Energy drink users are choosing products that can deliver the specific benefits they want. This makes ingredient selection particularly important for manufacturers of energy drinks and other functional beverages.
Energy Drink Ingredients and Premixes
The most popular energy drink ingredients for the European market are caffeine, taurine, B-vitamins, amino acids, and Alpine water.
Glanbia Nutritionals offers a number of bioactive ingredients perfect for energy drinks and other energy-focused functional beverages, such as our AminoBlast BCAAs & EAAs and CreaBev Creatine Monhydrate.
Using a custom premix (a single blend of the desired active ingredients at target levels) is a common approach to making and energy drink. This allows manufacturers to simplify ordering, warehousing, and production processes.
A custom premix is developed with a custom blend of ingredients—including a range of micronutrients, amino acids, and botanicals—that can address additional consumer needs and help differentiate a product in the market.
Consumer Demand for Energizing Ingredients Fuels Growth Opportunities
While energy drinks are associated with certain benefits, the use of ingredients that provide these benefits need not be limited to energy drinks. For example, functional teas and coffees are also associated with energizing benefits, and as RTD beverages, they also deliver on hydration. In addition, the clean label positioning of these products due to their natural caffeine content gives them an edge over traditional energy drinks in appealing to health-conscious consumers.
The intermittent fasting trend has also expanded opportunities in energizing beverages. The ideal fasting beverage to meet the needs of these consumers is low or non-caloric, offers hydration, replenishes electrolytes, and provides energy. Functional waters can provide similar benefits and have the potential to go head-to-head with energy drinks.
