Brita water filter dispenser

Brita is a globally recognized leader in water filtration, but its brand ownership is uniquely split by geography. Originally founded in 1966 by Heinz Hankammer in Germany, the company began as a family-run operation dedicated to improving tap water quality.

Today, the brand operates under two distinct corporate structures. In Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania (including Australia), the brand is owned and operated by the original German company, Brita SE (formerly Brita GmbH), which remains a privately held family business headquartered in Taunusstein, Germany. Conversely, in North and South America, the brand rights were permanently acquired by The Clorox Company in 2000.

Manufacturing for the global market (including Australia) primarily takes place at Brita SE's facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and China. While the products share the same name and core mission, the underlying corporate management, research pipelines, and distribution networks are entirely separate between the American and non-American markets.