Emergen-C

Product Type:Functional: Energy Shot; Container: 2.5 oz shot
BevNET Review: The Berry “Alert!” variety of Emergen-C Shot is the energy and focus blend. From a flavor perspective, this product has a rather tart fruit flavor (enhanced with blueberry juice powder and raspberry juice powder) that’s been sweetened with 6g of sugar. The resulting non-carbonated mix is very sweet. Functionally, the product has Emergen-C’s standard 1000mg of vitamin C, plus it contains a bevy of vitamins and minerals as well as Emergen-C’'s “Energy and Focus Complex.” This adds D-Ribose, green tea extract (the source of caffeine), taurine, L-theanine, cayenne pepper, and a host of other ingredients that are often found in energy drinks. Functionally, it seems to have less caffeine kick than some of the more potent shots that are coming to the market, but it has a sense of credibility that is lacking from some of the aggressive looking products in the category. In that sense, this product’'s use of the Emergen-C brand is likely to make it have appeal with people who aren'’t currently consumers of energy shots, especially if the product manages to get itself retailed somewhere other than the front counter of c-stores. Packaging is a 2.5 oz. hot fill bottle with a nice-looking sleeve wrap label. On the other hand, calling the product “Alert!” isn’t as impactful as simply calling it “Energy”, as that’s a word that consumers are clearly seeking. Overall, a flavorful and functional product, but we think that emphasizing the energy benefit a bit more would help this sell.

Product Type:Functional: Energy Shot; Container: 2.5 oz shot
BevNET Review: The Citrus flavor of Emergen-C’s shot line is the “Immune+ System Booster,” which means that in addition to 1000mg of vitamin C the shot has tweaked levels of the vitamin and nutrient mix (presumably to aid your immune system). In terms of flavor, this is a really sweet tasting shot, which is the result of a rather hefty hit of sugar and stevia. Still, it’'s better tasting than many other shots that we'’ve sampled, even down to the aftertaste, which has a mild vitamin note to the finish. On the packaging front, this one happens to have the easiest to read packaging of the three, thanks to the use of a color scheme that has plenty of contrast between the background and text color. Plus, we like the “Immune+” text moreso than the “Alert!” and “1000mg” text that’'s used in the same position on the other two flavors. Overall, our favorite of the bunch.

Product Type:Functional: Energy Shot; Container: 2.5 oz shot
BevNET Review: Emergen-C’s Orange Flavor features 1000mg of vitamin C per shot, making it live up to its namesake brand. What it also features is a rather potent, but nonetheless enjoyable, orange flavor that'’s sweetened with sugar and stevia; it contains 30 calories per 2.5 oz. shot. Aside from being loaded with 1000mg of vitamin C, the product contains a variety of other vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, calcium, chromium, zinc, and potassium. Given Emergen-C’s existing business in the drink mix business, it feels credible and convenient, especially in this portable and compact form. Packaging is pretty busy, with a crammed front panel that even goes so far as to put text on top of other text. Still, since the Emergen-C brand is already well known, they can probably get away with this and still be quite successful. And that’s exactly what we think it will be, – especially compared to their other ready-to-drink effort. Overall, a well positioned and executed product.