Report: Sales of energy shots set to double

NEW YORK Sales of energy shots are expected to nearly double this year, according to a New Your Times report published Saturday, to some $700 million citing Consumer Edge Research projections, which do not include projected sales from Walmart.

The market is dominated by Living Essentials, which fields the premiere energy shot — 5-Hour Energy. According to the Times report, Living Essential’s sales account for approximately 80% of the market.

However, the market for energy shots is heating up — Red Bull brought its venerable energy-drink brand name into the mix with the introduction of a 2-oz. shot last month, and Dr Pepper Snapple recently began test-marketing a 3 oz. version of its Venom energy drink, called Venom Bite. Coca-Cola last year introduced a shot based on its NOS energy drink.