Cristalia Premium Water facts for kids
.jpg) |
|
| Private | |
| Industry | Food/Beverages |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Salvador Vassallo |
| Headquarters | Blvd Julian de Rodriguez, Coto Laurel, Ponce, Puerto Rico |
|
Area served
|
Puerto Rico and the United States |
|
Key people
|
Manuel Díez Cabral, Chairman & CEO |
| Products | Bottled water |
| Services | 787-813-1281, and 787-848-2305 |
| Revenue | 103,00,000 |
|
Operating income
|
$100 Million USD |
|
Number of employees
|
200 (2019) |
Cristalia Premium Water is a company that makes and sells bottled drinking water. It is based in Ponce, Puerto Rico, specifically in a place called Coto Laurel. Cristalia is known as the biggest company that makes and supplies bottled water in Puerto Rico.
The company has received special awards for its water. In 2006, Beverage World Magazine called Cristalia "the best bottled water in Puerto Rico." Later, in 2018, a big company named Honeywell International said Cristalia was "the top bottled water company in the Caribbean."
Contents
How Cristalia Water Started
The Founder's Idea
Cristalia Premium Water was started in 1986 by a businessman named Salvador “Chiri” Vassallo. He was known for making plastic products. He began the company on his farm in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The place where they bottle the water was still on his farm many years later.
Changes in Ownership
In 1989, Mr. Vassallo sold his bottled water business. It was bought by Pepsi Cola Puerto Rico Bottling Co., which was the local company that bottled Pepsi drinks on the island.
Later, in 1998, the local Pepsi bottler was sold to an even bigger company called PepsiAmericas. At that time, Pepsi was planning to launch its own bottled water brand, Aquafina. Because of this, PepsiAmericas decided to sell the Cristalia part of their business. A group of investors, led by David Virginia, then bought Cristalia Premium Water from PepsiAmericas.
How Cristalia Grew
Expanding Across Puerto Rico
Cristalia started its operations in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Over time, the company grew and expanded its reach. In 2009, they opened a new location in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Moving to a Bigger Space
As the company continued to grow, it needed even more space. In 2019, the Carolina location moved to a much larger facility. This new facility is in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, and it covers a big area of 45 cuerdas (which is a way to measure land).
Reaching Customers Everywhere
Cristalia Premium Water now delivers its products to almost every major store chain in Puerto Rico. This includes well-known stores like Walmart and Home Depot. This means it's easy for people all over the island to find and buy Cristalia water.
Cristalia's Facilities
Ponce Location
The company's original location in Ponce has a building that is about 20,000 square feet in size. This is where a lot of the early work and bottling took place.
Las Piedras Manufacturing Area
The facility in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, which used to be in Carolina, is much larger. It has a manufacturing area that covers 160,000 square feet. This big space allows Cristalia to produce a lot of bottled water to meet the demand.
See also
- Salvador Vassallo
- Ponce, Puerto Rico
