V (drink)

V Energy
500ml can of "V" brand energy drink
TypeEnergy drink
ManufacturerSuntory Oceania
Country of origin New Zealand
Introduced1997
Websitehttps://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] 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]

Drink variants

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

Currently available

Standard drinks

V Energy (also referred to as "Green V";[5] retroactively titled "Original") is the original flavour of V released in 1997.[1]

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]

Black is a flavour variant that was last released in 2024,[9] described as having a "strong coffee flavour".[10] Initially released in 2006, it was first discontinued in 2013. It was then later re-released in 2018 for a limited time in New Zealand over a six-week period.[11]

Grape Burst (also referred to as "Purple V") is a grape fruit flavour introduced in 2025.[12]

Sugar-free drinks

V Refresh was launched in 2022 as a no-sugar, low-calorie product line, packaged in matte pastel coloured cans. The original flavours were Citrus Lemonade, Pineapple & Watermelon, and Green Apple Lemonade. A Blackcurrant & Yuzu flavour was released later in September 2024.[13]

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 usage of isomaltulose.[14]

In July 2025, V released three new low-calorie flavours as a part of their Rebel Collection. Flavours in this range are the self-descript Cotton Candy, Watermelon Candy, and Strawberries & Cream.[15]

Discontinued

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.[16]

V added a second sugarfree flavour in 2018, themed after summer and the tropics; this product replaced V Zero.[1]

V Tortured Orchard Raspberry Lemonade was introduced in 2018.[17][18]

V Tropical Tang was[19] a tropical-flavored drink released in May 2023, and was described as tasting like "guava, pineapple and berries". It was[19] only available in 500ml cans.[20]

Energy shots

V released energy shots, known as "Pocket Rockets", were 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.[21]

Iced beverages

In 2018, V released two Iced Coffee and two Iced Chocolate drinks to the New Zealand and Australian market.[22]

The drink sponsored I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in the UK for its second series in 2003.[23]

In 2015, V released a promotion called #VChat, where cans were sold with different letters of the alphabet which fans could use to spell out a wish or desire, submit a photo of it, and win whatever prize they spelled out.[24]

In April 2018, V together with Australian donut store chain Donut King, released 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.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c "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.
  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 Energy brings back fan-favourite V Black". Newshub. 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Lucio, Remedios (5 November 2018). "V Energy re-releases limited edition V Black". Inside FMCG. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  12. ^ "V-Purple - V Grape Burst". V Energy. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  13. ^ Veress, Ben (27 September 2024). "V Refresh's New Fruity Flavour Is The Thirst Quenching, Zero Sugar Drink Your Summer Needs". Pedestrian.tv. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  14. ^ "V Energy has quietly launched a new Riise range and we found one of the flavours to try". 26 March 2025. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  15. ^ "V Collection – V Energy". V Energy.
  16. ^ "V Energy releases a drink made from natural ingredients". Scoop News (Press release). 17 June 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Marketing At Retail - V Energy – Tortured Orchard". Archived from the original on 2 November 2023.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ a b It is more than likely that Tropical Tang has been discontinued. While some retailers in New Zealand, such as Fresh Choice still sell it, it looks to be the final batch as it has been removed from V's website. Major retailers in both New Zealand and Australia, such as Woolworths, New World, Pak'N'Save, and Coles, no longer sell it.
  20. ^ "V Energy unveils first full sugar launch since 2020". 9 May 2023.
  21. ^ "A Fast V Energy Blast". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  22. ^ "V Iced Chocolate". V Energy. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Media Insight builds V brand in £1m I'm A Celebrity promotion". Campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  24. ^ "V Energy fans practise their spelling". StopPress. 11 December 2015.
  25. ^ 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.
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