PepsiCo Inc. is joining the movement to advocate the use of organic and natural ingredients. In line with this, the company has introduced a new version of its Gatorade drink that is certified organic by the US Department of Agriculture.
The company announced in March that 'G Organic' would be launched this year. While Gatorade is made up of eleven ingredients, the organic version is made with only seven natural ingredients; water, citric acid, organic natural flavor, organic cane sugar, sodium citrate, potassium chloride, and sea salt.
Brett O'Brien, the senior vice president and general manager of Gatorade, told The Street that customers are increasingly opting for natural food and beverages. Therefore, the company formed a team to develop an organic version of Gatorade. O'Brien said it took two years to get it right because it is a complicated drink.
Organic food sales in the United States reached $43.3 billion in 2015. The Organic Trade Association suggests that sales rose by 11 percent from the year before, while broader food sales only grew by three percent.
PesiCo Inc. is not the only company that has shifted its focus to organic products. Bloomberg reported that Kraft Heinz Co. also released an organic version of its juice product, Capri Sun. The company has also removed all the artificial ingredients included in its pre-packed macaroni and cheese. Campbell Soup Co, on the other hand, has pledged to remove artificial colors and flavors in its products by the end of 2018.
PesiCo Inc. announced that G Organic would be sold in single-bottles first so people can have the chance to taste the product. It comes in three flavors; Strawberry, Mixed Berry, and Lemon.