Just as new records have been set in the 2016 Olympic Games, new research from Mintel reveals standout results for global energy drink innovation. According to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), more energy drinks were launched globally in 2015 than in any year since 2008, with the number of energy drink products launched growing 29% between 2010 and 2015.

While energy drink launches around the world have seen a new lease on life, Mintel research reveals that when it comes to innovation, the US is no longer king. Indeed, Germany recorded the highest share of new energy drink product launches in 2015, overtaking the US for the first time. Some 9% of global energy drink launches occurred in Germany in 2015, as opposed to 8% in the US. In comparison, Germany experienced just 6% of global new energy drink product launches in 2014, while 10% of global launches took place in the US.

It’s not just energy drink innovation that is booming, as volume sales are also soaring. In 2015, the global market for energy drinks rose by an energetic 10% to reach an unstoppable 8.8 billion liters. Around the world, the top five energy drinks markets in terms of volume sales are the US (3.3 billion liters), China (1.4 billion liters), the UK (561 million liters), Thailand (465 million liters) and Vietnam (351 million liters). Additionally, volume sales in Germany reached 328 million liters, with Austria (79 million liters) and Switzerland (58 million liters) following further behind.

In terms of volume growth, China experienced the greatest increase between 2014 and 2015, rising by an exhilarating 25%, followed by Thailand which experienced a rise of 19%.

“Energy drinks remain the controversial, yet undeniably successful, wild child of the soft drinks family. The primary driver of global growth remains the drinks’ capacity to provide consumers with a quick and effective energy boost – something which resonates with consumers the world over,” said Alex Beckett, Global Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel. “Energy drinks are benefitting from being championed by giant brands, which devote huge investment to advertising and high profile marketing initiatives to project an exciting and edgy image. However, in less developed regions, local energy drink brands are emerging and gaining distribution as a more affordable alternative to multinationals, adding pressure for major players to project a brand identity that consumers from New York to Beijing want to be associated with, and pay more for.”

On a natural note, Mintel research indicates that introductions bearing an organic claim have reached a record high. Some 7% of energy drinks launched globally in 2015 carried an organic claim, up from 4% in 2011. And organic innovation shows few signs of slowing down: so far in 2016*, as many as 6% of global launches have carried an organic claim, with Europe leading the way. Three in five (58%) organic energy drink products launched globally in 2016* have taken place in Europe, compared to two in five (39%) in North America and just 3% in Latin America.

The rise in organic launches comes as consumers show strong interest in more natural energy drinks. Indeed, one in four (26%) US consumers say they would be more comfortable drinking energy drinks or shots made with all-natural ingredients. In China, two in five (40%) consumers say they’d be encouraged to buy a sports or energy drink product made from natural ingredients. Furthermore, over half of consumers in Poland (61%), Spain (54%), Italy (54%) and Germany (53%) say they would like to see a wider variety of sports and energy drinks made with natural colorings and flavors.

“The rise in global organic energy drink offerings illustrates how the sector is attempting to appeal to a broader audience by conveying a more natural image. For the foreseeable future, brands will remain under pressure to reformulate with better-for-you ingredients,” continued Beckett.

Finally, Mintel research reveals that parents are emerging as a valuable audience for energy drinks. In the US, while on average 12% of consumers drink energy drinks, this rises to over one quarter (26%) of those with children aged five and under and 32% of those with 6-11 year olds. In Germany, one third (33%) of adults drank a branded energy drink in 2015, rising to over two in five (44%) of those with kids under 21 in the household. Meanwhile, in the UK, three in five (58%) parents with children aged five and under drink energy drinks, up from an average of 35%.

“Often exhausted and needing to be on the go pretty much constantly, young parents are emerging as a valuable user group for energy drink brands around the world. Although they are not the traditional target audience of 18-24s which typically feature in marketing campaigns, young parents and older Millennials in general are the primary energy drink consumers,” concluded Beckett.