What S.Bernardo does

S.Bernardo S.p.A. is an Italian mineral water company founded in 1926 and headquartered in Garessio, in the Maritime Alps of Piedmont. The company extracts and bottles natural mineral water from the Sorgente Rocciaviva spring at 1,200-1,600 meters altitude, producing one of Italy's lightest waters at a fixed residue of 34.5 mg/L and neutral pH. Its product portfolio centers on the flagship Acqua S.Bernardo brand, marketed in three signature packaging formats: the iconic Giugiaro-designed Gocce glass bottle (a recognized Italian design object since the 1990s), the 100% recycled plastic Ely helical bottle introduced in 2021, and a multisensory aluminum can launched in 2020. Beyond water, the company has extended into organic beverages including Drops of Drinks, Drops of Bi soft drinks, Drops of Tea, Drops Tonica delle Indie tonic water, and the Bernardin bio aperitif developed with the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, plus collectible Limited Edition and Signature Edition bottles celebrating Italian cities and artistic collaborations.

S.Bernardo operates as part of Gruppo Montecristo, the Italian family-owned beverage conglomerate controlled by the Biella family that has owned the company since May 2015. Gruppo Montecristo operates four production facilities and approximately 200 employees across S.Bernardo and its sister brands (Fonte Ilaria in Lucca, Fonti Di Posina in Vicenza), with 2019 group revenue of 90 million EUR on 500 million bottles produced. The company reaches consumers through three core channels: modern retail (supermarkets), HORECA (restaurants, hotels, catering) where the Gocce bottle has particular premium appeal, and door-to-door sales. Distribution is national across most Italian regions with growing international export presence at Gulfood Dubai, Anuga Germany, and Salone del Mobile international editions.

The business model is volume-driven consumer packaged goods, monetized through unit pricing across retail, HORECA, and direct sales channels, with no subscription or licensing revenue disclosed. Marketing is anchored by an extensive sports sponsorship portfolio (FC Internazionale, Pallacanestro Cantù, Como 1907, Italian Golf Federation, Deejay Ten, Granfondo La Fausto Coppi, Open d'Italia), high-profile cultural partnerships (Salone del Mobile.Milano since 2019, Slow Food, Italian White Truffle Fair), and an owned wind farm that powers roughly 60% of operations in support of a stated zero-environmental-impact target by 2026. In 2026 the company is celebrating its centenary with a dedicated postage stamp issued by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.

Name

S.Bernardo

Legal name

S. Bernardo S.p.A.

Website

https://sanbernardo.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

S.Bernardo is an Italian mineral water company founded in 1926, sourcing ultra-light water from the Maritime Alps and selling through retail, HORECA, and direct channels across Italy and select international markets, owned by Gruppo Montecristo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bottled Mineral Water

NAICS

Bottled Water Manufacturing (312112), Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Mineral Water Bottling (Naturally Mineral) (AFAFACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAE), Still Soft Drinks & Flavored Waters (Non-Carbonated) (AFAFABAB)

Keywords

• Mineral water bottling
• Bottled natural water
• Organic soft drinks
• Alpine spring water
• Flavored beverages

Headquarters

HQ city

Garessio

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Mineral water sales: Core revenue from bottled mineral water products sold through retail, HORECA, and direct-to-consumer channels. Available in glass bottles (Gocce), PET bottles, and aluminum cans.
2. Beverage products: Extended product line including Drops of Drinks (organic soft drinks), Drops of Tea (biological teas), Drops of Bi (dual-flavor beverages), and Bernardin Aperitivo Piemontese.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

S.Bernardo produces and bottles natural mineral water sourced from the Rocciaviva spring in Garessio (Maritime Alps) at 1,300 meters altitude, available in still, sparkling, and lightly sparkling varieties in multiple formats (glass bottles, PET, cans). Beyond mineral water, the company produces a range of organic and innovative beverages including teas, tonics, aperitifs, and zero-sugar flavored drinks branded as Gocce.

Product overview

Acqua S.Bernardo is a diversified Italian beverage company offering mineral water (sourced from the Rocciaviva spring in Garessio, Maritime Alps) as its core product, complemented by organic soft drinks (Drops of Drinks, Drops of Bi), bio teas (Drops of Tea), tonic water (Drops Tonica delle Indie), and Piedmontese bio aperitif (Bernardin). Products are available in multiple packaging formats: iconic Giugiaro-designed glass Gocce bottles, 100% recycled plastic elicoidale Ely bottles, aluminum cans, and returnable glass. The company also produces limited and signature edition bottles celebrating Italian cities and artistic collaborations. Distributed through retail, HoReCa, and door-to-door channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Drops of Drinks: Organic flavored beverages in traditional flavors
• Drops of Bi
• Drops of Tea
• Bernardin
• Limited Edition
• The Bus Stop

Products and services

• S.Bernardo Natural Mineral Water (Still)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 60% growth in HORECA sector over 2 years (2017)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Federazione Italiana GolfcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Official water of the Italian Golf Federation. Sponsor of Trofeo S.Bernardo di Golf tournament series with stops at Carimate, Bormio, Cervino, and final at Villa d'Este.
• DS Automobiles Open d'ItaliaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2022Official partner of the 79th (and subsequent) Open d'Italia professional golf tournament. Water served to DP World Tour players at Circolo Marco Simone Golf Club, Rome.
• FC Internazionale MilanocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Official Water Partner for Serie A TIM seasons 2020/21 and 2021/22. Partnership built on shared values of innovation, environmental protection, and art.
• Università degli Studi di Scienze Gastronomiche di PollenzocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic partner of the Slow Food-founded university specializing in gastronomic sciences. Joint projects include Bernardin project combining Piedmontese botanical heritage with scientific research for local valorization.
• Salone del Mobile.MilanocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019S.Bernardo has been official mineral water partner since 2019. The partnership is founded on shared values of Italian excellence, design, and sustainability. Joint projects include Limited Edition bottles for Milan, Moscow, and Shanghai editions of the Salone del Mobile international events.
• Como 1907coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Triennial partnership agreement making S.Bernardo jersey sponsor (back of jersey). Antonio Biella is a native Como supporter, adding personal connection to the partnership.
• Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d'AlbaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Official mineral water of the international white truffle fair. S.Bernardo has released Limited Edition bottles celebrating Alba and the Langhe region. Partnership showcases water's pairing with fine Piedmontese cuisine.
• Pallacanestro CantùcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 November 2018Title sponsor from December 2018 through 2020/2021 season. The team played as 'Acqua S.Bernardo Pallacanestro Cantù'. Partnership continued after initial season as Biella believes strongly in the project's future.
• Scuola Italiana PizzaioliminorGTM or Marketing PartnerS.Bernardo water officially chosen by the Italian Pizza Makers School for pizza dough preparation, creating lighter, more digestible, and perfectly balanced results.
• Slow Food Italia / Terra MadrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Sustainer of Slow Food and in-kind partner of Cheese 2021. Joint environmental projects include protection of permanent meadows, reforestation of woodland areas, and urban forest planting through Forestami project.
• U.C. SampdoriaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSecond jersey sponsor until end of Serie A TIM 2019/20 season.
• Cuneo Granda VolleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor of the Serie A1 women's volleyball team.
• Sartoria CiclisticaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership combining sport, fashion, and food. Young brand uniting passion for cycling with technical sportswear and a Bike Café.
• Granfondo La Fausto CoppiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial water partner of the cycling Granfondo event starting and ending in Cuneo with Granfondo, Mediofondo, and Fauniera Classic routes.
• Radio DEEJAYminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partner of the Deejay Ten running event since 2016. Partnership extended to Party Like A Deejay celebration.
• Beer & Food AttractionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresence at international trade fair for craft beers, beverages, and HORECA channel. Platform to showcase product innovations to foodservice operators.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Perrier (Nestlé Waters): Nestlé's iconic sparkling mineral water with strong cocktail-mixer and HORECA associations, comparable to S.Bernardo's sparkling/lattina and Drops Tonica line targeting bar and on-premise mixology occasions.
• Voss Water: Globally distributed premium bottled water brand known for its iconic cylindrical glass bottle and design-forward positioning, similar to S.Bernardo's Gocce bottle as a lifestyle/premium positioning vehicle.
• Evian (Danone): Global premium mineral water brand from Danone with strong lifestyle positioning, design collaborations, and HORECA relevance, comparable to S.Bernardo's premium and internationally-oriented positioning.

Direct peers

• Rocchetta (Nestlé): Nestlé-owned Italian mineral water known for its lightweight PET bottle innovation, operating in the same mass-premium segment with nationwide retail distribution alongside S.Bernardo's modern retail and HORECA focus.
• Ferrarelle: Italian mineral water company with strong still and sparkling portfolio, broad national distribution, and significant HORECA and retail presence in Italy, directly comparable to S.Bernardo across channels and product range.
• Lurisia: Italian premium mineral water brand from the Ligurian Alps with a comparable design-forward and heritage positioning, including a strong tasting-room/Distilleria beverage portfolio, mirroring S.Bernardo's premium lifestyle positioning.
• Sanpellegrino (Nestlé Waters): Nestlé-owned Italian premium mineral water brand with 600+ heritage, similar culinary-pairing positioning, deep HORECA penetration, and an extended flavored/skincare beverage portfolio, making it the closest benchmark for S.Bernardo's premium and design-led water strategy.
• Lauretana: Italian mineral water positioned as one of the lightest in Europe (low fixed residue, similar to S.Bernardo's 34.5 mg/L profile), targeting the same health-conscious and culinary-pairing consumer with premium pricing.
• Uliveto: Italian mineral water brand owned by Spadel, distributed nationally with strong medical/health positioning due to bicarbonate and mineral profile, comparable to S.Bernardo in size and channel strategy.

Regional players

• Gerolsteiner: Germany's leading premium mineral water brand with strong sparkling portfolio and design-led packaging, comparable to S.Bernardo's premium-positioning and packaging differentiation but operating primarily in German-speaking markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AcquaSanBernardo
• Instagraminstagram.com/acquasanbernardo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 S.Bernardo