V (drink)

V
Type Energy drink
Manufacturer Frucor Beverages Ltd
Country of origin New Zealand
Introduced 1997
Colour Caramel coloring
Variants
  • V Energy Green
  • V Energy Sugarfree
  • V Energy Double Hit
  • V Energy Black
  • V Energy Blue
  • V Energy Berry
  • V Energy Graphite
  • V Energy Kaboom
  • V Energy Isokinetic
  • V Energy Pocket Rocket
  • V Iced Coffee
  • V Gnarly
  • V Carnival
Related products Mother, Monster, Rockstar, Red Bull, Lift Plus, Relentless.
Website www.v-energydrink.com

V is an energy drink brand produced by Frucor Beverages Ltd since August 1997. In 2003, in supermarkets and service stations, V had a market share over 60% in New Zealand[1] and 53% in Australia,[2] making it the most popular brand of energy drink in both countries. V is made in New Zealand and Australia by Frucor, and is available in six different varieties, with each type sold in containers ranging from 250mL cans, 350mL glass bottles and limited edition 300 mL aluminium bottles. V has also recently released 500mL cans, 500ml PET plastic bottles and larger 710mL cans. V is exported to the United Kingdom in cans and bottles. In 2007, Frucor also started to export its energy drink to the Netherlands. V was introduced to Maldives market in 2008, and is also sold in Argentina, Papua New Guinea and in Spain as of 2011. The original and Blue flavors have been released to the South Korean market in 2012. V was also sold in South Africa as early as 2001.

Key ingredients

Variants

V Energy

Released onto the New Zealand market in 1997 and Australia a short time later, V was something particularly different in the cold drinks market, with a distinct bottle and can it served as a contrast against other caffeinated cold drinks that were on the market in 1997.

V Energy Sugarfree

Released soon after the original flavor, shares the same flavour but without sugar.

V Energy Black

This was released in 2004 in both Australia and New Zealand. Instead of the artificial "fruit" flavour of other varieties, it has a coffee flavour.

When released in Australia, it was marketed towards students and it was advertised as having a less acidic flavour. The campaign claimed that a tired body tends to get an upset stomach more easily, and, while Black V has twice the taurine of the other flavours, it was supposedly much gentler on the stomach. The taglines for the advertising campaign were Taste the smoothness and Release the night monkey. As of July 2013 Black V has been discontinued due to insufficient demand.

V Energy Berry

Released in New Zealand first, in 2005, Berry V had an artificial berry flavour, berry juices and lemon juice added to the traditional V flavour.

Berry V was released in Australia in 2007, giving Australia the same range of V drinks as New Zealand.

As of January 2013, Berry V seems to have been discontinued.

V Energy Lemon

Lemon V was released in June 2008, with a yellow and gold label. This was discontinued around October 2009, however is occasionally sold in stores.

V Isokinetic

Non carbonated sports drink in a 600ml plastic bottle. Has been discontinued.

V Energy Blue

Released October 2011, bright blue in colour with a very distinct flavour (some people relate to passion fruit and peach).[3]

V Energy Orange

Stylized as NOTorange, Orange V is a flavor of V which is only available for a limited amount of time in selected markets. It is blood-orange flavored, and was released in September and October 2012 in New Zealand and March 2013 in Australia. It is available in 250mL cans, 350mL glass bottles, and 500mL cans.

V Energy Purple Plasma

Limited edition, released in Australia in late 2012 as tie-in to the Halo 4 video game and comes with Halo characters drawn onto the side of the can. Will be also released in New Zealand with the Halo 4 tie-in in November 2012. Comes in 250mL can, 500ml can, and also available in 4 packs of 500ml. The taste would be approximately a variation of Passiona or Pasito soft drinks, sort of a grape-passionfruit-V flavour.

V Energy Graphite

On 5 June 2013, it was announced on the official New Zealand V Facebook Page that a new flavour of V would be released in New Zealand on July 1. The flavour consists of guarana and maca, on 14 June 2013, the design of the new V was revealed - also on the official New Zealand V Facebook Page. It is also known that V Graphite will be released in Australia, but with Wolverine featured instead of the regular graphite design to that of New Zealand.

V 0% Sugar

Released in Australia in late 2013, Citrus Fusion, Tropical Rush and Blood Orange Burst, in 355 mL cans.

V Kaboom

In late February 2014 V NZ announced limited edition V Kaboom.

V Gnarly

In early October 2014 V NZ announced limited edition V Gnarly.[4]

V Carnival

In March 2015 V NZ announced limited edition V Carnival.

V Iced Coffee

V Iced Coffee, sold in 600mL plastic bottles has been relaunched in NZ, with 720mg of Guarana per bottle, under the logo "The cousin once removed".

V Reaktor

Released in March 2015 - A Limited Edition Flavour to promote the Avengers: Age of Ultron movie. Contains a strong 'Sour' taste imitating young grapes or berries.

Sizes

V Energy Double Hit

Released in October 2008, V Double Hit is a 500 mL aluminium can. Available in original, sugar free, blue and black.

V energy shots

Samples were sent to Vrepublic members with a warning that they shouldn't be consumed by those under 16 years of age. However, Frucor sent the energy shot samples without checking the ages of all the recipients. V apologised for the error with a phone call and a letter. V energy shots also known as "Pocket Rockets" on the labelling have been sent out to sellers as of October 1. The energy content of the pocket rocket is claimed to be similar to that of the big V can.

The V energy shots have an extremely bitter taste that, according to the V Pocket Rocket website, is to stop young children from drinking them.[5]

Nutritional information (per 100 mL) :
V Sugar free V Black V Berry V Lemon V Blue V Orange V
Caffeine 31 mg 31 mg 31 mg 31 mg 31 mg 31 mg 31 mg
Riboflavin (B2) 0.49 mg 0.49 mg 0.49 mg 0.49 mg 0.49 mg 0.49 mg 0.49 mg
Niacin (B3) 2.9 mg 2.9 mg 2.9 mg 2.9 mg 2.9 mg 2.9 mg 2.9 mg
Vitamin B6 0.46 mg 0.46 mg 0.46 mg 0.46 mg 0.46 mg 0.46 mg 0.46 mg
Vitamin B12 0.57 µg 0.57 µg 0.57 µg 0.57 µg 0.57 µg 0.57 µg 0.57 µg
Pantothenic acid 0.7 mg 0.7 mg 0.7 mg 0.7 mg 0.7 mg 0.7 mg 0.7 mg
Taurine 200 mg 200 mg 400 mg 200 mg 200 mg 200 mg 200 mg
Glucuronolactone 25 mg 25 mg 25 mg 25 mg 25 mg 25 mg 25 mg
Inositol 20 mg 20 mg 20 mg none / unstated 20 mg none / unstated none / unstated

Advertising

The drink sponsored I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in the UK for its second series in 2003.[6]

Competitors

V's major competitors, in Australia, are Mother, Monster, Rockstar, Wicked and Red Bull, and in New Zealand are Red Bull, Lift Plus, Monster, Demon Energy and Mother (previously sold as Relentless).

Notes

  1. ↑ "V New Zealand Website". AC Neilson Research. Frucor. 13 April 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  2. ↑ "V Australia Website". AC Neilson Research. Frucor. 13 April 2003. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  3. ↑ http://www.frucor.co.nz/index.php/news/stories/blue_v_has_arrived
  4. ↑ "Meet V Gnarly, Your New V". V Energy. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  5. ↑ http://www.vpocketrocket.com.au/
  6. ↑ http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/178152/

External links