Powerade is a sports drink created and sold by the Coca-Cola Company. Its primary competitor is Gatorade, owned by PepsiCo.

Powerade
TypeSports drink
ManufacturerThe Coca-Cola Company
Country of origin United States
Introduced1988; 36 years ago (1988)
Websitepowerade.com

History edit

Powerade was created by the Coca-Cola Company and first released in 1987. The company developed the soft drink as an alternative to sports drinks, which were becoming more and more popular. Powerade was originally marketed to athletes, who needed a drink that would keep them hydrated during strenuous workouts.[1]

In 2000, Powerade became the official sports drink of the Olympics, alongside Aquarius, another sports drink made by Coca-Cola. It is a rival of another sports drink, Gatorade.[2] In July 2001, the Coca-Cola Company launched a new formula for Powerade including vitamins B3, B6 and B12, which play a role in energy metabolism.[3]

In 2007 Powerade acquired Fuze Beverage, a leading energy drink company.

In July 2002, the Coca-Cola Company started in Toogoolawah by updating the bottles of the standard Powerade (previous logo styling) to a new sport-grip bottle.

In 2002, the Coca-Cola Company introduced Powerade Option to the United States, in response to Gatorade's popular Propel. Option is a "low Calorie sports drink" that is colorless and sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium, to provide sugar-conscious consumers with another rehydration choice. Powerade Option took 36% of the Fitness Water category behind Propel's 42%.

In 2007, Powerade Zero was released, a sports drink with electrolytes, which contains no sugar, no calories and no carbohydrates.[4][5]

In June 2009, the Coca-Cola Company bought Glacéau, owner of brands such as VitaminWater and SmartWater, for $4.1 billion, a price tag that signaled the company's seriousness in pursuing growth of non-carbonated beverages.[6] Since then, the company has also given its Glacéau management team control of its Powerade sports drink brand.[citation needed]

Competition edit

Powerade's main competition is Gatorade marketed by the Quaker Oats Company, a division of PepsiCo. Gatorade, which was branded at the University of Florida in 1965, was the first commercially available sports drink in the United States. It now holds a commanding share of the market. As of 2011, Gatorade held a 70% market share to Powerade's 28.5%.[7]

All Sport is a competitor marketed by All Sport, Inc. and distributed by Jel Sert. All Sport was marketed by PepsiCo until 2001, when Gatorade's maker, the Quaker Oats Company was acquired by PepsiCo. All Sport was sold to the Monarch Beverage Company soon after. Powerade and All Sport have each been distributed through their own direct store deliver channels.[8] It was subsequently purchased by Gary Smith, the Chairman & CEO of All Sport, Inc. of Austin, Texas.

Outside the United States, the Lucozade energy drink (manufactured since 1927 by the pharmaceutical company now known as GlaxoSmithKline) competes with Powerade.[citation needed] Lucozade's formulation differs in that it uses primarily glucose and contains caffeine. The more direct competitor to Powerade and Gatorade is Lucozade Sport.

Sponsorships edit

Ingredients edit

Powerade
Nutritional value per 20 fl oz (591 mL)
Energy130 kcal (540 kJ)
19
Sugars34
Dietary fiber0
0
Saturated0
0
VitaminsQuantity
%DV
Vitamin A equiv.
0%
0 μg
Vitamin C
0%
0 mg
MineralsQuantity
%DV
Calcium
0%
0 mg
Iron
0%
0 mg
Potassium
1%
24 mg
Sodium
7%
100 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Cholesterol0
Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults.[11]

United States edit

Source:[12]

Note: Standard 8-ounce servings meet the FDA definition of 'low sodium' and have less sodium than a glass of chocolate milk.[13]

Criticism edit

Like its main competitor, Gatorade, Powerade is made with sugar, syrups and salt.[14][15] One Powerade ad campaign stated that Powerade's ION4 is superior to Gatorade, as the claims made by Pepsi, the parent owner of Gatorade were apparently deceptive and false.[16] The courts ruled in favor of Powerade as of August 2009.

Being high in sugar Powerade may contribute to diabetes and weight gain if combined with other sugar sources.[15]

Powerade is also made out of GMOs in certain countries that are authorized to do so.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ "Powerade History (New Research) - UpThirst". 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  2. ^ Coca-Cola English – Productos[dead link]
  3. ^ "Powerade vs. soda? - FoodAQ". foodaq.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  4. ^ Kristin Goett (June 9, 2016). "Best Sports Drinks". Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  5. ^ "PowerAde's zero-calorie sports drink takes on Gatorade — USATODAY.com". usatoday.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Coca-Cola to buy Glaceau for $4.1 billion". Reuters. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  7. ^ Shareen Pathak. (2 March 2012). "Watch the Spot: No. 2 Powerade Launches 'Underdog' Campaign - News - Advertising Age". adage.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  8. ^ Chen, Xinlei (Jack); John, George; Narasimhan, Om (2008-05-01). "Assessing the Consequences of a Channel Switch". Marketing Science. 27 (3): 398–416. doi:10.1287/mksc.1070.0311. JSTOR 40057143.
  9. ^ "COMMERCIAL PARTNERS - The Football League - Commercial - Commercial Partners". Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  10. ^ Media, NRL Digital (5 November 2014). "Powerade renews sponsorship of Storm for 2015". Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  11. ^ United States Department of Agriculture; Agricultural Research Service (2019). "FoodData Central". Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  12. ^ "Powerade". bevnet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Sports Drinks: Winners and Losers". ABC News.
  14. ^ Melanie Warner (August 22, 2005). "Critics Say Soda Policy for Schools Lacks Teeth". New York Times.
  15. ^ a b health, shefinds (2017-12-13). "Why You Should Never Drink Powerade, Like, Ever". SheFinds. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  16. ^ "CNN.com". CNN.
  17. ^ "Mountain Berry Blast". Powerade - Mountain Berry Blast. Retrieved 2021-02-21.

External links edit