You’ve probably seen those iconic square bottles of Fiji Water in hotels, at the airport, or on celebrity social feeds. They promise “pure water from a remote island,” and the name itself sounds like paradise in a bottle. But behind that tropical branding is a story that travels from the South Pacific to boardrooms in Los Angeles.
So the real question isn’t just who owns Fiji Water, it’s how did water from a tiny island become one of the world’s most famous bottled-water brands?
From Island Springs to Global Bottles
Fiji Water started with a simple, almost romantic idea. Back in 1996, Canadian businessman David Harrison Gilmour discovered a pristine underground water source — an artesian aquifer — on Viti Levu, the largest island of Fiji.
Gilmour launched the company as Natural Waters of Viti Ltd., bottling what he called “Earth’s finest water” straight from the source. The brand’s unique square bottle and lush island branding helped it stand out in a crowded bottled water market.
For nearly a decade, this island-source story was the core of the Fiji Water identity. Then came a turning point.
Enter the Resnicks: The People Behind the Brand
In 2004, Fiji Water changed hands. It was bought by The Wonderful Company, a privately held American company based in Los Angeles.
The Wonderful Company isn’t a household name like Coca-Cola or Nestlé, but it’s a powerful private empire controlled by billionaire couple Stewart and Lynda Resnick. The couple acquired Fiji Water through their family business — previously known as Roll Global — and have run it ever since.
Under the Resnicks’ ownership, Fiji Water went from a premium niche product to the No. 1 imported premium water in the United States, stocked in luxury hotels, business lounges, and upscale grocery aisles around the world.
The Wonderful Company: Bigger Than Just Water
The brand’s ownership doesn’t stop with Fiji Water. The Wonderful Company’s portfolio includes well-known consumer products such as:
- POM Wonderful pomegranate juice
- Wonderful Pistachios and almonds
- Wonderful Halos mandarins
- Teleflora floral delivery service
All of these sit under the same private holding company controlled by the Resnicks.
This means that while Fiji Water’s marketing leans into a tropical island vibe, the decisions about production, pricing, distribution, and growth are made at corporate headquarters far from the South Pacific.
The Ownership Structure
Here’s how ownership stacks up today:
- The brand Fiji Water is wholly owned by The Wonderful Company LLC.
- The Wonderful Company is a private holding company controlled by Stewart and Lynda Resnick.
- The Resnicks are the ultimate decision-makers, though daily operations are handled by Fiji Water’s executive team.
Because The Wonderful Company is private and not traded on public markets, detailed financials aren’t published the way they are for public corporations.
Not Just Bottled Water — A Brand With a Bigger Story
Fiji Water’s story raises interesting questions beyond ownership. Its marketing plays heavily on the idea of untouched, pure water from a remote island. But the people who own it today are American entrepreneurs focused on building a global consumer brand.
At the same time, the company has engaged in corporate social programs like the FIJI Water Foundation, which supports clean water access in rural Fijian communities.
The contrast between the bottle’s imagery and the business reality is part of what makes the Fiji Water ownership story fascinating.
So, Who Owns Fiji Water?
In the simplest terms:
Fiji Water is owned by The Wonderful Company, a private American conglomerate controlled by billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick.
The water still comes from an artesian aquifer on Fiji’s Viti Levu, but the brand’s ownership, strategy, and global reach are shaped by a corporate group based in Southern California.
That’s the full journey from island spring to global brand in a bottle.
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