:V (drink)
{{short description|Energy drink brand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox beverage
| name = V Energy
| image = New Zealand 500mL can of Original V.jpg
| caption = 500ml can of "V" brand energy drink
| website = https://v.co.nz/
https://v-energy.com.au/
| manufacturer = Frucor Suntory
| origin = New Zealand
| type = Energy drink
| introduced = 1997
}}
V is an energy drink brand produced by Frucor Suntory, a New Zealand–based beverage manufacturer. It was launched in Methven, New Zealand in August 1997 and in Australia in 1999. The product's success, a market share over 60% in New Zealand{{cite web|url=http://www.v-energydrink.com/default,64.v|title=V Energy Drink|date=14 October 2008|access-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014082056/http://www.v-energydrink.com/default,64.v|archive-date=14 October 2008}}{{needs update|date=January 2024}} and 42% in Australia,{{cite web |url=http://www.v-energydrink.com/default,153.v |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619010101/http://www.v-energydrink.com/default%2C153.v|title=V Australia Website |access-date=1 December 2008 |work=AC Neilson Research |publisher=Frucor |date=13 April 2003|url-status=dead |archive-date = 19 June 2008}} makes it the most popular brand of energy drink in both countries. V is considered a local rival to Red Bull.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/frucor-deal-finally-can-40272|title=Frucor deal finally in the can|last=Swann|first=Allan|date=2009-02-03|access-date=2013-11-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010155456/https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/frucor-deal-finally-can-40272|archive-date=2017-10-10|publisher=nbr.co.nz}} Frucor says V energy drinks are not intended for children, and they are not recommended for pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine.{{cite web|url=https://www.v-energy.com.au/faqs/|access-date=2021-11-24|title=V Energy drink FAQ page}}
Variants
V Energy (also referred to as "Green V"{{Cite web|url=https://v-energy.com.au/products/v-green/|title=V Green|website=V Energy|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-11-13}}) is the original flavour of V released in 1997.
Blue (also referred to as "Blue V") is a pineapple and passion fruit flavour introduced in October 2011{{cite web |website=www.frucor.co.au |title=Wayback Machine has not archived that URL. |url=http://www.frucor.co.au/index.php/news/stories/blue_v_has_arrived |access-date=2023-04-13}}{{dead link|date=July 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.v-energy-drink.com/v-blue/ |title=V-Blue - V Energy Drink |access-date=2024-01-21}} which V challenges the drinker to try and work out the flavour.{{Cite web|url=https://v-energy.com.au/products/v-blue/|title=V Blue|website=V Energy|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-11-13}} V Sugar Free Blue and V Zero Sugar Blue (as of August 2023) are also currently available.
V Grape Burst (also referred to as "Purple V") is a grape fruit flavour introduced in 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://v-energy-drink.com/products/v-grape|title=V-Purple - V Grape Burst|website=V Energy|language=en-AU|access-date=2025-05-01}}
V Black was a flavour variant that was discontinued in 2013. V Black was re-released in 2018 for a limited time in New Zealand over a 6-week period.{{Cite web |last=Lucio |first=Remedios |date=2018-11-05 |title=V Energy re-releases limited edition V Black |url=https://insidefmcg.com.au/2018/11/06/v-energy-re-releases-limited-edition-v-black/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=Inside FMCG |language=en-AU}} It was described as having a strong coffee flavour.{{Cite news |title=Could the Black V make a comeback? Bidding war ensues for potential 'last ever' can on Trade Me |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/130432459/could-the-black-v-make-a-comeback-bidding-war-ensues-for-potential-last-ever-can-on-trade-me |last=Mcilraith |first=Brianna |date=2022-11-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220222307/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/130432459/could-the-black-v-make-a-comeback-bidding-war-ensues-for-potential-last-ever-can-on-trade-me |archive-date=20 Dec 2022 |access-date=2024-01-24 |url-status=live |work=stuff.co.nz}} V Black was rereleased in June 2024.{{Cite news |title=V Energy brings back fan-favourite V Black |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2024/06/v-energy-brings-back-fan-favourite-v-black.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624024419/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2024/06/v-energy-brings-back-fan-favourite-v-black.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 June 2024 |date=2024-06-24 |access-date=2024-06-24 |work=Newshub}}
V Pure is a flavour alternative released in 2016 coming from six Natural Ingredients; apple juice, sparkling water, lemon juice, Guarana seed extract, caffeine from green coffee beans and natural V flavour.{{Cite press release|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1606/S00505/v-energy-releases-a-drink-made-from-natural-ingredients.htm|title=V Energy releases a drink made from natural ingredients |website=Scoop News |date=17 June 2016 |access-date=2019-11-13}}
V added a second Sugar Free flavour in 2018, themed after summer and the tropics. This product replaced V Zero.
V Tortured Orchard Raspberry Lemonade was introduced in 2018.{{cite web|title=Marketing At Retail - V Energy – Tortured Orchard |url=https://marketingatretail.awardsplatform.com/gallery/MPqKdgwN/XbBKqOgJ?search=f351dc2ef8df8900-11|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231102153932/https://marketingatretail.awardsplatform.com/gallery/MPqKdgwN/XbBKqOgJ?search=f351dc2ef8df8900-11|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 November 2023}}{{cite web|title=Frucor Suntory and Phantom Labs torture street posters for new V campaign|url=https://stoppress.co.nz/news/frucor-torture-street-posters-new-v-campaign/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231102160035/https://stoppress.co.nz/news/frucor-torture-street-posters-new-v-campaign/|archive-date=2 November 2023|url-status=|website=StopPress|date=5 June 2018|access-date=5 June 2018}} In 2020, this flavour was brought back as a permanent edition and rebranded to 'V Raspberry Lemonade'.
V Tropical Tang was released in May 2023 and is described as "guava, pineapple and berries". However, the new addition is currently only available in 500ml cans.{{cite web | url=https://www.c-store.com.au/v-energy-unveils-first-full-sugar-launch-since-2020/ | title=V Energy unveils first full sugar launch since 2020 | date=9 May 2023 }}
V Energy Shots
The energy shots (described as "Pocket Rockets") are claimed to be as effective as the larger cans but have an extremely bitter taste that, according to the V Pocket Rocket website, is to stop young children from drinking them.{{cite web |url=http://www.vpocketrocket.com.au/ |title=A Fast V Energy Blast |access-date=2012-03-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425215417/http://www.vpocketrocket.com.au/ |archive-date=2012-04-25 }}
V Iced Drinks
In 2018, V released two Iced Coffee and two Iced Chocolate drinks to the New Zealand and Australian Market.{{Cite web|url=https://v-energy.com.au/products/v-iced-chocolate/|title=V Iced Chocolate|website=V Energy|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-11-13}}
Advertisement and promotions
The drink sponsored I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in the UK for its second series in 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/178152/|title=Media Insight builds V brand in £1m I'm A Celebrity promotion|website=Campaignlive.co.uk|access-date=11 October 2017}}
In April 2018, V together with donut store chain Donut King, released in Australia a V flavoured donut. The donut was sold through Donut King stores nationwide and contained a gooey Guarana filling and covered in green sugar crystals.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kiis1065.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/donut-king-now-make-v-energy-flavoured-donuts|title=Donut King Now Make V Energy Flavoured Donuts|publisher=KIIS 106.5|first=Olivia|last=Esveld|date=2018-04-04|access-date=2018-04-14|archive-date=2018-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414050721/http://www.kiis1065.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/donut-king-now-make-v-energy-flavoured-donuts|url-status=dead}}
V sponsored Back of the Y Masterpiece Television in the mid-2000s.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://v-energy.com.au/ Australia production of V]
- [https://www.v.co.nz/ New Zealand production of V]
{{Energy drinks}}{{Brands of New Zealand}}{{DEFAULTSORT:V (Drink)}}