Owner of Fiji Water in 2025: The Resnicks and Wonderful Company
You've probably spotted Fiji Water clutched by celebrities at red carpet events or stocked on every upscale store shelf. That square bottle with the exotic label screams luxury hydration. But who's behind it all?
The owner of Fiji Water is The Wonderful Company, led by billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick. They bought the brand in 2004 for a cool $50 million. As of 2025, they still own it outright, no changes there.
Fiji Water hit the U.S. market in 1996 from a remote aquifer in Fiji. It quickly became a status symbol thanks to smart marketing. Celebs like Oprah and Madonna boosted its fame, turning it into a billion-dollar name.
Curious about the full Fiji Water ownership history? This post breaks it down. You'll get the Resnicks' wild story, from humble starts to building a massive empire.
We'll cover the 2004 acquisition details, how it fits into their portfolio of pistachios, almonds, and more.
Of course, no big success story skips controversies. Think lawsuits over water rights in Fiji and label claims. We'll touch on those too, so you see the full picture.
Stick around, and you'll walk away knowing exactly who the owner of Fiji Water is today. You'll understand their business moves, the brand's rise, and what it means for that bottle in your fridge. It's more than just water; it's a tale of ambition and aqueducts.
Who is the Current Owner of Fiji Water?
The owner of Fiji Water is The Wonderful Company, a private powerhouse run by Stewart and Lynda Resnick. They launched it in 2013 after rebranding Roll Global. Based in Los Angeles, California, the company pushes healthy eats and drinks.
It pulls in over $4 billion in yearly sales across its brands. The Resnicks shine as marketing pros. They turn simple products into must-haves, which makes them a perfect match for Fiji Water's premium vibe.
Check out their acquisition story and controversies ahead for more.
Meet Stewart and Lynda Resnick
Stewart Resnick entered the world in 1936 in New Jersey. He started small, selling jeans door-to-door. That grit built a fortune.
Today, at nearly 90, he oversees vast farms and factories. His wife, Lynda, handles the magic. Born in 1943, she crafts ads that stick.
Think bold campaigns for pomegranates and pistachios.Together, they've climbed from cotton fields to billion-dollar brands.
They own huge orchards in California, pumping out nuts and citrus. Fiji Water joined in 2004, rounding out their healthy lineup. Their net worth hits about $10 billion in 2025, per Forbes.
They give back too. The Lynda and Stewart Resnick Foundation funds education and kids' health. They collect art by heavyweights like Picasso and Monet.
Lynda even wrote a book on pomegranates. These two mix business smarts with personal flair. Ever wonder how a jeans salesman ends up owning exotic water? It's their story.
The Wonderful Company's Portfolio
The Wonderful Company packs a punch beyond Fiji Water. It owns brands that scream fresh and feel-good.
Picture POM Wonderful's tart juices, loaded with antioxidants. Or Wonderful Pistachios, the crunchy snack stars of TV ads. Justin's adds nut butters and dark chocolate treats.
These picks build a healthy image. Fiji Water slots right in. Its pure, artesian source vibes with POM's wellness push and nut perks.
The company farms 185,000 acres. It grows 75% of U.S. pistachios and tons of almonds.
Here's a quick look at top brands:
- POM Wonderful: Pomegranate juice fights inflammation.
- Wonderful Pistachios: Heart-healthy bites with fun shells.
- Justin's: Organic nut butters for on-the-go energy.
- Wonderful Halos: Easy-peel mandarin oranges.
Sales soar thanks to smart farms and ads. Fiji boosts the mix, hitting $200 million yearly. It all ties into their promise: food and drink that nourish you. Grab a bottle next time; you're tasting an empire.
The History of Fiji Water Ownership Before the Resnicks
The Fiji Water owner history kicks off long before the Resnicks stepped in. It starts with a lucky vacation find and bumpy early years.
From 1996 to 2004, the brand faced export hurdles and ownership swaps. This stretch shaped its path to premium status. Let's trace the key players who laid the groundwork.
David Gilmour: The Founder Who Started It All
Picture a Canadian businessman and yacht enthusiast kicking back on a Fiji beach in 1996. David Gilmour spotted something special: a pristine artesian aquifer on Viti Levu island. The water tasted pure, untouched. He saw dollar signs in a bottle.
Gilmour launched Natural Waters of Viti Ltd. that year. He bottled the water from an ancient source deep underground. Early shipments hit the U.S. market right away.
Upscale hotels and stores snapped it up. Gilmour pushed the story of Fiji's remote purity. Square bottles and exotic labels caught eyes.
But challenges piled up fast. Exporting from Fiji proved tough. The remote location meant high shipping costs from Pacific islands.
Customs delays and logistics snags slowed growth. Sales crept along despite buzz from early fans. Gilmour's yachting past added flair; he knew adventure sold.
Still, by 1998, he sold to chase other dreams. His vision turned Fiji Water into a name, even if profits lagged.
Natrol's Short Ownership Era
Natrol Inc., a supplement maker, grabbed Fiji Water in 1998. They paid a modest sum to dive into beverages. Leaders thought it fit their health focus. Premium water paired well with vitamins. U.S. demand grew slowly, but Natrol ramped up marketing.
Trouble brewed quick. Financial woes hit Natrol hard. Debt mounted from expansion pushes. Fiji's export issues didn't help.
High freight rates and supply chain kinks ate margins. By 2002, sales stalled under $10 million yearly. Natrol faced cash crunches and investor pressure.
They shopped the brand around. Struggles peaked pre-2004 with lawsuits over water rights looming. Enter the Resnicks.
In late 2004, they bought it for $50 million through Roll Global (now Wonderful). Natrol cashed out fast after six years. The handoff marked a turnaround. Natrol shed a headache; the Resnicks saw gold.
This era tested Fiji Water's grit. It survived lean times to thrive later.
How Did the Resnicks Buy Fiji Water?
The owner of Fiji Water, The Wonderful Company under Stewart and Lynda Resnick, snapped up the brand in 2004 for $50 million. Natrol Inc. sold it after years of struggles. The Resnicks spotted a gem amid the premium bottled water boom.
Sales of fancy waters like Evian and Perrier spiked in the early 2000s. People craved that exotic, pure taste.
Stewart, with his knack for spotting undervalued assets, pushed the deal. Imagine him eyeing Fiji's aquifer story, much like he did with California orchards. They closed the purchase through Roll Global, their earlier company name.
This move kicked off massive growth. From under $10 million in sales, Fiji hit $100 million fast, then soared past a billion bottles sold yearly by the 2010s. The Resnicks kept the iconic square bottles and amped up everything else.
The Deal That Changed Everything
Stewart Resnick didn't stumble into the Fiji Water deal. He tracked Natrol's woes for months. By 2004, premium water demand exploded. U.S. consumers ditched tap for imported luxury. Evian led, but Fiji's remote source promised an edge.
Negotiations stayed quiet. Natrol wanted out quick to fix debts. The Resnicks offered $50 million cash, a steal for the potential.
Stewart saw parallels to his pistachio farms: nurture the source, sell the dream. Closing happened in late 2004, right as bottled water sales topped $10 billion nationwide.
Lynda shared their vision in interviews. "We buy brands with stories," she said. Fiji fit perfect. Its artesian water from 5,000-year-old rock tasted untouched.
They planned U.S. expansion and better shipping. Post-buy, they fixed Fiji's export snags with direct routes. Sales jumped 10x in three years.
Ever picture two farmers owning island water? That's the Resnicks. Their timing nailed the trend. Health nuts grabbed square bottles everywhere. This deal cemented them as the savvy owner of Fiji Water.
Marketing Magic Under New Ownership
Lynda Resnick took charge of Fiji's glow-up. She treated it like her POM Wonderful hits. "Think of the Fiji Mermaid," she urged her team. That 1842 hoax by P.T. Barnum blended fish and monkey to fool crowds. Lynda twisted it: make Fiji irresistible, even mythical.
Ads hit TV with mermaids swimming through turquoise waves. Square bottles gleamed under spotlights. The tagline? "Untouched by man." It stuck. Lynda pushed celeb tie-ins too.
Oprah stocked Fiji in her magazine. Stars like Ray Liotta guzzled it on sets. Entourage fans saw cases everywhere. Partnerships with Fashion Week and Oscars poured fuel.
Results poured in. Sales rocketed from $100 million to $300 million by 2010. Lynda's touch turned water into status.
One anecdote: she flew to Fiji, tasted the source, then scripted mermaid tales back home. Bold moves paid off. Celebs boosted buzz; bottles flew off shelves. Today, as Fiji Water owner, the
Resnicks keep that magic alive. Grab one next event. Feel the pull?
The Resnicks' Business Empire and Fiji Water's Place in It
The Resnicks turned The Wonderful Company into a food and drink giant. As the owner of Fiji Water, they anchor their portfolio with pure hydration that pairs with nuts and juices.
Think pistachios for snacks, pomegranates for antioxidants, and Fiji for clean refreshment. Synergies shine through: all push health without saying it outright.
Fiji Water balances the lineup, sold in over 60 countries. Their scale impresses, with farms spanning 185,000 acres and billions in sales.
Yet they keep it simple. Fiji grounds the empire, from viral marketing stunts to green pushes ahead.
From Pistachios to Premium Water
Stewart Resnick started with nuts in the 1970s. He bought almond and pistachio orchards in California.
Wonderful Pistachios launched in the 2000s, with shells that crack open to reveal green gems. Lynda's ads made them fun: "Get crackin'!" People grabbed handfuls for heart health and protein.
POM Wonderful followed in 2002. They squeezed pomegranates into tart juice packed with polyphenols.
Studies back its fight against inflammation. Lynda bottled the red elixir and marketed it as nature's elixir. Sales hit $200 million quick.
Fiji Water joined in 2004. It ties right in. Nuts offer crunch and fats, pomegranates bring bold flavor, and Fiji delivers zero-calorie purity from an ancient aquifer. All scream wellness. Customers mix them: pistachios with POM shots, chased by Fiji sips.
The Resnicks grew from dusty fields to this trio. Each brand stands alone but boosts the rest. Health runs deep.
Pistachios lower cholesterol, pomegranates aid hearts, Fiji hydrates clean. Their evolution shows smarts. They spot trends like premium snacks and waters, then own them.
Fiji Water's Growth Under Wonderful
Fiji Water exploded under the Resnicks. They bought it for $50 million when sales hovered near $10 million. By 2010, revenue topped $300 million.
Today, it pulls $200 million yearly, with a billion bottles shipped since 2004. Global reach spans 60 countries, from U.S. gyms to European hotels.
Key moves drove it. The Fiji Water Girl campaign went viral in 2007. Carriers in white dresses toted bottles at Oscars and VMAs. Celebs posed with them; social media buzzed. It screamed luxury without a word.
Innovations keep it fresh. Fiji Silver launched in 2023: sleek aluminum cans that cut plastic use by 30%.
Lighter shipping means lower costs and greener footprints. They recycle too, aiming for 100% by 2030.
Sustainability ramps up. The Resnicks fund Fiji rainwater projects and aquifer protection. They plant mangroves and cut emissions.
Future plans include more reusable options. Sales stats prove it works. U.S. alone accounts for 70% of volume, but Asia grows fast.
Ever seen a silver can at a bar? That's their push. As owner of Fiji Water, Wonderful scales smart, blending growth with care.
Controversies Around the Owner of Fiji Water
The Resnicks, as the owner of Fiji Water through The Wonderful Company, face pushback on several fronts.
Critics point to shipping emissions, water rights, and local effects in Fiji. The company counters with investments and court wins. These issues spark debate, even as sales climb.
Environmental and Shipping Concerns
Fiji Water ships bottles from a remote Pacific island to the U.S., which racks up a big carbon footprint. Planes carry much of the load, burning fuel for long hauls.
One study pegs emissions at 900 grams of CO2 per liter shipped, far above local bottled water. Critics call it wasteful when tap options exist nearby.
The company fights back with green steps. They switched some production to Fiji Silver cans in 2023, which cut plastic by 30% and eased shipping weight.
Wonderful pledges carbon-neutral goals by 2030. They fund mangrove planting in Fiji to offset emissions and protect aquifers. Rainwater projects capture local runoff for communities, easing aquifer strain.
Still, lawsuits hit over label claims like "carbon negative." A 2023 settlement admitted overstatements. Shipments continue, but initiatives show effort to shrink the footprint.
Impacts on Fiji Locals
Fiji Water pumps jobs into the islands, employing over 500 locals at the plant and supporting 3,000 indirect roles. Royalties flow to the government: $4.7 million in 2022 alone from exports. The company pays aquifer rights fees too.
Critics argue royalties stay low compared to profits. Water rights claims surfaced early; locals feared depletion, but studies show the aquifer recharges fast.
Labor issues drew fire: a 2010 strike over pay and conditions. Export tax fights peaked in 2022. Fiji imposed a levy on water exports; Wonderful challenged it and won at the Supreme Court, ruling water isn't taxable like goods.
The Resnicks respond with investments. They built schools, clinics, and roads in Viti Levu. A $20 million commitment aids community water access.
Jobs provide steady income in a tourism-heavy economy. Tensions persist, but data shows net gains for many locals.
Conclusion
The owner of Fiji Water stays The Wonderful Company, led by Stewart and Lynda Resnick.
They grabbed the brand in 2004 for $50 million after its rocky start with David Gilmour and Natrol. Smart marketing and celeb buzz turned it into a premium powerhouse that fits their nut and juice empire.
Sales hit new highs, even with debates over shipping emissions and Fiji impacts. The Resnicks push back through jobs, schools, and green steps like Fiji Silver cans. They protect the aquifer and cut plastic use.
Fiji Water thrives in 2025, with billions of bottles shipped worldwide. Expect more sustainability wins and fresh products ahead.
What do you think of the Resnicks' story? Share your thoughts in the comments. Subscribe for updates on their brands and hydration trends.
Next time you spot that square bottle, toast to ambition that quenches thirst. The empire keeps growing.
