Farris
Farris is a Norwegian sparkling mineral-water brand bottled in Larvik and associated with the country's oldest continuously established bottled-water brand.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Farris is a Norwegian mineral-water brand produced and bottled in Larvik, Vestfold. It is widely described as Norway's oldest bottled-water brand and has long been one of the country's best-known and best-selling sparkling mineral waters. The brand developed from the nineteenth-century popularity of mineral spas, when drinking mineralized water was promoted as part of therapeutic treatments. The story began in 1875, when Dr. J. C. Holm identified a mineral-rich spring near the Farriselva river. The discovery contributed to the establishment of Larvik Bad, originally known as Laurvig Bad, in 1880. The spa attracted visitors for treatments involving mineral water and became a substantial resort, with capacity for approximately 300 guests. Its visitors included prominent cultural figures such as the Norwegian writer and Nobel laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. Early claims about the water's health effects reflected the medical and commercial culture of nineteenth-century European spas; historical advocates associated it with relief from ailments including gout, rheumatism, kidney stones and catarrh. These claims are part of the brand's history rather than a basis for modern medical positioning. Commercial bottling began on 16 August 1907, when the local Vestfold brewery began bottling the water in cooperation with Larvik Bad under the name Salus. A new factory was initiated in 1912, designed by Christian Morgenstierne and Arne Eide, and production moved to the new facility in 1915. That same year the brand was renamed Farris. The bottling site was expanded again in 1980 and remains associated with production of the brand. Farris is sourced from groundwater originating as rainfall in the Bøkeskogen area. The water passes slowly through glacial moraine deposits before reaching the mineral-bearing underground source, a process reported to take roughly 15 to 20 years. Despite the brand's name, the water does not come from nearby Lake Farris. A new spring, 21 metres deep, was identified in 1988 and became the present source described in the brand's historical account. The source has also carried royal associations: earlier springs were named Kong Haakons kilde and a related spring Maud's kilde, while the newer source is known as Kong Olav Vs kilde. Farris formerly held a Royal Warrant in Norway and continues to have an arrangement under which the product is supplied to the Norwegian royal household. The modern Farris range consists primarily of sparkling mineral water, including flavoured variants. A blue 0.33-litre glass bottle introduced in 2001 received the Norwegian Design Council's Honours Award for Design Excellence, reinforcing the brand's emphasis on recognizable Norwegian packaging and heritage. Reported annual production is approximately 40 million litres. Ringnes owns the rights to the Farris trademark and is responsible for the brand's position in the Norwegian beverage market. Historical market reporting has placed Farris in a dominant position in Norway's sparkling mineral-water category, although the exact market share and its applicable date should be treated as source-specific. The brand's present identity rests on Norwegian origin, mineral composition, long local history, sparkling refreshment and strong cultural recognition rather than on the therapeutic claims associated with its spa origins.
History
Farris emerged from Norway's nineteenth-century mineral-spa movement. In 1875, Dr. J. C. Holm discovered a mineral-rich spring near the Farriselva river in Larvik. The discovery helped inspire the creation of Larvik Bad, originally called Laurvig Bad, in 1880. The resort offered mineral-water treatments and became a prominent destination with room for approximately 300 guests. Among its visitors was Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, the Norwegian author and later Nobel laureate. At the time, mineral waters were commonly promoted as health treatments. Historical descriptions connected the Larvik water with claims concerning gout, rheumatism, kidney stones and catarrh. These claims helped establish the commercial and cultural setting for the product, although they should not be confused with contemporary medical evidence or current product regulation. The water was first commercially bottled on 16 August 1907. Vestfold brewery undertook the bottling operation in collaboration with Larvik Bad and sold the product under the name Salus. A purpose-built factory was initiated in 1912, with architectural work by Christian Morgenstierne and Arne Eide. Production moved to the new site in 1915, when the product was renamed Farris. The factory was expanded in 1980 and remains the historical center of the brand's bottling activity. The source is frequently misunderstood because of the name Farris. The mineral water does not originate in Lake Farris. Its groundwater begins as precipitation falling over the Bøkeskogen area, then filters through glacial moraine deposits. Historical accounts estimate that the water takes around 15 to 20 years to reach the spring and becomes substantially mineralized during that underground journey. In 1988, a new spring was found at a depth of 21 metres. This source, called Kong Olav Vs kilde, became the present source associated with Farris. Earlier springs had royal names as well, including Kong Haakons kilde and Maud's kilde. Royal connections have been part of the brand's history. Farris was among the small number of Norwegian brands to hold a Royal Warrant while that system operated in Norway. An agreement with the Royal Court has also provided for Farris to be supplied to the king wherever he is located. During the German occupation of Norway in the Second World War, the company was prohibited from using the name Kong Haakons kilde in marketing because the reference to the exiled King Haakon VII was regarded as politically propagandistic. During the twentieth century, Farris developed from a spa-associated mineral water into a mass-market Norwegian beverage. Contemporary products include sparkling mineral water and a range of flavoured versions. Packaging has played an important role in the brand's identity. In 2001, the launch of a blue 0.33-litre glass bottle earned the Norwegian Design Council's Honours Award for Design Excellence. Ringnes holds the rights to the Farris trademark. The brand remains active, with reported annual production of approximately 40 million litres and a strong position in Norway's sparkling mineral-water market.
- 2001
Award-winning blue glass bottle launched
[1]The new 0.33-litre blue glass bottle won the Norwegian Design Council's Honours Award for Design Excellence.
- 1988
New mineral-water spring discovered
[1]A 21-metre-deep spring was discovered and became the current source associated with Farris.
- 1915
Brand renamed Farris
[1]Production moved to a new facility and the Salus brand was renamed Farris.
- 1907
Bottling begins
[1]Vestfold brewery began bottling the water under the Salus name on 16 August.
- 1880
Larvik Bad opens
[1]Larvik Bad, originally Laurvig Bad, was established as a mineral spa where drinking mineralized water formed part of the treatments.
- 1875
Mineral spring identified near Larvik
[1]Dr. J. C. Holm discovered a mineral-rich spring near the Farriselva river, laying the foundation for the later spa and bottled-water business.
Products and positioning
A heritage Norwegian sparkling mineral-water brand positioned around Larvik provenance, natural mineralization, royal and spa associations, distinctive packaging and broad domestic recognition.
Sparkling mineral water · 1915
Farris Original
The core Farris offering is sparkling mineral water bottled in Larvik. Its identity is tied to the brand's mineralized groundwater source, Norwegian provenance and long history dating to the early twentieth century. It is sold as a general refreshment and table-water product rather than primarily as a therapeutic spa treatment.
Flavoured sparkling mineral water
Farris Flavoured
Farris also offers flavoured variants of its sparkling mineral water. These extend the brand beyond its traditional unflavoured product while retaining the carbonated-water format and Norwegian brand identity. Specific flavour names and launch dates are not established in the supplied reference material.
Packaged sparkling mineral water · 2001
Farris Blue Glass Bottle
The blue 0.33-litre glass bottle introduced in 2001 became a notable expression of Farris's visual identity. Its design was recognized by the Norwegian Design Council with an Honours Award for Design Excellence.
Brand decisions
2001
Introduced the blue 0.33-litre glass bottleProduct launchBackground
Farris sought to express its established Norwegian identity through distinctive packaging.
Action taken
The brand launched a blue glass bottle in a 0.33-litre format.
Aftermath
The bottle received the Norwegian Design Council's Honours Award for Design Excellence and became a notable part of Farris's packaging heritage.
1915
Adopted the Farris brand nameStrategyBackground
The water had been commercially bottled under the name Salus since 1907, while production was moving to a new factory.
Action taken
The brand was renamed Farris, aligning it with the local geographic and hydrological identity associated with the water.
Aftermath
Farris became the enduring name of the Norwegian mineral-water brand.
Recent events
- 2001
New blue glass bottle receives Norwegian design award[1]
Product launch
Farris introduced a blue 0.33-litre glass bottle that received the Norwegian Design Council's Honours Award for Design Excellence.
- 1915
The Salus brand is renamed Farris[1]
Other
Following the move to a new bottling facility, the mineral-water brand adopted the Farris name used today.
- 1907
Commercial bottling begins under the Salus name[1]
Other
Vestfold brewery began bottling the mineral water in cooperation with Larvik Bad, establishing the commercial bottled-water operation that later became Farris.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/farris · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled