Two beverage companies are riding the wave of low sugar, high-energy functional drinks as consumer sentiment shifts toward health-focused choices.
Bubbl’r, headquartered in Watertown Wisc., and Naperville, Ill. -based Amez Infusions, offer clean-label alternatives to traditional caffeinated drinks and emphasize their ability to deliver energy without the jitters and crashes.
The companies showcased their product at the Great Food Expo in Rosemont, Ill., in October, both targeting students and others in need of quick energy.
“The caffeine-free and reduced-caffeine energy space has gained meaningful traction in the past year, driven by a broader shift toward health-conscious and functionally balanced beverages,” according to Ilana Orlofsky, senior manager, customer experience, at Imbibe, a beverage development company and flavor supplier.
Category definitions vary, but market estimates for caffeine-free energy drinks range from $736 million (Data Insights Market) to $2.06 billion (Wise Guys Reports) in 2025, she said.
High Caf Tea’s big debut
Amez infusions, which launched in 2009 with a focus on Indian-inspired spice blends, teas and coffee, debuted its first canned drinks at the show – High Caf Tea in Mountain Oolong and Hibiscus Strawberry.
The 12-ounce cans offer “relaxed energy and mental focus” with 150 milligrams of non-synthetic caffeine and no sugar or synthetic sweeteners.
We did a lot of market testing, and we found out the people prefer unsweetened teas,” said Sujata Borthakur, Amez Infusions co-founder. “They’re really shifting toward loose-leaf tea instead of tea bags, and they’re really shifting toward clean-label and no synthetic anything.”
For more insights, check out the full article on Food Navigator USA.
