In 2016 BRITA GmbH celebrated 50 years of the company. The first BRITA products were made by hand in founder Heinz Hankammer's garden. In the years to follow, he transformed the company into an innovative leader in drinking water optimisation. BRITA's history began in 1966 when Heinz Hankammer had the great idea of optimising mains water in a smart and convenient way. Since then, the company, headquartered in Taunusstein, Germany, has evolved from a one-man show to an international business with 1,827 employees. Currently, BRITA GmbH operates in 66 countries across five continents providing high quality water filters. Now with a new look and redesigned website, the company is ready to take on the future.

The Story Began

In 1966 Mr Hankammer tried the find the way to optimise mains water in a convenient and simple method. In 1967, the AquaDeMat, a filter that demineralised water for car batteries at petrol stations, went into serial production for the first time. However, Heinz Hankammer wondered why ion exchange resin was not used to demineralise water at petrol stations. Therefore, members of his family made the first products under the pear trees in their garden.

Heinz had the great idea to create a mobile filter for domestic use. Early on in the 1970s, the company launched the first water filter jug for home use. An event that marked the beginning of BRITA’s story of success. Initially, the entire family pitched in to help grow the company. In the years to follow, Heinz Hankammer advanced BRITA - named after his daughter - into an innovation leader for drinking water optimisation.

In the early ’80s, the company kicked off its international sales activities. In doing so, BRITA laid the groundwork for expansion, and for the success it has today.

Handing Over the Torch

After 33 years of leading the company, founder Heinz Hankammer became chairman of the newly established supervisory board. In 1999, Markus Hankammer took over as sole CEO of the BRITA Group. By establishing a new recycling programme, BRITA set new sustainability standards.

In addition, the company made international headlines when Mr Hankammer became the first German to receive the "International Entrepreneur of the Year" award from the American Housewares Club of New England.

In that period of time, the company launched a new range of water filter jugs, including Edition, Glass, Fjord, Atlantis and Aluna. BRITA's research team also invented the electronic cartridge exchange indicator, BRITA Memo.

An Era of Innovation

In the 2000s, BRITA celebrated its 40th birthday and launched several innovative consumer water filter jugs. Another highlight: INTENZA, a cartridge for BRITA Integrated Solutions (BIS) applications. The company is also expanded its range with an innovative new filter cartridge that directly integrates into the kitchen sink.

BRITA’s product portfolio

Whatever a person's water wishes and needs, BRITA offers the ideal solution. From water filter jugs and taps to enhance the home to professional-grade filtration solutions and more. Currently, the company provides products for home; BRITA integrated solutions; Commercial water filter systems and cartridges; and pipe-connected water dispensers.

Products for home includes: 

BRITA Integrated Solutions are consumer products with integrated BRITA filtration:

The water filters are integrated into a variety of small and large home appliances from the partners. The company also offer integrated filters for kitchen sinks, providing optimised BRITA water directly from the tap. 

Commercial water filter systems and cartridges (BRITA Professional):

Pipe-connected water dispensers are intended for (BRITA Professional):

In addition, BRITA is a globally active group of companies with 28 national & international subsidiaries and branches. It runs production sites in Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy and China (for Asian market only). 84% of its turnover is generated outside the German market.