Evian

Evian is a French brand of mineral water from several sources near Évian-les-Bains, on the south shore of Lake Geneva.

Today, Evian is owned by Danone Group, a French multinational company. Evian first entered the U.S. market in 1978 where it was served in fine restaurants, lounges, and hotels in New York City. In addition to mineral water, Danone Group uses the Evian brand for a line of organic skin care products as well as a resort.

History

 * 1789: During a walk, the Marquis de Lessert drank water from the Sainte Catherine source on the property of Mr Cachat. The marquis, who was allegedly suffering from kidney and liver problems, drank regularly of the water while he walked, and claimed that his health improved. Mr Cachat began selling the water.


 * 1824: The first baths appeared. The name of the spring was changed from Sainte Catherine to the Cachat Source.


 * 1826: The duke of Savoie gave his permission to start bottling water from the spring.


 * 1829: The first Société des Eaux Minérales was created.


 * 1878: The French Government of Health reauthorized the bottling of Cachat water after positive judgment from the Medicine academy.


 * 1908: Evian water began to be sold in glass bottles manufactured by the glass factory Souchon-Neuvesel which today is a part of Owens-Illinois.


 * 1969: The first PVC bottle was launched.


 * 1970: The BSN Group, which eventually became the Danone Group, took 100% control of Evian brand.


 * 1995: Evian switched to collapsible PET bottles.


 * 2001: Launch of the Evian organic cosmetics branch.

Popular culture
In popular culture, Evian is portrayed as a high-end and pricey bottle of water. Its exclusivity is at times revered, and other times ridiculed. The ridicule of high price is sometimes associated with the fact that Evian reversed spells 'naive'.

In the movie Monster-in-Law, starring Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez, Fonda (playing the role of Viola Fields) says to Lopez (playing the role of Charlie), "Oh, honey, I can't drink tap. Could you get me my Evian please?  With ice?"

In the movie Superstar, featuring Molly Shannon and Will Ferrell, Elaine Hendrix's character is named Evian. She is ridiculed because of her name by Mary Katharine Gallagher (Shannon), the protagonist of the film.

In the song "Life Aint What It Seems" by the Kottonmouth Kings, Saint Vicious rapps the line "Evian in my bong so my water don't spoil.", obviously because the water is so pure.

Evian is mentioned in the movie Pleasantville when Reese Witherspoon's character sheepishly tries to order an Evian and a salad with low-cal dressing in a 1950s diner.