For the past three decades, the beverage industry has changed a lot with the introduction of energy drinks. These refreshing caffeinated beverages come in all flavors and sizes. They are used as ingredients in cocktails or they are used by athletes to replenish electrolytes. Furthermore, energy drinks are consumed by people who enjoy their caffeine but don’t like coffee. In this blog post, we’ll dive deeper into the wholesale energy drinks topic. We’ll share more about the common types of energy drinks and the businesses that buy them in large quantities. This post is part of our series on wholesale beverages. Check out other interesting posts like the ones on wholesale wine, wholesale water, and juice from concentrate vs not from concentrate.
What Are Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are beverages that give a temporary energy boost and increase alertness. Their main ingredients are caffeine and sugar. Soda wholesale distributors offer a wide variety of wholesale energy drinks. Some of them can be in a concentrated form that needs to be mixed with water or club soda. Other energy drink manufacturers buy bulk juice and mix it with energy drinks to achieve a more vitamin-rich beverage that has a fruity taste.
One of the disadvantages of energy drinks is the fact that the alertness boost they give runs off quickly. Other drinks like the different types of matcha tea give the drinker a longer period of focus.
Energy drinks are popular among athletes and people who train as well. There are specialized sports performance energy drinks. In addition to their endurance and energy-boosting properties, they are rich in amino acids that help the body regenerate quickly.
The main characteristics of energy drinks are:
- Caffeine content. Almost all energy drinks have caffeine. Thus, they reduce the fatigue feeling and help individuals focus. That makes them an alternative to coffee and tea.
- Sugar content. Carbohydrates also give a quick energy boost. That’s why many wholesale energy drinks manufacturers add sugar to the beverages they produce.
- Wide range of varieties. Businesses that stock energy drinks usually find suppliers that offer an extensive catalog of products. Even though there are major brands like Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, many consumers of energy drinks prefer less-known brands that can have unique or exotic flavors. Furthermore, manufacturers of energy also offer energy shots, low-carb drinks, juice mixes, and other alternatives to traditional energy drinks.
- Supplements content. Guarana, taurine, vitamins, and amino acids are often included in energy drink recipes. These stimulants can help further enhance alertness and improve physical performance.
Key takeaway: Energy drinks contain caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants that improve alertness and physical performance. There are various types of energy drinks. The most popular ones are traditional, sugar-free, and energy shots. Regular consumption of energy drinks can pose a health risk.
Types of Energy Drinks
As the beverage market is constantly changing, there are new types of energy drinks emerging every year. Wholesale drinks suppliers offer these products to convenience stores and other businesses. Let’s see the most common varieties of energy drinks.
- Traditional. They contain sugar, coffee, and other stimulants such as taurine or ginseng.
- Sugar-free or low-carb. As more consumers are becoming health-conscious, energy drinks manufacturers strive to maximize profits by offering low-calorie beverages.
- Natural energy drinks. These healthier alternatives contain organic ingredients and fewer additives. They can come in the form of yerba mate or other tea products.
- Energy shots. Their size is usually between 1 and 2 oz. They are a concentrated energy drink that contains a full caffeine dose and energy-boosting ingredients like traditional energy drinks.
- Electrolyte and sport energy drinks. These beverages contain electrolytes to help replenish energy and nutrients during or after exercise.
- Energy water. These beverages are similar to fruit-infused water but they might also contain caffeine.
What Businesses Buy Wholesale Energy Drinks
Stores and Retailers
Convenience stores and supermarkets are the usual places where people buy refreshing and energizing beverages. That’s why these businesses often buy wholesale energy drinks at a lower wholesale price and sell them to individuals at retail prices. Besides traditional retail stores, online eCommerce retailers might also offer energy drinks. A good example of that might be an online store for fitness and training accessories and supplements. They might sell large quantities of energy drinks to people who exercise regularly.
Bars and Food Service Establishments
Fast food places and nightclubs often have energy drinks on their menus. They usually buy them in bulk. Some fast food restaurants might also buy concentrated energy drinks to put in their fountain drink machine. Bars offer energizing beverages both as standalone drinks and as part of cocktails. Thus, they might stock wholesale energy drinks in cans or gallon boxes.
Office vending machines and cafeterias also keep a sizeable supply of energy drinks in their storage. A lot of people might need an energy boost to finish their work tasks.
Gyms
Fitness facilities stock sports energy drinks. These beverages allow athletes to improve their workout sessions or regenerate faster after exercise.
Hospitality and Entertainment Businesses
They often partner with wholesale drinks suppliers that can offer a wide range of soda, liquor, and wholesale energy drinks. That’s true for hotels that need to stock their minibars, movie theaters that offer refreshments for customers, and any other business in the hospitality or entertainment market.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wholesale Energy Drinks
Are you a wholesale energy drinks supplier who wishes to automate their business processes and find new customers? BlueCart is the right tool for this. We’re always striving to help our current and potential customers with useful information and tips in our blogs as well as answer questions related to the latest trends in various industries. Below you will find some of the common questions on energy drinks.
Can Energy Drinks Be Used in Cocktails?
Yes. Energy drinks are a popular ingredient in cocktails. There are also businesses that buy wholesale energy drinks and wholesale liquor, mix them, and sell ready-to-drink cocktails. Here are some of the popular cocktails with energy drinks:
- Vodka Red Bull;
- Jägerbomb. This is simply Jägermeister combined with an energy drink;
- Cherry Bomb. Combines cherry vodka, grenadine, and an energy drink.
There are also exotic ready-to-drink beverages with energy drinks. For example, manufacturers might stock wholesale whiskey, wholesale champagne, and wholesale tequila and combine them with energy drink ingredients to produce hard seltzers or other on-the-go beverages.
Keep in mind that combining alcohol and caffeine-rich energy drinks can cause high blood pressure and headaches.
Do Energy Drinks Pose a Health Risk?
Unfortunately, yes. As they usually contain a lot of sugar, regular energy drink consumption is linked to diabetes and obesity. Sugar-free energy drinks can also be bad for your health when consumed in large quantities or regularly. They contribute to anxiety, heart arrhythmias, and high blood pressure. Thousands of people visit emergency rooms every year after excess consumption of energy drinks.
Consumption of energy drinks should be kept to a minimum. Businesses that buy wholesale energy drinks often stock healthier alternatives. These alternatives are usually low-carb, rich in minerals and vitamins, and combine caffeine with natural extracts such as EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate).
What Are Healthier Alternatives to Energy Drinks?
Matcha drinks, yerba mate, and coffee can be good alternatives to energy drinks. Of the aforementioned, matcha is the healthiest option. If you’ve never heard of it, check out our guide on what is matcha.