What it does: Manufactures bottled mineral water and carbonated beverages in India.
Best known for: The company dominates the packaged drinking water industry in India with a 65 per cent market share.
Staff stats: More than 1,700 people in the country.
The good bits: Qualified candidates earn more than the national average. As of 2019, the median salary in India is INR 16,725 per month.
The not so good bits: The company imposes an age limit for certain job vacancies at its own discretion. Some entry-level jobs also require at least two years of work experience.
Hiring grads with top marks in: Accounting and Finance, Engineering, Human Resources, Marketing and Sales.
Bisleri International was launched in Mumbai in 1965 when it was known as Bisleri (India) Ltd. Italian businessman Felice Bisleri owned the company before selling it to Parle in 1969. In the 1970s, Bisleri introduced several flavoured beverages in glass bottles. The company currently uses PET containers after switching from PVC non-returnable bottles.
By 2003, Bisleri implemented an expansion plan that started in Europe. Three years later, the company set itself apart from competitors by redesigning its brand packaging to the green from blue. Among its other familiar campaigns include the ‘Kiss to Drink’ advertisement that was launched in 2012. Bisleri promoted its 500ml bottles and encouraged consumers to buy their own bottles.
The brand has become a household name, such that Bisleri has been synonymous with bottled water. The company’s quality assurance and control policies involve 114 rigorous tests to ensure product safety. Bisleri also launched a vertical manufacturing plant for mineral water in 2018, which was the first of its kind in the world.
Most applicants apply online while others are recruited through campus job fairs or staffing agencies. Bisleri shortlists candidates through a written test or job interview. The hiring process usually takes a few days to two weeks. Those who apply through campus job fairs are hired within one day.
There may be three rounds of interviews for management trainees. You may be asked how you would design a one-litre Bisleri bottle. Aspiring sales executive should be ready to answer questions about increasing sales in a given area.
A marketing student can begin their career at Bisleri through an internship programme lasting from two to six months. The company offers a certificate of completion and cash incentives for excellent performance during your stay, aside from a daily travel allowance of INR 200. You can also be absorbed as a field resource employee based on your performance.
If you have a degree in mechanical engineering, then you could be a good fit as a production officer at Bisleri. The role requires at least two years of experience in several duties related to a workman, foreman or technician.
Finance executives in the company must also have at least two years of experience in accounting and finance-related work. Candidates with a Bachelor or Master of Commerce may qualify for the role, although Bisleri prefers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance.
An MBA becomes necessary for sales managers in the company, as well as 12 to 15 years of experience including a senior role during the last five years in the fast-moving consumer goods sector or retail industry. You’ll also need an MBA and five to ten years of experience to become an assistant manager.
The average salary at Bisleri is INR 358,000. Production officers earn between INR 275,000 and INR 350,000 per year. Annual salaries for assistant managers range from INR 600,000 to INR 900,000. Sales managers earn between INR 1 million and INR 2 million per year.
The company provides education assistance, free transportation, health insurance, job and soft skills training, and team outings.
The work schedule at Bisleri can be flexible or strict depending on your role. Some employees work between 9 and 12 hours daily from five to six days a week. You might be overwhelmed with the variety of assigned responsibilities and tasks despite being new to the job. Overtime or late-night hours at the office are other possibilities.
Long-time employees believe that learning about the food and beverage industry, a welcoming atmosphere for new ideas and friendly colleagues are some of their reasons for staying with Bisleri.
Bisleri’s top two biggest competitors are Tata Global Beverages and Narang Group.
Bisleri engages in plastic recycling, rainwater harvesting and ozone therapy for its corporate social responsibility strategies. The ‘Bottles for Change’ initiative has converted used plastic bottles into clothing fabrics, bags and other products.
In 2001, the company embarked on its first Check Dam project in Kutch, Gujarat, under Project Nayi Ummeed. Bisleri has harvested 16 billion litres of rainwater since then. The company’s charitable arm has also supported Ozone Forum of India’s medical training programmes since 2001.
A study listed Bisleri among the top global water brands with products that are contaminated with microplastics. Researchers from the State University of New York at Fredonia in New York conducted the study, which collected samples from 11 brands sold in India and eight other countries.
The study recorded ‘a concentration of 5,000 microplastic particles’ from a Bisleri product sample, although samples from other global brands had concentration levels reaching up to 10,000 plastic particles.
A job with an above-average salary awaits successful candidates at Bisleri. However, fresh graduates have a better chance of advancing within the company because of an age restriction for some roles. The company may also require extensive field travel that causes an irregular schedule, especially if you are a plastic waste management executive. Still, a stint with Bisleri will look good on your CV when you move to a different company because of its strong brand presence in India.