I predict that the Verve Energy Drink will be popular because it's so different from other healthy energy drinks. It is really a dietary supplement with the added energy, rather than being an energy drink with added nutrients.

These days, energy drinks have taken the market by a storm, demonstrated by the beverage aisles in supermarkets or convenience stores, where we can see the large variety of drinks formulated especially to increase energy levels. Consumers can choose from highly caffeinated beverages, enhanced fruit juices, and drinks with natural ingredients like ginseng, ginkgo and yerba mate.

In the United States, sales of energy drinks in 2005, were $3.5 billion, according to the Beverage Digest. Red Bull was introduced in the late '90s, and energy beverage competitors followed along closely. However, according to a report in the Harvard Business Review, competitors are now using different marketing strategies. The smart marketers don't duplicate, they go for their competitors weakest points. And, the weakest points were the high sugar content, and the drinks' "non-healthiness" (that's my new word?)

Energy drinks are continuing to be popular because all consumers need energy to do all the things they want to do in one day. Convenience seems to be the most important factor in their choice, because of hectic lifestyles. However, consumers are also now looking at the ingredients on the can, and want to drink something healthy.

I don't think there are any other energy drinks which have a full spectrum of vitamins, plant sourced minerals, mangosteen and it's pericarp, aloe vera, green tea and guarana. This particular energy drink costs a little more, but it's still much less than what you would pay for all those ingredients separately. For more information about this particular energy drink, go to Verve Energy Drink


* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.