V (drink)

Energy drink brand

V Energy

500ml can of "V" brand energy drink

Type| Energy drink
Manufacturer| Suntory Oceania
Country of origin | New Zealand
Introduced| 1997
Website| https://v.co.nz/
https://v-energy.com.au/

V is an energy drink brand produced by Suntory Oceania, a New Zealand–based beverage manufacturer. It was launched in Methven, New Zealand in August 1997 and in Australia in 1999. The product's success, a market share over 60% in New Zealand[1][needs update] and 42% in Australia,[2] makes it the most popular brand of energy drink in both countries. V is considered a local rival to Red Bull.[3] Frucor says V energy drinks are not intended for children, and they are not recommended for pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine.[4]

## Variants

[edit]

A supermarket shelf in 2025 containing a wide range of V energy drinks including Original, Blue, Black, Sugar Free, Grape Burst, as well as the V Riise and V Refresh lines

V Energy (also referred to as "Green V"[5]) is the original flavour of V released in 1997.[citation needed]

Blue (also referred to as "Blue V") is a pineapple and passion fruit flavour introduced in October 2011[6][7] which V challenges the drinker to try and work out the flavour.[8] V Zero Sugar Blue (as of June 2025) is also available.[citation needed]

V Grape Burst (also referred to as "Purple V") is a grape fruit flavour introduced in 2025.[9]

V Black was a flavour variant that was discontinued in 2013. V Black was re-released in 2018 for a limited time in New Zealand over a 6-week period.[10] It was described as having a strong coffee flavour.[11] V Black was rereleased in June 2024.[12]

V Pure was a flavour alternative released in 2016 made from six natural ingredients; apple juice, sparkling water, lemon juice, Guarana seed extract, caffeine from green coffee beans and natural V flavour.[13] V Pure was discontinued by 2023.[citation needed]

V added a second Sugar Free flavour in 2018, themed after summer and the tropics. This product replaced V Zero.[1]

V Tortured Orchard Raspberry Lemonade was introduced in 2018.[14][15] In 2020, this flavour was brought back as a permanent edition and rebranded to 'V Raspberry Lemonade'.[citation needed]

V Refresh was launched in 2022 as a no-sugar, low-calorie product line, packaged in matt pastel coloured cans. Flavours in this range are Citrus Lemonade, Pineapple & Watermelon, Green Apple Lemonade and Blackcurrant & Yuzu.[citation needed]

V Tropical Tang was released in May 2023 and is described as "guava, pineapple and berries". However, the new addition is currently only available in 500ml cans.[16]

V Riise launched in 2025 with two flavours: Sparkling Blackcurrant and Sparkling Mandarin. V Riise is marketed as having slow release energy due to its isomaltulose sugar alternative.[17]

## V Energy Shots

[edit]

The energy shots (described as "Pocket Rockets") are claimed to be as effective as the larger cans but have an extremely bitter taste that, according to the V Pocket Rocket website, is to stop young children from drinking them.[18]

## V Iced Drinks

[edit]

In 2018, V released two Iced Coffee and two Iced Chocolate drinks to the New Zealand and Australian Market.[19]

## Advertisement and promotions

[edit]

The drink sponsored I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in the UK for its second series in 2003.[20]

In April 2018, V together with donut store chain Donut King, released in Australia a V flavoured donut. The donut was sold through Donut King stores nationwide and contained a gooey Guarana filling and covered in green sugar crystals.[21]

V sponsored Back of the Y Masterpiece Television in the mid-2000s.[citation needed]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "V Energy Drink". 14 October 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
2. ^ "V Australia Website". AC Neilson Research. Frucor. 13 April 2003. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
3. ^ Swann, Allan (3 February 2009). "Frucor deal finally in the can". nbr.co.nz. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
4. ^ "V Energy drink FAQ page". Retrieved 24 November 2021.
5. ^ "V Green". V Energy. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
6. ^ "Wayback Machine has not archived that URL". www.frucor.co.au. Retrieved 13 April 2023.[dead link]
7. ^ "V-Blue - V Energy Drink". Retrieved 21 January 2024.
8. ^ "V Blue". V Energy. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
9. ^ "V-Purple - V Grape Burst". V Energy. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
10. ^ Lucio, Remedios (5 November 2018). "V Energy re-releases limited edition V Black". Inside FMCG. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
11. ^ Mcilraith, Brianna (11 November 2022). "Could the Black V make a comeback? Bidding war ensues for potential 'last ever' can on Trade Me". stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
12. ^ "V Energy brings back fan-favourite V Black". Newshub. 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
13. ^ "V Energy releases a drink made from natural ingredients". Scoop News (Press release). 17 June 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
14. ^ "Marketing At Retail - V Energy – Tortured Orchard". Archived from the original on 2 November 2023.
15. ^ "Frucor Suntory and Phantom Labs torture street posters for new V campaign". StopPress. 5 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
16. ^ "V Energy unveils first full sugar launch since 2020". 9 May 2023.
17. ^ "V Energy has quietly launched a new Riise range and we found one of the flavours to try". 6 June 2025.
18. ^ "A Fast V Energy Blast". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
19. ^ "V Iced Chocolate". V Energy. Retrieved 13 November 2019.[permanent dead link]
20. ^ "Media Insight builds V brand in £1m I'm A Celebrity promotion". Campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
21. ^ Esveld, Olivia (4 April 2018). "Donut King Now Make V Energy Flavoured Donuts". KIIS 106.5. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.

## External links

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* Australia production of V
* New Zealand production of V

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