02 Jun US: Campbell’s expands drink line with new energy drinks, shots

Campbell Soup is expanding its V8 franchise by entering the energy drink category with two new products: V8 V-Fusion+ Energy drinks and the V8 Energy Shot.

According to the company, the new beverages provide healthier alternatives to most energy drinks on the market, and are made with ingredients that people know and trust. Each beverage provides one combined serving of vegetables and fruit as well as a natural energy boost from green tea extract.

V8 V-Fusion+ Energy drinks are made with a blend of vegetable and fruit juices plus natural green tea. Each single-serving can contains 80 milligrams of caffeine, comparable to the leading energy drink on the market. The drinks are 50 calories, provide an excellent source of B vitamins and do not contain added sugar.

V8 Energy Shots are a naturally powered shot of 100% vegetable and fruit juices combined with green tea extract, which provides natural caffeine comparable to an 8-ounce cup of the leading premium coffee. The convenient 2.5-ounce shots are claimed as the only energy shot to offer a blend of nine vegetable and fruit juices, the company said. Each V8 Energy Shot also provides a source of vitamins including antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, and certain B vitamins, such as B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12, which support metabolism.

“We are branching into the energy drink market with the kinds of nutritious beverages that V8 is known to deliver,” said Dale Clemiss, vice president of V8 Beverages. “People can now feel good about drinking an energy drink or shot with a combined serving of vegetables and fruit and powered naturally by green tea.”

V8 V-Fusion+ Energy drinks are available in 2 400 Wal-Mart stores beginning this month. The drinks are available in 8-ounce slim cans in two flavours — Pomegranate/Blueberry and Peach/Mango, at a price of $3.98 for a six-pack.