Gerolsteiner produces and sells natural mineral water and refreshment beverages sourced from protected volcanic springs in the Vulkaneifel region of Germany. The portfolio centers on five mineral water varieties with different carbonation levels (Sprudel, Medium, Feinperlig, Naturell, Ursprung) and extends to Schorlen fruit juice spritzers, Limonaden, flavored waters, Flow fiber drinks, and certified Heilwasser. Products are bottled under ISO 6 cleanroom conditions and sold primarily through German food retail, with supplementary direct-to-consumer e-commerce.

Product overview

Gerolsteiner is a mineral water and refreshment beverage company offering a portfolio centered on natural mineral water from the Vulkaneifel. The core product line comprises five mineral water varieties: Sprudel (high carbonation), Medium (reduced carbonation), Feinperlig (fine perlage), Naturell (still), and Ursprung (high mineralization premium). Supporting product lines include Schorlen (fruit juice spritzers with apple, apple-lemon, and apple-blackcurrant flavors including light variants), Limonaden (full-bodied lemonades including orange, lemon, cola, zero-sugar cola, and specialty grilled flavors), and Wasser mit Geschmack (naturally flavored waters with orange-passionfruit, citrus-mint, and cola varieties). Sub-brands encompass Flow (fiber drinks enriched with calcium) and Heilwasser (therapeutic mineral waters). A digital companion product, the TrinkCheck mobile app, supports consumer engagement through hydration tracking. All mineral waters are sourced from protected underground springs in the Vulkaneifel region of Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gerolsteiner Flow: Ballaststoff-Drinks (fiber drinks) with fiber and calcium
• G-Rex & Friends
• Team mit Stern
• TrinkCheck App

Products and services

• Sprudel Classic high-carbonation natural mineral water from the Vulkaneifel, sold in glass bottles and one of the most consumed mineral waters in Germany.
• Medium Medium-carbonation mineral water with roughly one-third less carbonation than Sprudel, for consumers preferring a milder sparkling option.
• Feinperlig Fine-perlage mineral water with only a hint of carbonation while retaining the same mineral content as the higher-carbonation varieties.
• Naturell Still mineral water sourced from a gentler Vulkaneifel source with lighter mineralization, naturally soft and refreshingly neutral in taste.
• Ursprung Premium mineral water with particularly high mineralization from the Vulkaneifel — volcanic-origin carbonated water with rich mineral content.
• Schorlen (Apfelschorle, Apfel-Zitrone, Apfel-Johannisbeere, Leichte Schorle) Fruit juice spritzers made with Gerolsteiner mineral water in apple, apple-lemon, apple-blackcurrant, and light reduced-calorie varieties.
• Limonaden (Orange, Zitrone, Leichte Limonaden, Cola, Cola Zero Zucker, Grilled Lemon Rosemary, Grilled Watermelon Mint) Full-bodied, pleasantly sparkling lemonades with high fruit content, based on Gerolsteiner mineral water. Includes orange, lemon, light, cola, zero-sugar cola, and specialty grilled-flavor varieties.
• Wasser mit Geschmack (Orange-Passionsfrucht, Citrus-Minze, Cola-Mix, Cola) Flavored waters with a hint of fruit and high carbonation, naturally flavored without calories, sweeteners, or sugar.
• Flow (Ballaststoff-Drinks) Fiber drinks (Ballaststoff-Drinks) enriched with fiber and calcium, in innovative flavor combinations designed for trend-conscious functional beverage consumers.
• Heilwasser (Gerolsteiner Heilwasser, St. Gero Heilwasser) Certified therapeutic mineral waters (Heilwasser) offering natural relief for various ailments and proven health benefits.
• TrinkCheck App Mobile application that tracks daily fluid intake and supports healthy hydration habits, tied to the G-Rex & Friends children's program and consumer engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• No microplastics detected in mineral water sources through ISO 6 cleanroom processing and particle removal systems
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Landesforsten Rheinland-PfalzcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partnership for the Gerolsteiner Zukunftswald (Future Forest) reforestation project. Over 207,000 climate-stable trees planted since 2013 across 15+ species including Rotbuche, Traubeneiche, Hainbuche, Bergahorn, Edelkastanie, Wildkirsche, Weißtanne, Baumhasel, and Douglasie. Forests act as natural water filters and support clean groundwater.
• LegalTegrity GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegalTegrity GmbH provides the digital whistleblower solution (Gerolsteiner Hinweisgeberportal) and hotline service (+49 699 999 88 38) for reporting legal violations in compliance with the German Hinweisgeberschutzgesetz.
• Google Ireland LimitedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvertising network partner for digital marketing campaigns and personalized advertising on Google's advertising platforms.
• Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media and advertising partner for Facebook and Instagram marketing campaigns with hashed email address matching for personalized advertising and campaign performance reporting.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• San Pellegrino (Nestlé Waters): Premium Italian sparkling mineral water owned by Nestlé Waters. Directly comparable to Gerolsteiner Sprudel on naturally carbonated mineral water positioning in food service and premium retail channels across Europe.
• Evian (Danone): Globally recognized premium mineral water brand owned by Danone. Comparable to Gerolsteiner on premium natural mineral water positioning and brand-led marketing, but operates at global scale within Danone's water division.
• Perrier (Nestlé Waters): Iconic French naturally sparkling mineral water owned by Nestlé Waters. Comparable to Gerolsteiner Sprudel on volcanic/natural carbonation story and food-service channel presence.
• Volvic (Danone): French natural mineral water brand owned by Danone. Comparable to Gerolsteiner on natural sourcing story and broad European retail distribution, with stronger international reach than Gerolsteiner.
• Vittel (Nestlé Waters): Major European still mineral water brand owned by Nestlé Waters. Comparable to Gerolsteiner on natural mineral water positioning and European retail presence, though Vittel operates within a much larger multinational beverage portfolio.

Direct peers

• Hassia Mineralquellen: German mineral water producer offering branded and private-label mineral water products. Comparable to Gerolsteiner on product format, German retail distribution, and portfolio breadth across carbonation levels.
• Adelholzener Alpenquellen: Bavarian premium mineral water brand with broad distribution in German retail and food service. Similar to Gerolsteiner in positioning as a regional German mineral water champion with multiple carbonation variants.
• Selters (Radeberger Gruppe): Iconic German mineral water brand owned by Radeberger Gruppe (Dr. Oetker). Competes head-to-head with Gerolsteiner in German retail on branding, carbonation variety, and premium mineral water positioning.
• Apollinaris: German premium mineral water brand owned by Coca-Cola HBC, sourced from volcanic Eifel-region springs. Directly comparable to Gerolsteiner on origin story, carbonation variety, and German retail distribution through the same major chains.
• Rietenauer Mineralquellen: German mineral water producer with traditional brand portfolio in German retail. Comparable to Gerolsteiner as a regional German mineral water competitor focused on traditional retail channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@gerolsteiner_de
• Xx.com/WassermitStern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gerolsteiner