Powerade is stepping into the enhanced water market with its first product innovation in more than five years.
The sports drink brand unveiled Powerade Power Water, a flavored water with 50% more electrolytes than competitors, according to the company. The product, available nationwide in 2026, comes in four flavors: mountain berry blast, strawberry kiwi, tropical pineapple and watermelon.
Functional water is a natural extension for Powerade, Sabrina Niland, vice president of innovation, strategy and chief of staff for BodyArmor Sports Nutrition, said in an interview. It's also the first innovation for Powerade after Coca-Cola relaunched the brand in 2023 with new packaging and formulation.
Prior to the refresh, Powerade was “an amazing sports brand trapped in a soda company,” Niland said. The sports drink has since seen “unprecedented growth” with seven straight quarters of gaining market share.
The functional water market has taken off as electrolyte-infused drinks find appeal beyond just athletes. The products purport to fuel performance and hydration for a wide range of consumers. The market sees $750 million in monthly sales, according to data from Spins, and the “enhanced water market” saw 13% growth from 2023 to 2024.
Power Water will launch in retail stores regionally beginning in October before becoming available nationwide in-stores and through Amazon in 2026. It's the first Powerade product to be produced and distributed through Coca-Cola’s bottlers, which Niland said is a powerful tool for consumer brand awareness.
Coca-Cola has looked to gain a larger share of the buzzy sports drink market since its $5.6 billion purchase of BodyArmor in 2021, the company's largest acquisition. The soda giant is using the Powerade and BodyArmor brands to offer consumers a spectrum of benefits that ranges from emotional to functional, Niland said.
“When we think about the two brands, Powerade is truly fueling performance, while our BodyArmor portfolio is delivering on natural and better-for-you hydration,” Niland said. “Power Water extends us into a new category with functional water, and just gives [our] consumers more choice and flexibility no matter what their need is.”
When considering future product innovation, Powerade will go “where the consumer goes,” Niland said.
