View source for Perrier

{{Short description|Mineral water brand}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox bottled water
| brand         = Perrier
| logo          = Perrier logo.svg
| image         = File:Perrier (1562070194).jpg
| image_caption = A 330 ml bottle of Perrier
| producer      = [[Nestlé Waters]]
| country       = France
| source        = [[Vergèze]], [[Gard]], France
| type          = Sparkling
| ph            = 5.5<ref name="O">{{cite web
|url=https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/274501973
|title=Perrier Sparkling 75Cl
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210514184611/https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/274501973
|archive-date=2021-05-14
|access-date=2021-05-14
|work=www.[[tesco]].com
|url-status=live
}}</ref>–5.46
| ca           = 150<ref name="O"/>–160
| cl           = 19.5<ref name="O"/>–22
| c2           = 420<ref name="O"/>–430
| mg           = 3.9<ref name="O"/>–4.2
| ni           = 7.3<ref name="O"/>–7.8
| k            = < 1<ref name="O"/> (0.6) 
| na           = 9.6<ref name="O"/>–9.5
| s            = 25.3<ref name="O"/>–33
| tds          = 456<ref name="O"/>–480
| Dry Residue (180 degrees C)=456 mg/l
| introduced   = {{start date and age|1898}}
| manufacturer = [[Nestlé]]
| website      = {{URL|perrier.com}}
}}

'''Perrier''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɛr|i|eɪ}} {{respell|PERR|ee|ay}}, <small>also</small> {{IPAc-en|US|ˌ|p|ɛr|i|ˈ|eɪ}} {{respell|-|AY}}, {{IPA|fr|pɛʁje|lang}}) is a French brand of [[bottled water|bottled]] water marketed as coming from its source in [[Vergèze]], located in the [[Gard]] ''[[Departments of France|département]]''. Perrier was part of the Perrier Vittel Group SA, which became [[Nestlé Waters France]] after the acquisition of the company by [[Nestlé]] in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Perrier® |url=https://www.nestle.fr/nosmarques/eaux/perrier}}</ref> 

==Overview==
The spring from which Perrier water is sourced is naturally [[carbonated water|carbonated]], but the water and natural [[Carbon dioxide|carbon dioxide gas]] are obtained independently. The water is then purified, and during [[Bottling line|bottling]], the carbon dioxide gas is re-added so that the level of carbonation in bottled Perrier matches that of the Vergèze spring.<ref>Perrier Group of Canada Inc. v. Canada [1995] F.C.J. No.1571</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nestle-watersna.com/pdf/PR_BWQR.pdf|title=Perrier Quality Report|access-date=2012-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120190522/http://www.nestle-watersna.com/asset-libraries/Documents/P_ENG.pdf|archive-date=20 January 2013}}</ref>

In 1990, Perrier removed the "naturally sparkling" claim from its bottles under pressure from the United States [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA).<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 19, 1990|title=Perrier to Remove 'Naturally Sparkling' Claim from its Bottles|website=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://apnews.com/article/3c184e5cc35cfcc431334f130185ea79}}</ref>

Since at least 2019, Perrier water is no longer "reinforced with gas from the source" but "with the addition of carbon dioxide". According to the company, this change allows it to considerably reduce its total water consumption and reduce its ecological impact.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Perrier France on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/perrierfr/status/1086253809725263872|access-date=2021-10-07|website=[[Twitter]]|language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, it was revealed by [[Radio France]] and [[Le Monde]] that Perrier water, as well as a third of French mineral water brands, was no longer meeting the standards for mineral water due to undergoing prohibited purification techniques.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eaux en bouteille : des pratiques trompeuses à grande échelle |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2024/01/30/eaux-en-bouteille-des-traitements-non-conformes-utilises-a-grande-echelle_6213815_3244.html |publisher=Le Monde |date=30 January 2024 |language=fr}}</ref>

==History==
The spring in [[Southern France]] from which Perrier is drawn was originally known as ''Les Bouillens'' (The Bubbles). It had been used as a [[spa]] since [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times.<ref name="nid" /> According to the company, [[Hannibal]] and his army, having passed through Spain en route to his intended conquest of Rome   during 218 BC, decided to rest for a while at Les Bouillens, from which the men took water for refreshment.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.perrier.com/fr/decouvrirperrier.html
 |publisher    = www.perrier.com
 |title        = Perrier. Une histoire unique
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150429014125/http://www.perrier.com/fr/decouvrirperrier.html#unehistoireunique
 |archive-date = 2015-04-29
 |access-date  = 2021-05-14
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref> 

Perrier was first introduced to Britain during 1863.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = https://www.perrier.com/uk/since-1863/history/perrier-says-bonjour-britain
 |publisher    = www.perrier.com
 |title        = Perrier says, Bonjour Britain
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20210514163713/https://www.perrier.com/uk/since-1863/history/perrier-says-bonjour-britain
 |archive-date = 2021-05-14
 |access-date  = 2021-05-14
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref> Local doctor Louis Perrier bought the spring in 1898 and operated a commercial spa there; he also [[bottled water|bottled]] the water for sale. He later sold the spring to [[St John Harmsworth]], a wealthy British visitor. Harmsworth was the younger brother of the newspaper magnates [[Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe|Lord Northcliffe]] and [[Harold Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere|Lord Rothermere]]. He had come to France to learn the language. Dr. Perrier showed him the spring, and he decided to buy it. He sold his share of the family newspapers to raise the money. Harmsworth closed the spa, as spas were becoming unfashionable. He renamed the spring ''Source Perrier'' and started bottling the water in distinctive green bottles. The shape was that of the [[Indian club]]s which Harmsworth used for exercise.<ref name="nid">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.perrier.com/EN/entrezbulle/rubrique10.asp
 |publisher   = Nestlé Waters
 |title       = Discover the perrier story
 |access-date  = 2008-08-18
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20020311155704/http://www.perrier.com/EN/EntrezBulle/rubrique10.asp
 |archive-date = 2002-03-11
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/11/29/8192716/index.htm
| title = Troubled waters at perrier
| publisher = [[cnn.com]] [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]
| access-date = 2006-07-28
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130119094849/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/11/29/8192716/index.htm
| archive-date = 2013-01-19
| author = Tomlinson, Richard
| date = 2004-11-29
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
[[File:Perrier advertisement in Life (magazine) on February 24, 1910.jpg|thumb|262x262px|Perrier advertisement in ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' on February 24, 1910]]
Harmsworth marketed the product in Britain at a time when Frenchness was seen as chic and aspirational to the middle classes. It was advertised as the [[Champagne]] of mineral water.{{NoteTag|There are Champagne houses by the name of [[Laurent-Perrier]] and [[Perrier-Jouët]], but there is no connection.}} Advertising in newspapers like the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' established the brand. For a time, 95% of sales were in Britain and the US.

Perrier's reputation for purity suffered a blow in 1990 when a laboratory in [[North Carolina]] in the [[United States]] found [[benzene]], a [[carcinogen]], in several bottles. Perrier stated that it was an isolated incident of a worker having made a mistake in filtering and that the spring itself was unpolluted. The incident ultimately led to the worldwide withdrawal of the product, some 160 million bottles of Perrier.<ref>{{cite news | first=George | last=James | title=Perrier Recalls Its Water in U.S. After Benzene Is Found in Bottles | date=1990-02-10 | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9C0CE7D61F39F933A25751C0A966958260 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530162812/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/10/us/perrier-recalls-its-water-in-us-after-benzene-is-found-in-bottles.html | archive-date=2012-05-30 | work=The New York Times | access-date=2007-09-19 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>White, Michael; ''A Short Course in International Marketing Blunders: Mistakes Made by Companies that Should Have Known Better, 3rd Edition''; World Trade Press 2009; chapter 1</ref>

Two years later in 1992, Perrier was bought by [[Nestlé]], one of the world's leading food and drink companies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=237 |title=Perrier and Nestlé Brands &#124; Food and Beverage Industry &#124; Crisis Management in Branding |publisher=brandchannel.com 
|access-date=2012-06-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606170250/http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=237 |archive-date=2012-06-06 }}</ref> Nestlé had to contend with competition from the [[Agnelli family]] for ownership of the business.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/25/business/nestle-wins-a-big-battle-for-perrier.html|author=Cohen, Roger|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210514192106/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/25/business/nestle-wins-a-big-battle-for-perrier.html|archive-date=14 May 2021|title=Nestle Wins A Big Battle For Perrier|date=25 March 1992|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2004, a crisis erupted when Nestlé announced a restructuring plan for Perrier. The following year, Perrier was ordered to halt restructuring due to a failure to consult adequately with staff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2005-03/artikel-1881230.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530162935/http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2005-03/1881230-nestle-waters-criticised-by-french-court-as-perrier-restructuring-suspended-020.htm |archive-date=2012-05-30 |title=Perrier Restructuring Halted |publisher=Finanznachrichten.de |date=2005-03-14 |access-date=2012-06-05 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2024, following reports that products had been contaminated with [[Waterborne disease|germs]] of possible [[Fecal–oral route|faecal origin]], an estimated 2.9 million bottles of Perrier water were destroyed before reaching the market. This was followed by an announcement in June that year that one-litre bottles of Perrier Vert would be pulled from the French market after a majority of wells used to capture the water at the Vergèze manufacturing site had their use terminated, suspended or diverted to other product lines, following a product safety inspection at the manufacturing site on 30 May conducted by government agencies.<ref name="DupinFranceinfo">{{cite news |last1=Dupin |first1=Marie |title=Après la contamination de plusieurs puits, Perrier a suspendu la production de ses bouteilles d'un litre |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/enquetes-franceinfo/enquete-franceinfo-perrier-a-stoppe-la-production-de-ses-bouteilles-d-un-litre_6602661.html |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=Franceinfo |publisher=France Télévisions |date=14 June 2024 |language=fr}}</ref><ref name="MimouniBFM">{{cite news |last1=Mimouni |first1=Sabrine |title=Pourquoi les bouteilles d'un litre de Perrier ont disparu des rayons |url=https://rmc.bfmtv.com/conso/alimentation/pourquoi-les-bouteilles-d-un-litre-de-perrier-ont-disparu-des-rayons_AN-202406140566.html |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=BFM RMC Conso |publisher=BFMTV.com |date=14 June 2024 |language=fr}}</ref>

==Bottling==
[[File:Perrier can .jpg|267x267px|thumb|250ml can of Perrier]]Perrier is available in 750 ml, 330 ml, and 200 ml glass bottles in [[Europe]], as well as in 330 ml cans. In other markets, the 250 ml can is also available. Perrier bottles all have a distinctive 'teardrop' shape and are a signature green colour. In August 2001, the company introduced a new bottling format using [[polyethylene terephthalate]] to offer Perrier in plastic, a change that was researched for 11 years<ref>{{Cite web|title=Perrier Launches New Transportable Plastic Bottle |url=https://www.wwdmag.com/perrier-launches-new-transportable-plastic-bottle|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210514191322/https://www.wwdmag.com/perrier-launches-new-transportable-plastic-bottle|archive-date=2021-05-14|access-date=2018-01-17|website=www.wwdmag.com ([[Water and Wastes Digest]])|date=8 March 2002|url-status=live}}</ref> to determine which material would best help retain both the water's flavour and its purported "50 million bubbles."

In 2013, Perrier celebrated its 150th anniversary by launching a limited edition series of bottles inspired by [[Andy Warhol]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2013-09-04|title=Perrier goes Pop Art with Andy Warhol|url=http://www.beveragedaily.com/Processing-Packaging/Perrier-goes-Pop-Art-with-Andy-Warhol-bottles|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140921191100/http://www.beveragedaily.com/Processing-Packaging/Perrier-goes-Pop-Art-with-Andy-Warhol-bottles|archive-date=2014-09-21|access-date=2014-09-21|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, Perrier released Perrier ARTXTRA limited edition packaging featuring artwork of artist duo Dabsmyla <ref>{{Cite web|date=December 11, 2019|title=Perrier to Release Limited-Edition Packaging in January|url=https://www.cspdailynews.com/beverages/perrier-release-limited-edition-packaging-january|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210514190508/https://www.cspdailynews.com/beverages/perrier-release-limited-edition-packaging-january|archive-date=2021-05-14|access-date=2020-08-22|website=CSP Daily News|language=en|url-status=live}}</ref> to help support the contemporary artist community.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-05|title=Perrier Unveils New Product Designs in Collaboration with Artist Duo DABSMYLA|url=https://www.bevnet.com/news/2019/perrier-unveils-new-product-designs-in-collaboration-with-artist-duo-dabsmyla/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210514190229/https://www.bevnet.com/news/2019/perrier-unveils-new-product-designs-in-collaboration-with-artist-duo-dabsmyla/|archive-date=2021-05-14|access-date=2020-08-22|website=BevNET.com|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Varieties==
Perrier comes in several flavours: Natural, [[Lemon]], and [[lime (fruit)|Lime]] have been on the market for many years, and in 2007, Citron Lemon-Lime and Pamplemousse Rose (Pink [[Grapefruit]]) flavours debuted in the United States. In 2015, a Green Apple flavour was launched in France as well as the US. In 2016, a Mint flavour (Saveur Menthe) was introduced in France.

Since 2002, new varieties of Perrier have been introduced in France, for example, ''Eau de Perrier'' is less carbonated than the original, and comes in a blue bottle. ''Perrier Fluo'' comes in flavours such as ginger-cherry, peppermint, orange-lychee, raspberry, and ginger-lemon.

In 2017, Perrier introduced two new flavours, Perrier Strawberry and Perrier Watermelon,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Perrier® Celebrates the Launch of New Sparkling Water Flavours, Strawberry and Watermelon, with New Campaign Featuring Artist AKACORLEONE|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/perrier-celebrates-the-launch-of-new-sparkling-water-flavours-strawberry-and-watermelon-with-new-campaign-featuring-artist-akacorleone-300484258.html|url-status=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}</ref> to their existing Lime, L’Orange, Pink Grapefruit, and Green Apple flavour.<ref>{{Citation|title=CITRUS FRUITS (Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange)Fruits (Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange)|work=Westcott's Plant Disease Handbook|pages=804–807|year=2008|place=Dordrecht|publisher=Springer Netherlands|doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-4585-1_1754|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |isbn=978-1-4020-4584-4 }}</ref>

==Distribution==
As of January 2013, Perrier was available in 140 countries, and almost 1 billion bottles are sold every year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nestle.com/investors/brand-focus/perrier-focus|title=Perrier Brand Focus|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150920055758/http://www.nestle.com/investors/brand-focus/perrier-focus|archive-date=20 September 2015|website=Nestle.com|access-date=29 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==The Perrier Awards==
From 1981 to 2005, the company sponsored an annual comedy award in the [[United Kingdom]], the Perrier Comedy Award, also known as "''The Perriers''". It was described as a means of supporting young comedic talent at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]], an arts festival touted as "the world's largest".  Initially for comedy reviews, by 1987 this included a standup comedian award. The award's sponsorship was taken over by various other advertisers starting in 2006 with commensurate renaming, and it eventually came to be called the [[Edinburgh Comedy Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|date=2006-06-14|title=Perrier ends Edinburgh comedy tie|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5078940.stm|access-date=2006-12-31}}</ref>

The Perrier Young Jazz Awards were set up by Perrier in 1998,<ref name="auto">{{Cite web
|url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/critic-s-choice-1-612744
|title=Critic's choice
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210514185935/https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/critics-choice-2463642
|archive-date=2021-05-14
|website=www.scotsman.com
|access-date=2019-05-19
|url-status=live
}}</ref> though never attained the success and recognition of their longer running comedy equivalent. The awards ran for four years, releasing an album showcasing its winners each year, before being discontinued. The last year the awards ceremony ran was 2001.

==See also==
* [[Apollinaris (water)]]
* [[Badoit]]
* [[Evian]]
* [[Farris (mineral water)|Farris]]
* [[Gerolsteiner Brunnen]]
* [[Acqua Panna]]
* [[Ramlösa]]
* [[Spa (mineral water)|Spa]]
* [[Clearly Canadian]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* {{citation 
|date=November 19, 1988 
|author=Fox, Barry |journal=[[New Scientist]] |volume=120 |issue=1639 |pages=45–48
|title=Secrets of the Source
|access-date=July 15, 2010
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fc2oTUfidvgC&q=secrets+source+fox&pg=PA45}}

==External links==
{{coord|43.7285|4.2434|display=title}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Nestlé}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Nestlé brands]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1998]]
[[Category:Mineral water]]
[[Category:Bottled water brands]]
[[Category:Carbonated water]]
[[Category:French drinks]]
[[Category:French brands]]
[[Category:Soft drinks]]
[[Category:Jazz awards]]
[[Category:Awards disestablished in 2001]]
[[Category:1898 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Youth music competitions]]