View source for Powerade

{{short description|Sports drink brand}}
{{For|the hockey arena|Powerade Centre}}
{{Infobox Beverage
|name         = Powerade
|image        = Powerade logo.png
|image_size   = 250px
|type         = [[Sports drink]]
|manufacturer = [[The Coca-Cola Company]]
|origin       = [[United States]]
|introduced   = {{start date and age|1988}}
|website      = {{URL|http://www.us.powerade.com/|powerade.com}}
}}

'''Powerade''' is a [[sports drink]] created in 1988 and distributed by [[the Coca-Cola Company]]. Its primary competitor is [[Gatorade]], which is owned by [[PepsiCo]] since 2001.

==History==
Powerade was created by [[the Coca-Cola Company]] and first released in 1988. 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-19 |title=Powerade History (New Research) - UpThirst |url=https://www.upthirst.com/powerade-history-new-research/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2000, Powerade became the official sports drink of the [[Olympic Games|Olympics]], alongside [[Aquarius (sports drink)|Aquarius]], another sports drink made by [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]]. It is a rival of another sports drink, [[Gatorade]].<ref name="cocacola españa">[http://www.conocepepsecola.com/default.cfm Coca-Cola English&nbsp;– Productos] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
In July 2001, the Coca-Cola Company launched a new formula for Powerade including vitamins B<sub>3</sub>, B<sub>6</sub> and B<sub>12</sub>, which play a role in energy metabolism.<ref name="foodaq">{{cite web|url=http://www.foodaq.com/html/Non-Alcoholic-Drinks/36447.html|title=Powerade vs. soda? - FoodAQ|work=foodaq.com|access-date=6 April 2015}}</ref>

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]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} The redesign came to North America in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-07-31 |title=Bottle sports a gripping redesign |url=https://www.packworld.com/leaders-new/materials/labels/article/13339956/bottle-sports-a-gripping-redesign |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Packaging World |language=en-us}}</ref>

In 2002, the Coca-Cola Company introduced Powerade Option to the [[United States]], in response to Gatorade's popular [[Propel Fitness Water|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 [[Propel Water|Fitness Water]] category behind Propel's 42%.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

In 2007, Powerade Zero was released, a sports drink with [[electrolytes]], which contains no sugar, no calories and no carbohydrates.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://avenueform.com/best-sports-drinks/|title=Best Sports Drinks|author=Kristin Goett|date=June 9, 2016|access-date=June 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811063724/http://avenueform.com/best-sports-drinks/|archive-date=August 11, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="USA Today article">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-05-06-powerade-zero_N.htm|title=PowerAde's zero-calorie sports drink takes on Gatorade&nbsp;— USATODAY.com|work=usatoday.com|access-date=6 April 2015}}</ref>

In 2007, Coca-Cola acquired [[Fuze Beverage]], a leading energy drink company.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 February 2007 |title=Coca-Cola to Buy Fuze Beverage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/02/business/02drink.html |access-date=10 September 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

In June 2009, the Coca-Cola Company bought [[Glacéau]], owner of brands such as [[Vitaminwater|VitaminWater]] and SmartWater, for $4.1 billion, a price tag that signaled the company's seriousness in pursuing growth of non-carbonated beverages.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-05-25 |title=Coca-Cola to buy Glaceau for $4.1 billion |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-coke-glaceau-idUSN2544359220070525 |access-date=2022-05-31}}</ref> Since then, the company has also given its [[Energy Brands|Glacéau]] management team control of its Powerade sports drink brand.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

==Competition==
Powerade's main competitor 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.<ref>{{Citation |last=Galaz |first=Gustavo A. |title=Nutrition and Enhanced Sports Performance (Second Edition), Chapter 19 - An Overview on the History of Sports Nutrition Beverages |date=2019-01-01 |work=Nutrition and Enhanced Sports Performance (Second Edition) |pages=231–237 |editor-last=Bagchi |editor-first=Debasis |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128139226000199 |access-date=2025-06-16 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-813922-6 |editor2-last=Nair |editor2-first=Sreejayan |editor3-last=Sen |editor3-first=Chandan K.}}</ref> It now holds a commanding share of the market. As of 2011, Gatorade held a 70% market share compared to Powerade's 28.5%.<ref name="AdAge Article">{{cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/news/watch-spot-2-powerade-launches-underdog-campaign/233082/|title=Watch the Spot: No. 2 Powerade Launches 'Underdog' Campaign - News - Advertising Age|author=Shareen Pathak.|date=2 March 2012|work=adage.com|access-date=6 April 2015}}</ref>

[[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.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Assessing the Consequences of a Channel Switch|jstor = 40057143|journal = Marketing Science|date = 2008-05-01|pages = 398–416|volume = 27|issue = 3|first1 = Xinlei (Jack)|last1 = Chen|first2 = George|last2 = John|first3 = Om|last3 = Narasimhan|doi=10.1287/mksc.1070.0311}}</ref> 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|date=January 2024}} 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==

*Powerade is the official sports drink of the [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian]] [[rugby league]] team and the [[Australia national rugby union team|Australian union]] team, the [[Australian Football League]], [[PGA Tour]], [[NASCAR]] (2003–present), [[NHRA]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=Dec 3, 2001 |title=Powerade Becomes Official Sponsor Of NHRA Beginning In 2002 |work=Autoweek}}</ref> [[NCAA]], the [[U.S. Olympic Team]] (excluding U.S.A. Basketball and U.S. Soccer, which have deals with Gatorade) and many other national Olympic federations, [[The Football League]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/CommercialPartnersDetail/0,,10794,00.html|title=COMMERCIAL PARTNERS - The Football League - Commercial - Commercial Partners<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=28 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518010138/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/CommercialPartnersDetail/0%2C%2C10794%2C00.html|archive-date=18 May 2008}}</ref> and many other soccer leagues and teams around the world, [[FIFA]], such as [[Rangers F.C]], [[Club Universidad de Chile]], [[Club Bolívar]], [[Associação Atlética Ponte Preta]], [[Racing Club de Avellaneda]], [[Independiente de Avellaneda]], [[O'Higgins F.C.|O'Higgins]], [[Universitario de Sucre]], [[Club Atlético River Plate]], [[Club Cerro Porteño]] or [[Club Atlético Peñarol]] and the [[IOC]] in no small part due to their overall contracts with [[Coca-Cola]]. Various other competitions also have sponsorship deals with the brand, although Gatorade historically has secured the majority of sponsorships. The drink is also Sponsor of the Honduran Soccer Team [[C.D. Olimpia]].
*Powerade is the Official Hydration Partner of [[Melbourne Storm]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2014/11/05/powerade_renews_sponsorship_of_storm_for_2015.html|title=Powerade renews sponsorship of Storm for 2015|first=NRL Digital|last=Media|date=5 November 2014|access-date=28 October 2017}}</ref>
*The brand is also the exclusive beverage sponsor of the Hoops in the Sun basketball summer league, based at [[Orchard Beach, New York|Orchard Beach]] in the [[Bronx]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. It is the only summer basketball league to be sponsored by the brand.

==Ingredients==

=== United States ===
{{Infobox nutritional value
|serving_size=20 fl oz (591 mL)
|kcal=130
|fat=0
|satfat=0
|transfat=
|cholesterol=0
|sodium_mg=400
|potassium_mg=130
|carbs=34
|fiber=0
|protein=0
|vitA_ug=0
|vitC_mg=18
|calcium_mg=0
|iron_mg=0
|sugars=34
}}

Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/powerade/facts.asp|title=Powerade|work=bevnet.com|access-date=6 April 2015}}</ref>
* [[Water]]
* [[High fructose corn syrup]]
* [[Salt]]
* [[Citric acid]]
* [[Potassium citrate]]
* [[Phenylalanine]]
* [[Sucrose acetoisobutyrate]]
* [[Sodium citrate]]
* [[Malic acid]]
* [[Potassium phosphate]]
* [[Vitamin B6|Vitamin B<sub>6</sub>]]
* [[Vitamin B2|Vitamin B<sub>2</sub>]] 
* [[Sugar]]

=== Germany ===
{{Infobox nutritional value
|serving_size=500 mL
|kcal=90
|fat=0
|satfat=0
|transfat=
|cholesterol=0
|sodium_mg=650
|carbs=20.5
|fiber=0
|protein=0
|sugars=20.5
}}

Source (ingredients for ''Mountain Blast'' flavor):<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coca-cola.com/de/de/brands/powerade|title=Powerade|work=bevnet.com|access-date=11 April 2025}}</ref>
* [[Water]]
* [[Glucose]]
* [[Citric acid]]
* [[Sodium citrate]]s and [[potassium citrate]]s
* [[Fructose]]
* [[E414]] and [[E445]] (stabilizers)
* [[Aspartame]] and [[Acesulfam-K]] (sweeteners)
* [[Aroma]]
* [[E133]] (coloring)
* [[Vitamin B6|Vitamin B<sub>6</sub>]]

==Criticism==
Like its main competitor, Gatorade, Powerade is made with sugar, syrups, and salt.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/22/business/22soda.html?ex=1186372800&en=6331daea5be3b848&ei=5070|title=Critics Say Soda Policy for Schools Lacks Teeth|author=Melanie Warner|work=New York Times|date=August 22, 2005}}</ref><ref name="health">{{Cite web|last=health|first=shefinds|date=2017-12-13|title=Why You Should Never Drink Powerade, Like, Ever|url=https://www.shefinds.com/collections/never-drink-powerade-sports-drinks-bad-for-you/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=SheFinds|language=en-US}}</ref>
One Powerade [[ad campaign]] stated that Powerade's ION4 is superior to Gatorade, due to it being the only complete sports drink on the market. The claim, made by Coca-Cola, the parent owner of Powerade, was contested by PepsiCo, the parent owner of Gatorade, as deceptive and false.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sitroom/date/2006-03-21/segment/02| work=CNN|title=CNN.com}}</ref>A Manhattan federal court judge ruled in favor of Powerade in August 2009, staing that SVC had "not shown either a likelihood of irreparable injury or a likelihood of success on the merits".  {{Cite web|date=2009-08-06|title=Judge Rules for Coca-Cola in Pepsi Drink Dispute|url=https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2009/08/06/102822.htm#|website=Claims Journal|language=en-US}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Coca-Cola brands}}
{{Sports Drinks}}

[[Category:Coca-Cola brands]]
[[Category:Non-alcoholic drinks]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1988]]
[[Category:Food and drink introduced in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Sports drinks]]
[[Category:Soft drinks]]