Posted: April 8 2005

Sports Nutrition: Gatorade Launches Propel® Vitamin Supplement

First in Canada to Provide Fitness Enthusiasts with a Lightly Flavoured Vitamin Enhanced Water

(TORONTO, April 7, 2005) – Gatorade has launched Canada’s first ever vitamin enhanced water - Propel® Vitamin Supplement. Vitamin charged and flavoured to hydrate, Propel will lead this new category.

Propel Vitamin Supplement in Canada has the same formulation as Propel Fitness Water in the U.S. which was created by the hydration experts at Gatorade. Propel Fitness Water provides fitness enthusiasts with additional beverage options, and has been the market leader in the U.S. fitness water category since its introduction in 2000.

Propel Fitness Water contains vitamins that help to maintain good health, is lightly flavoured and contains only 30 calories in a 24 oz (700 ml) bottle. Enhanced water is the fastest growing segment of the beverage category in the U.S., where in grocery stores, Propel holds a 47% share of the enhanced water category and is growing at a rapid pace.[1]

With 100% of the same vitamins and flavours as the U.S. fitness water, the Canadian Propel product is classified as a vitamin supplement and is governed by the Natural Health Product Regulations – hence the name Propel Vitamin Supplement.

Propel Vitamin Supplement contains B vitamins (vitamin B-6, niacin, pantothenic acid) that assist in converting fats and carbohydrates into energy, and antioxidants (vitamins C and E) that help neutralize free radicals to protect the body.

In addition to the benefits provided by these vitamins, the Propel formulation also provides hydration benefits. “Staying hydrated is important for everyone, including fitness enthusiasts, because a lack of fluid can make many of us irritable, cranky and tired, with no motivation for doing much physical activity,” said Beth Mansfield, registered dietitian and sport nutrition specialist. “That is why I recommend drinking a beverage with a light flavour, such as Propel. “

“We know from research that exercisers will drink more of a lightly flavoured beverage[2] like Propel than plain water and will therefore stay better hydrated,” said Lawrence Spriet, Ph.D., Principal scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) Canada.

The 700 ml sport bottle is ergonomically designed. The bottle has a squeezable grip zone and a mouthpiece that is shaped to fit a person’s lips precisely to open and close with a simple twist.

Propel Facts:

Availability

Ø      Propel is available in grocery, convenience, drug, wholesale and mass in 700 mL bottles.  
Ø      Six-packs of 500 mL bottles in lemon and berry flavours are now available nationally in grocery stores.
Ø      Variety-flavour cases of 500 mL bottles are sold at warehouse club stores. 

Cost
Ø      The 700 ml bottle of Propel has a suggested retail price between $1.59 and $1.99.
Ø      The six-pack of Propel has a suggested retail price between $5.99 and $6.99.
Ø      Costs may vary in different regions.

Flavours
Ø      Propel is available in three flavours - berry, lemon and grape.

Nutritional Information
Ø      Propel contains Sucralose, a calorie-free sweetener made from sugar.
Ø      Only 30 calories in a 700 mL bottle.
Ø      Please direct all nutritional inquires to the Gatorade consumer service department at 1-888-794-2867.

Pepsi-QTG Canada

Pepsi-QTG Canada is a leader in the Canadian beverages industry and markets a variety of beverages under the following trademarks: PEPSI, DIET PEPSI, 7UP, MOUNTAIN DEW, MUG, AQUAFINA, SOBE, LIPTON (iced tea), BRISK (iced tea), Starbucks bottled FRAPPUCCINO, GATORADE, DOLE and TROPICANA.

[1] IRI Data Source latest 52 weeks, 2004
[2] B. Wilk and O. Bar-Or. Journal of Applied Physiology. 80:1112-1117, 1996.