Coke, which earlier this year launched Coke Energy in several overseas markets including the U.K. and Germany, said it will bring the product to the U.S. in January.
Coca-Cola Energy has 114 mg of caffeine in each 12-ounce serving. That’s nearly four times the caffeine in a can of regular Coca-Cola (34 mg), and three times the caffeine in a can of Diet Coke (46 mg).
The beverage company will start selling four varieties of its energy drink — Coca-Cola Energy, Coca-Cola Energy Zero Sugar, Coca-Cola Energy Cherry and Coca-Cola Energy Cherry Zero Sugar — in the United States in mid-January. Coke Energy and Coke Energy Zero Sugar are already available internationally, but the cherry flavor is new.
Coke Energy is currently available in about two dozen countries, mostly in Europe.
“As a total beverage company, we’re constantly looking for ways to evolve our portfolio and bring people the drinks they want — in a range of categories and package options,” brand director Janki Gambhir said in a statement. “Coca-Cola Energy was developed by listening to people who told us they wanted an energy drink that tastes more like Coca-Cola than a traditional energy drink.”
Coca-Cola owns about 18 percent of Monster Energy, and has a strategic partnership with the company. Monster has previously tried to stop Coke from selling its self-named energy drink, arguing that it violated the terms of a long-term distribution partnership. But an arbitration panel ruled in July that Coke is allowed to sell the energy drink globally under the contract.
Monster’s energy drink trails only Red Bull in a growing U.S. market that was worth more than $12 billion last year, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.
The drink will be unveiled at the National Association of Convenience Stores expo this week.
