Eptinger
Eptinger (Mineralquelle Eptingen AG) is a Swiss family-owned mineral water producer, founded 1899, bottling natural mineral water from a 417m deep spring with Switzerland's highest mineral content (2,222 mg/l), plus the Pepita and Cristallo brands, distributed via Migros, Coop, restaurants, and DTC e-commerce across German-speaking Switzerland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1899
- HeadquartersSissach, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Eptinger does
Mineralquelle Eptingen AG, operating under the Eptinger brand, is a Swiss independent family-owned mineral water producer founded in 1899 and now in its fourth generation of Buchenhorner family ownership. The company sources natural mineral water from a protected underground spring at 417 meters depth in Eptingen, Switzerland — one of the deepest sources in Europe — which yields the highest total mineral content of any Swiss mineral water (2,222 mg/l, including 475 mg/l calcium and 107 mg/l magnesium). Production is operated under IFS Food higher-level certification, and the company bottles in both PET (with 50% Swiss recycled rPET) and reusable glass (up to 40–50 cycles). Its product portfolio spans three brands: the flagship Eptinger mineral water, Pepita (a grapefruit-flavored soft drink celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024), and Cristallo (a second mineral water brand).
The company's revenue model is straightforward consumer-goods sales of bottled beverages, generated through Swiss retail chains (Migros as anchor, Coop via a glass-bottle pilot launched July 2023), restaurant and hospitality channels across German-speaking Switzerland, beverage distribution partners, direct e-commerce (eptinger.shop, Farmy, JustDrink), and charity-market surplus channels via Caritas. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is anchored in regional sports and cultural event sponsorships (EHC Basel, CHI Classics Basel, Baloise Session, Yonex Swiss Open, and broader community activations), supported by brand ambassadors, social media (#Eptinger), a newsletter, and content marketing around mineral content, hydration science, and sustainability. The customer base is primarily Swiss consumers across health-conscious, athlete, low-sodium-diet, pregnant-women, and regional-loyalty personas, with no disclosed enterprise software-style contracts; volume is driven by retail and on-trade consumption rather than large individual accounts. Headquarters and bottling are co-located in Eptingen (canton of Baselland), and the company inaugurated a consolidated new administrative building in 2024.
Eptinger firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eptinger
- Legal name
- Mineralquelle Eptingen AG
- Website
- https://eptinger.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1899
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Eptinger (Mineralquelle Eptingen AG) is a Swiss family-owned mineral water producer, founded 1899, bottling natural mineral water from a 417m deep spring with Switzerland's highest mineral content (2,222 mg/l), plus the Pepita and Cristallo brands, distributed via Migros, Coop, restaurants, and DTC e-commerce across German-speaking Switzerland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eptinger industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bottled Mineral Water
- NAICS
- Bottled Water Manufacturing (312112), Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)
- SIC
- Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mineral Water Bottling (Naturally Mineral) (AFAFACAB)
Keywords
Where Eptinger is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sissach
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Eptinger business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Mineral Water Sales: Eptinger generates revenue from the sale of natural mineral water under the Eptinger, Pepita (grapefruit-flavored soft drink), and Cristallo brands. Products are sold in PET bottles and reusable glass bottles through Swiss retail chains, restaurants, beverage partners, and the company's own online shop.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Eptinger product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mineralquelle Eptingen AG produces and sells natural mineral water under the Eptinger flagship brand (sourced from a 417-meter protected spring) and the Cristallo secondary mineral water brand, along with the Pepita line of flavored soft drinks (grapefruit, citrus, orange). Products are bottled in reusable glass bottles and 50% recycled PET (rPET) bottles and sold through Swiss retail chains, restaurants, hospitality, an in-house e-commerce shop, and third-party delivery platforms.
Product overview
Eptinger is a Swiss mineral water company operated by Mineralquelle Eptingen AG, offering three main product lines: Eptinger mineral water (the flagship brand, marketed as Switzerland's strongest mineral water with the highest mineral content), Pepita (a grapefruit-flavored soft drink), and Cristallo (another mineral water brand). Products are available in reusable glass bottles (up to 40 reuses) and PET plastic bottles (using 50% recycled Swiss rPET). The company celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2024 alongside Pepita's 75th anniversary.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pepita Grapefruit: Grapefruit soft drink brand
- Pepita Citro
- Pepita Orange
- Pepibier
Products and services
- Eptinger Mineralwasser (Natural Mineral Water) Natural mineral water sourced from a 417-meter deep spring in Eptingen, Switzerland, marketed as the Swiss mineral water with the highest mineral content at 2,222 mg/l total mineralization, including 475 mg/l calcium and 107 mg/l magnesium. Available in reusable glass bottles and 50% recycled PET bottles. Sold to individual consumers through Swiss retail chains, restaurants, e-commerce, and delivery platforms.
- Pepita Flavored Soft Drinks Flavored soft drink line under the Pepita brand from Mineralquelle Eptingen AG, including Pepita Grapefruit (flagship), Pepita Citro (formerly Sissa), and Pepita Orange (formerly Toco). Sold to individual consumers through Swiss retail and hospitality channels. Pepita signed the Milan Declaration in February 2023, committing to a 10% sugar reduction by end of 2024.
- Cristallo Mineral Water Secondary mineral water brand from Mineralquelle Eptingen AG, marketed separately from the flagship Eptinger brand. Sold to individual consumers through Swiss retail and hospitality channels.
Quantifiable outcome
- Eptinger was rated Testsieger (test winner) by saldo magazine with a score of 5.8 and the grade 'Sehr gut' (Very Good) in a test of 14 still mineral waters in PET bottles, ranking first for calcium and magnesium content.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Eptinger
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Eptinger technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Eptinger partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EHC BaselcoreEptinger is a sponsor of EHC Basel, the traditional ice hockey club founded in 1932. The first team plays in the Swiss League, and games at Sportzentrum St. Jakob draw passionate fans. Eptinger provides players with mineral water containing valuable minerals for hydration and performance.
- Longines CHI Classics BaselcoreEptinger has been a sponsor of the Longines CHI Classics Basel international equestrian event since at least 2023, continuing through 2026. The event is held annually at St. Jakobshalle Basel and features show jumping, dressage, and vaulting disciplines.
- Baloise SessioncoreEptinger is a sponsor of the Baloise Session, an annual music festival held in Basel featuring international artists in an intimate club-style setting. The festival combines pop, rock, jazz, soul, and other genres.
- YONEX Swiss OpenminorEptinger is a service sponsor of the YONEX Swiss Open badminton tournament held in Basel. The tournament is part of the BWF World Tour and attracts top players from around the world.
- Athletes NetworkminorEptinger supports Athletes Network, which helps elite athletes transition to second careers after their sports careers. The partnership aligns with shared values of discipline, passion, and perseverance.
- Radio RotBlauminorEptinger supports Radio RotBlau, which provides live commentary for FC Basel football matches for people with visual impairments, enabling an inclusive stadium experience.
- Marché Concours NationalminorEptinger is a sponsor of the Marché Concours National, an annual Swiss horse festival featuring gallop and carriage races and equestrian shows.
- s'LäggerliminorEptinger is the main sponsor of s'Läggerli, a pre-carnival entertainment event held in Basel during the pre-Fasnacht season, featuring comedy, theater, Schnitzelbängg, and music.
- CaritasminorEptinger supports Caritas by providing surplus mineral water and beverages for sale at Caritas charity markets (Caritas Markt) in Basel and across Switzerland. These markets sell products at low prices to people with limited income.
- Tafelgesellschaft zum Goldenen FischcoreIn 2025, Eptinger entered a new partnership as Exclusive Mineral Water Partner with the Tafelgesellschaft zum Goldenen Fisch, an organization dedicated to quality, sustainability, and conscious enjoyment.
- Stubete GängminorEptinger partnered with the Stubete Gäng (Swiss folk music band) for the 125th anniversary celebration concert held at the company site. The band performed their unique blend of traditional Swiss folk music with modern influences.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Eptinger competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Evian: Global premium still mineral water brand owned by Danone. Operates broadly across the international bottled water market with vastly larger scale, marketing budget, and distribution — defines the upper bound of competitive pressure on Swiss premium mineral water players.
- Vittel: French natural mineral water owned by Nestlé Waters. Operates as a broader European incumbent in the still mineral water category, with overlapping distribution in European markets and similar premium natural-source positioning.
- San Pellegrino: Italian sparkling mineral water brand owned by Nestlé Waters with global premium positioning. Comparable on premium sparkling mineral water category and on-premise (restaurant/hospitality) distribution channel overlap with Eptinger glass bottles.
Others
- Ramseier Suisse: Swiss beverage company producing juices, cider, and soft drinks under a long-standing Swiss heritage brand. Comparable as a family-rooted Swiss beverage producer with national retail presence, though operating in adjacent rather than directly overlapping categories.
Emerging players
- Rivella: Iconic Swiss soft drink brand with deep national heritage and family-business origins. Comparable as a Swiss family-rooted beverage brand navigating the same competitive landscape, retail channels, and consumer preferences as Eptinger — relevant especially for Eptinger's Pepita sub-brand.
Direct peers
- Henniez: Swiss mineral water brand owned by Nestlé Waters. Direct competitor with national retail presence in Switzerland, leveraging Nestlé's distribution scale and marketing budget — a clear benchmark for the competitive pressure Eptinger faces from multinational-backed rivals.
- Passugger: Swiss mineral water sourced from Graubünden. Comparable regional Swiss mineral water brand with similar single-source positioning and heritage-driven marketing, competing for the same regional and specialty retail customers.
- Gerolsteiner: German mineral water brand with the highest mineral content in Germany and a strong 'mineral-rich' positioning comparable to Eptinger's Swiss leadership claim. Most relevant international comparable on product positioning and premium mineral-water narrative.
- Valser: Swiss premium mineral water brand owned by Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland. Direct competitor in the Swiss bottled water market with similar premium positioning, glass bottle offerings, and broad retail distribution across both German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland.
- Adelbodner: Swiss regional mineral water brand from the Bernese Oberland. Comparable as a smaller, regional Swiss mineral water producer with regional distribution and a heritage brand positioning, competing in similar on-premise and retail channels to Eptinger.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Eptinger social profiles
Digital presenceEptinger compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Eptinger financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eptinger leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Eptinger funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Eptinger M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Eptinger
What does Eptinger do?
Mineralquelle Eptingen AG produces and sells natural mineral water under the Eptinger flagship brand (sourced from a 417-meter protected spring) and the Cristallo secondary mineral water brand, along with the Pepita line of flavored soft drinks (grapefruit, citrus, orange). Products are bottled in reusable glass bottles and 50% recycled PET (rPET) bottles and sold through Swiss retail chains, restaurants, hospitality, an in-house e-commerce shop, and third-party delivery platforms.
Is Eptinger a public or private company?
Eptinger is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Eptinger founded?
Eptinger was founded in 1899. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Eptinger based?
Eptinger is headquartered in Sissach, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Eptinger make money?
One revenue line is on record: mineral Water Sales.
Who are Eptinger's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Evian, Vittel and San Pellegrino. Ramseier Suisse is listed as an others. Rivella is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Henniez, Passugger, Gerolsteiner, Valser and Adelbodner.
Does Eptinger have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eptinger.
What industry is Eptinger in?
Eptinger's product category is Bottled Mineral Water. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFACAB, Mineral Water Bottling (Naturally Mineral). Its NAICS code is 312112 and its SIC code is 2086.