V is an energy drink brand produced by Frucor (Frucor Beverages Ltd) since August 1997. V has a market share over 60% in New Zealand and 53% in Australia , making it the most popular brand of energy drink in both countries. V is made in New Zealand and Australia by Frucor. V is available in five varieties, each sold in both 250 mL cans, 350 mL glass bottles and limited edition 300 mL aluminium bottles. V is also exported to the United Kingdom in cans and bottles, where it has seen increasing popularity since 2001. In 2007, Frucor also started to export its energy drink to the Netherlands, where it is becoming more and more popular.

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Key ingredients

• Carbonated water
• Sugar
• Guarana extract
• Caffeine
• B vitamins
• Taurine
• Food acids
• Caramel colouring

Brand portfolio

V

Released onto the New Zealand market in 1997 and Australia a short time later, V was something particularly different in the cold drinks market, with a distinct bottle and can it served as contrast against other drinks (which contained caffeine) that were on the market in 1997.

Black V

This was released in 2004 in both Australia and New Zealand. Instead of the artificial "fruit" flavour of other varieties, it has a coffee flavour.

When released in Australia, it was marketed towards students and it was advertised as having a less acidic flavour. The campaign claimed that a tired body tends to get an upset stomach more easily, and, while Black V has twice the taurine of the other flavours, it was supposedly much gentler on the stomach. The taglines for the advertising campaign were Taste the smoothness and Release the night monkey.

Berry V

Released in New Zealand first, in 2005, Berry V had an artificial berry flavour added to the traditional V flavour.

Berry V was released in Australia in 2007, giving Australia the same range of V drinks as New Zealand.

Lemon V

Lemon V was released in June 2008, with a yellow and gold label.

Nutritional information (per 100 mL) :

	V	Sugar free V	Black V	Berry V	Lemon V
Caffeine	31 mg	31 mg	31 mg	31 mg	31 mg
Riboflavin (B2)	0.49 mg	0.49 mg	0.49 mg	0.49 mg	0.49 mg
Niacin (B3)	2.9 mg	2.9 mg	2.9 mg	2.9 mg	2.9 mg
Vitamin B6	0.46 mg	0.46 mg	0.46 mg	0.46 mg	0.46 mg
Vitamin B12	0.57 µg	0.57 µg	0.57 µg	0.57 µg	0.57 µg
Pantothenic acid	0.7 mg	0.7 mg	0.7 mg	0.7 mg	0.7 mg
Taurine	200 mg	200 mg	400 mg	200 mg	200 mg
Glucuronolactone	25 mg	25 mg	25 mg	25 mg	25 mg
Inositol	20 mg	20 mg	20 mg	none / unstated	20 mg

Competitors

V's major competitors, in Australia, are Mother and Red Bull. Within New Zealand, the Mother brand of energy drink is virtually unknown.

External links

• V's Official Website
• V-Raw - V's Project Supporting Young Creatives in Australia
• New Zealand production of V
• V dot co dot nz