bot enhanced water

Product Type:Water: Enhanced; Container: 16.9 oz PET
BevNET Review: Grape flavored bot is a very drinkable product, with a light level of sweetness and clean fruit flavor. Unlike other "enhanced water" products, grape bot actually drinks like a water, with the added flavor complementing rather than overpowering. Functionally, the product has antioxidants, B vitamins, and electrolytes, although the levels appear to be lower than what you’d find in a sports drink. Still, for having 50 calories per bottle, the flavor alone is likely to have appeal with the niche of consumers who are seeking low calorie offerings that don’t use artificial sweeteners or stevia. However, that's not something that they market on the label, which seems like a missed opportunity. The rest of the package design is an adaptation of their former kids' oriented design, complete with a cute looking creature next to the bot logo. However, we question the approach of using the same brand that was once on a kids' beverage on a product that's now in the enhanced water category. Plus, they've removed the white background, which makes the product a little harder to read. And last, but not least, there's the lack of color in the liquid, which we think will limit the product's appeal (in terms of expected refreshment factor) against competing products. Overall, it's a good product, but we think that it's still in need of further refinement to complete the move to a more adult oriented category.Reviewed on: 4/9/2010

Product Type:Water: Enhanced; Container: 16.9 oz PET
BevNET Review: The Lemon flavor of bot is, like the other flavors, a beverage that's enhanced with antioxidants, B vitamins, and electrolytes. The product is sweetened with sugar, but only very lightly, which keeps the calories at about 50 per bottle (12g of sugar). The lemon flavoring is quite muted and is best described as having a "splash" of flavor. Bot has no coloring, which is likely to make it have appeal with the health conscious crowd, but it fails to whet the appetite the way something with coloring might. Packaging is a stock 16.9 oz. bottle and a clear label around the bottle?s midsection. Removing the white backdrop that was on the original seems like a step backwards, especially since the product is now harder to read from afar. Similarly, there's the brand?s change of focus, moving from a product targeting kids to the crowded enhanced water category -- we can?t help but feel as though bot's branding is a bit out of place, with the cartoonish theme still feeling like something that's going to appeal to kids rather than adults. Overall, with a new category comes new challenges - and we think that bot needs to make a few changes (a touch of color, bring back the white label, and tweak the pitch) if it wishes to maximize marketability for the brand.Reviewed on: 4/12/2010

Product Type:Water: Enhanced; Container: 16.9 oz PET
BevNET Review: In terms of flavor, bot's Orange flavor is quite enjoyable, assuming you like "enhanced water" products that first and foremost taste like water. The orange flavoring, with the aid of sugar, is really more of a "splash" of flavor than the primary taste of the product. Despite the lack of coloring, we expected something with a stronger orange flavor than it actually has. That's likely the result of the prominence of the word "Orange" on the label. Describing it as "with a splash of Orange" would more accurately describe what's inside the bottle. As far as the enhancements go, they've chosen to add antioxidants, B vitamins, and electrolytes to the mix. Obviously, it's difficult to quantify and impossible to feel the effects of antioxidants, so making this the primary benefit doesn't seem like the best way to go. Promoting the electrolytes would likely cast a bigger net, especially since the function of "hydration" is a key part of why someone would consume this product. However, looking at the label, the product doesn't quantify the electrolytes well either, especially with no sodium or potassium on the nutrition facts panel (two things that consumers will look for). And, as we stated with the other flavors, we're not convinced of the product's near straight translation of their kids brand to this new, more adult oriented product. It's hard to understand who the target consumer for this product really is as speaks in adult terms (e.g. antioxidants) but has a theme that's likely to skew towards a younger demographic. Overall, we like the taste, but the exterior of the product doesn't really line up with what's inside the bottle.Reviewed on: 4/9/2010