Energy shot
Encyclopedia
Energy shots are a specialized kind of energy drink
. Whereas most energy drinks are generally sold in cans or bottles, energy shots are usually sold in 50ml bottles. Energy shots normally contain nearly the same total amount of caffeine
, vitamin
s or other functional ingredients as their larger siblings, and therefore they may be considered concentrated forms of energy drinks. The one major exception to this is the vitamin-energy shot. Currently, few exist on the market.
, ginseng
or ginkgo biloba, taurine, maltodextrin
, inositol
, carnitine
, creatine
or glucuronolactone
. Most energy shots contain sugar; however, many brands also offer artificially-sweetened 'diet' versions. The central ingredient in most energy shots is caffeine, the same stimulant found in coffee
or tea
. Vitamin based energy shots contain numerous additional vitamins and supplements for sustenance, sustainment, and overall health. RuckPack, one of the few vitamin energy shots, includes electrolytes like Magnesium, Calcium, and Potassium. It also has additional vitamins not traditionally associated with energy shots, like vitamins D3 and C. Other key ingredients include Saint John's Wort, and Ginkgo Biloba. This particular brand even focuses on joint and muscle wellness with the addition of MSM, L-Glutamine, and Chondroitin. Vitamin energy shots will differ in their choice of included vitamins.
The average 50ml energy shot has about 80 mg of caffeine. This is approximately equivalent to a cup of coffee
.
launched an energy shot.
RuckPack is the newest variation in the energy shot market. RuckPack was invented and marketed by US Marines and Special Operations Forces during a deployment to Afghanistan. The service members had been taking nutritional supplements to the field with because they identified a nutritional void in their MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). This additional load of vitamins was cumbersome and lacked a level of convenience American forces needed to sustain combat missions on the go. They decided to make a vitamin that would contain the most essential ingredients for war-fighters and elite athletes alike to continue their rigorous activities. They ultimately decided to incorporate this vitamin into an energy shot format, such that one 2oz energy shot in the morning would provide them with the energy they needed to get going, and the proper supplements necessary for a positive mental attitude, strong joints and muscles, increased concentration and alertness, immune boosts, electrolytes, and a host of other benefits. The product's official launch date was on Veteran's Day. Ruckpack's launch date, name, and green packaging are all consistent with it's military roots. The company is still 80% military owned and gives a considerable amount of profits to military charities.
Blastoff Double NRG Shot Powered by Mother Nature, is the first energy shot aiming at consumers that speciffically want a natural energy shot. Blastoff contains an innovative synergistic formula based on natural ingredients and natural flavors, specially developed for hard working people, students, sports people, longdistance drivers and others that need a steady and longer energy supply for body and brain. Blastoff improves endurance, physical and cognitive performance, mental focus and concentration, vigilance, and self-confidence during (sports)performance. Blastoff has a rebellious taste with a bite, and gives you positive energy, up to 5 hours and more.
Although originally marketed in the US, energy shots are becoming more popular in other parts of the world, like Europe, Asia and Australia.
owning 78% of the market share and NVE Pharmaceuticals’ Stacker 2: 6 Hour Power with 7%.
While many of the products in the energy shot category are marketed by companies who also market energy drinks, crossover success hasn't come easy for even the larger brands such as Monster and Rockstar. In addition, Red Bull, the category leader of the energy drink category, launched an energy shot of its own in April 2009.
The top 14 energy shots in the convenience channel for 52 weeks ending April 19, 2009 were:
Other products:
Energy drink
Energy drinks are beverages whose producers advertise that they "boost energy." These advertisements usually do not emphasize energy derived from the sugar and caffeine they contain but rather increased energy release due to a variety of stimulants and vitamins....
. Whereas most energy drinks are generally sold in cans or bottles, energy shots are usually sold in 50ml bottles. Energy shots normally contain nearly the same total amount of caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
, vitamin
Vitamin
A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. In other words, an organic chemical compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on...
s or other functional ingredients as their larger siblings, and therefore they may be considered concentrated forms of energy drinks. The one major exception to this is the vitamin-energy shot. Currently, few exist on the market.
Ingredients
Similar to energy drinks, energy shots contain caffeine, vitamins, and herbs such as guaranaGuarana
Guarana , Paullinia cupana, syn. P. crysan, P. sorbilis) is a climbing plant in the maple family, Sapindaceae, native to the Amazon basin and especially common in Brazil. Guarana features large leaves and clusters of flowers, and is best known for its fruit, which is about the size of a coffee bean...
, ginseng
Ginseng
Ginseng is any one of eleven species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae....
or ginkgo biloba, taurine, maltodextrin
Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide that is used as a food additive. It is produced from starch by partial hydrolysis and is usually found as a creamy-white hygroscopic spraydried powder. Maltodextrin is easily digestible, being absorbed as rapidly as glucose, and might be either moderately sweet or...
, inositol
Inositol
Inositol or cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol is a chemical compound with formula 6126 or 6, a sixfold alcohol of cyclohexane. It exists in nine possible stereoisomers, of which the most prominent form, widely occurring in nature, is cis-1,2,3,5-trans-4,6-cyclohexanehexol, or myo-inositol...
, carnitine
Carnitine
Carnitine is a quaternary ammonium compound biosynthesized from the amino acids lysine and methionine. In living cells, it is required for the transport of fatty acids from the cytosol into the mitochondria during the breakdown of lipids for the generation of metabolic energy. It is widely...
, creatine
Creatine
Creatine is a nitrogenous organic acid that occurs naturally in vertebrates and helps to supply energy to all cells in the body, primarily muscle. This is achieved by increasing the formation of Adenosine triphosphate...
or glucuronolactone
Glucuronolactone
Glucuronolactone is a naturally occurring chemical that is an important structural component of nearly all connective tissues. Glucuronolactone is also found in many plant gums.- Physical and chemical properties :...
. Most energy shots contain sugar; however, many brands also offer artificially-sweetened 'diet' versions. The central ingredient in most energy shots is caffeine, the same stimulant found in coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
or tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
. Vitamin based energy shots contain numerous additional vitamins and supplements for sustenance, sustainment, and overall health. RuckPack, one of the few vitamin energy shots, includes electrolytes like Magnesium, Calcium, and Potassium. It also has additional vitamins not traditionally associated with energy shots, like vitamins D3 and C. Other key ingredients include Saint John's Wort, and Ginkgo Biloba. This particular brand even focuses on joint and muscle wellness with the addition of MSM, L-Glutamine, and Chondroitin. Vitamin energy shots will differ in their choice of included vitamins.
The average 50ml energy shot has about 80 mg of caffeine. This is approximately equivalent to a cup of coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
.
Effects
The functional ingredients of energy shots are comparable to those of energy drinks, therefore their effects on improvement in mental and cognitive performances and subjective alertness are in line with the effects of traditional energy drinks. Vitamin based energy shots such as the above addressed will have variable benefits dependent on the additional ingredients. Chondroitin, for instance, can strengthen joints, L-Glutamine can assist in muscle development, and Vitamins C, D3, and St John's Wort offer additional mental and physical wellness.History
The idea of energy shots started decades ago in the Far East, notably in Japan, where small “tonics” became very popular among consumers, highly concentrated and without carbonation. With the introduction of energy drinks as of the late ‘80s, the efficacy of these energy shots started to travel the world as a new product format. In 2004 the first suppliers, like 5-Hour Energy, Nitro2Go, and ZipFizz, took up the idea and launched these energy shots in the US, opening up a sub-segment in the energy drink market. In 2008, there were over 25 brands offering energy shots in the US alone. In 2009, the famous energy drink producer Red BullRed Bull
Red Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
launched an energy shot.
RuckPack is the newest variation in the energy shot market. RuckPack was invented and marketed by US Marines and Special Operations Forces during a deployment to Afghanistan. The service members had been taking nutritional supplements to the field with because they identified a nutritional void in their MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). This additional load of vitamins was cumbersome and lacked a level of convenience American forces needed to sustain combat missions on the go. They decided to make a vitamin that would contain the most essential ingredients for war-fighters and elite athletes alike to continue their rigorous activities. They ultimately decided to incorporate this vitamin into an energy shot format, such that one 2oz energy shot in the morning would provide them with the energy they needed to get going, and the proper supplements necessary for a positive mental attitude, strong joints and muscles, increased concentration and alertness, immune boosts, electrolytes, and a host of other benefits. The product's official launch date was on Veteran's Day. Ruckpack's launch date, name, and green packaging are all consistent with it's military roots. The company is still 80% military owned and gives a considerable amount of profits to military charities.
Blastoff Double NRG Shot Powered by Mother Nature, is the first energy shot aiming at consumers that speciffically want a natural energy shot. Blastoff contains an innovative synergistic formula based on natural ingredients and natural flavors, specially developed for hard working people, students, sports people, longdistance drivers and others that need a steady and longer energy supply for body and brain. Blastoff improves endurance, physical and cognitive performance, mental focus and concentration, vigilance, and self-confidence during (sports)performance. Blastoff has a rebellious taste with a bite, and gives you positive energy, up to 5 hours and more.
Although originally marketed in the US, energy shots are becoming more popular in other parts of the world, like Europe, Asia and Australia.
Consumers
While the average consumer is not easy to describe (truck drivers, busy mothers and students alike buy them), they all have in common that they look for “energy in a gulp”, high efficacy with little liquid (“the reduced bladder impact of the significantly smaller volume of liquid in the package” says bevnet.com, a beverage product review service), no carbonation and low calories and always at hand ready-to-drink because no chilling is needed.Packaging
Energy shots are mainly offered in 59ml (2 fluid oz.). plastic bottles of different forms. A niche is emerging within the energy shot space called micro shots. These are shots with 1-5 teaspoons of liquid, such as Dynapep and FIXX ExtremeProducts
As of June 2009, there are approximately 250 energy shot brands in the US, with 5-Hour Energy5-Hour Energy
5-hour Energy is a flavored energy shot made in the United States, based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It is sold in 2-oz containers. The makers of the drink claim that it will provide hours of energy and, unlike other energy drinks, will not cause a sugar crash later...
owning 78% of the market share and NVE Pharmaceuticals’ Stacker 2: 6 Hour Power with 7%.
While many of the products in the energy shot category are marketed by companies who also market energy drinks, crossover success hasn't come easy for even the larger brands such as Monster and Rockstar. In addition, Red Bull, the category leader of the energy drink category, launched an energy shot of its own in April 2009.
The top 14 energy shots in the convenience channel for 52 weeks ending April 19, 2009 were:
- 5-Hour Energy5-Hour Energy5-hour Energy is a flavored energy shot made in the United States, based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It is sold in 2-oz containers. The makers of the drink claim that it will provide hours of energy and, unlike other energy drinks, will not cause a sugar crash later...
- Stacker 2: 6 Hour Power
- VPX Sports' Redline
- Rockstar Energy Shot
- Spike ShooterSpike ShooterSPIKE Hardcore Energy is an energy drink sold by SPIKE LLC of Colorado Springs, Colorado. SPIKE features 16 oz and 8 oz energy drinks, as well as a 4.26 oz Double Shot...
(likely the Double Shot) - Xtreme Energy
- NOS Powershot
- BDI Marketing Mini Thin Rush
- Full ThrottleFull Throttle (drink)Full Throttle is an energy drink brand produced by The Coca-Cola Company. It debuted in late 2004 in North America.On April 24, 2008, it was announced that Coca-Cola would change sponsorship of the National Hot Rod Association professional classes from POWERade to Full Throttle.In November, 2009,...
Energy Shot - Kickers
- Shawn Cotten’s X-treme N.R.G. (not a beverage)
- Ephrine Plus
- Nitro 2 Go
- Peptime 357 Magnum
Other products:
- Street King (Founded in 2011 by platinum selling artist Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and entrepreneur Chris Clarke, contains 0 carbs, cals, or sugars and every shot sold provides a meal for a child in need through the United Nations World Food Programme)
- RuckPack (Vitamin/Energy Shot founded in 2011 by US Marines and Special Operations Forces to meet a nutritional need during combat operations)
- FeelGood7 Energy Shot (wasn't available in April 2009)
- Ubershot (wasn't available in April 2009)
- X-Race Energy shot
- HYPE Energy Shot
- On Go Energy
- Badboy Energy Shots
- Relentless Energy
- Lucozade
- 6 Shooter Energy Shot
- NapNock Energy Shot
- Blastoff double NRG shot