Badoit facts for kids
 |
|
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Source | Saint-Galmier |
| Type | Still/sparkling |
| pH | 6 |
| Calcium (Ca) | 190 |
| Chloride (Cl) | 40 |
| Bicarbonate (HCO3) | 1300 |
| Fluoride (F) | 1 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 85 |
| Potassium (K) | 10 |
| Silica (SiO2) | 35 |
| Sodium (Na) | 150 |
| Sulfate (SO4) | 40 |
| TDS | 1200 |
| All concentrations in milligrams per liter (mg/L); pH without units | |
Badoit is a popular brand of sparkling mineral water from France. It comes from a special spring in a town called Saint-Galmier. This water is naturally fizzy and has been enjoyed by people for a very long time! Around 300 million bottles of Badoit are sold all over the world each year.
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
The Story of Badoit Water
Ancient Times to World War II
The spring where Badoit water comes from has been known since ancient times. People from the Roman Empire even built thermal baths there! Old Roman writings mention this naturally sparkling water. In the 1700s, local doctors often suggested drinking this water for health.
In 1778, a doctor named Marin Richard de Laprade studied the water. He said it was good for digestion and could even make people feel more cheerful.
The real story of Badoit as a brand began in 1837. A man named Auguste Badoit got permission to use the Fontfort spring in Saint-Galmier. He started putting the water into bottles in 1838.
To avoid others selling similar water, Auguste Badoit bought more springs that also carried his name in 1845.
By 1848, the company decided to focus only on selling bottled water. Auguste Badoit passed away in 1858. His wife and daughter took over the business. At this time, Badoit was selling 1.5 million bottles every year!
In 1859, a company called André bought Badoit. But Auguste Badoit's son-in-law, Benoit Cherbouquet, continued to manage the spring.
In 1870, Badoit started sealing its bottles with wax. By 1874, they added a special label to their bottles. This helped people know it was real Badoit water and stopped fake versions. In 1876, Badoit bought more springs in Saint-Galmier. These became their main source of sparkling water.
To make bottles more easily, Badoit even built its own glass factory in 1883. This helped them save money on buying and moving empty bottles.
Over the years, Badoit bought many other springs. In 1893, Badoit became a société anonyme (S.A.), which is a type of company. In 1897, the French Academy of Medicine officially recognized Badoit as important for public health. Badoit also won many awards, like gold and silver medals at big exhibitions in Rome and Barcelona in 1888.
Badoit After World War II
After World War II, Badoit water started being sold in supermarkets in 1954. This helped sales grow a lot! In 1960, Badoit joined forces with another famous water company, Évian. The two companies officially merged in 1965.
In 1970, Badoit became part of a bigger company called Boussois Souchon Neuvesel, which later became Danone. By 1973, Badoit started using plastic (PVC) bottles for wider distribution. In 1982, they even started a special award for young chefs called the "Badoit Creation Grant."
In 1999, Badoit switched to PET plastic bottles, which are more common today.
In 2004, a new, fizzier version called "Red Badoit" was launched. In 2007, glass bottles of Badoit made a comeback, especially for restaurants. By 2015, Badoit even started selling its sparkling water in cans.
Today, Badoit is a very well-known brand. They produce about 300 million bottles of water that are sold all over the world.
In 2019, Danone announced that Badoit would no longer be sold in the United Kingdom. This was because the Saint-Galmier region had been having droughts. Danone wanted to protect the natural spring for the future. They decided to bottle less water to make sure the source could recover.
What Makes Badoit Special?
Badoit water gets its fizz naturally from the earth. It's not just gas added later! People in 1856 described it as a very clear water with a fresh, tangy taste.
One interesting fact from 1856 is that the spring could produce 7,000 bottles of water every day!
The water is carefully treated to make sure it's safe and healthy to drink. It's known to contain natural minerals like magnesium. Some people even believed that the people of Saint-Galmier rarely had kidney stones because of this water!
Badoit Products
Badoit sells a few different types of sparkling water:
- Green Badoit: This is the classic, naturally sparkling water.
- Red Badoit: This version is even fizzier than the green one.
- Flavored Badoit: These waters have natural fruit and plant flavors added.
Badoit by the Numbers
Badoit produces about 1 million bottles of water every single day! The brand has sold a huge amount of water, around 210 million liters. About 22% of this water is enjoyed in places like restaurants, not just at home. In 2012, Badoit made up a big part of the sparkling water market in France.
See also
