Interview with Jeremy Black of Sambazon Amazon Energy 06/08

Question 1. Who are you and what is the name of your company.
Jeremy Black, VP of Marketing at Sambazon

Question 2. How many people work for your company?
We have over 150 employees between the US and Brazil, and we generate new and sustainable employment for over 5,000 local people in Amapá and Pará States in Brazil (direct and indirect jobs).

Question 3. How and why did you come up with the idea for Amazon Energy? I mean you already had your Rio energy juice. Surely there is some interesting story.
I’ve watched the explosion of Red Bull over the last 10 years and we always talked about how we could make an energy drink that’s actually good for you, and gives you good energy.  We work with a lot of pro athletes and they kept telling us the same thing, “you guys should make an organic energy drink”.  But we were focusing on bringing Açai to the US and making sure we didn’t screw that up by diverting our attention to something else.   The Rio was our “juice” version of Amazon Energy and when we saw how well people liked that we knew Amazon Energy was going to be big.  In 2007 we felt like our Açai business was getting mature enough for us to launch this drink so we went forward and launched it in early 2008.

Question 4. How did you decide which ingredients to put in Amazon energy? Sure Acai was a given but what about the other premium ingredients?
We already work with and have good sources for the key ingredients, and we knew each of these ingredients would add an important aspect to the drink, so it was really a natural development.

• Açaí has a rich exotic-berry flavor and has been called one of the most nutritious fruits in the world for its concentration of powerful antioxidants.
• Acerola, an exotic citrus cherry, helps deliver over 1000% of the recommended daily allowance of immunity boosting Vitamin C per can.  We’ve been selling Acerola pulp to health food stores and juice bars since 2001 and it’s very popular in Brasil- people don’t get enough Vitamin C these days and this is a great way to get it.
• Guaraná, a revitalizing plant used by the Amazonian people for centuries, helps improve mental focus, increase metabolism and stamina.  It’s been traditionally mixed with Açai and part of our original blend we first brought to the US in 2000.
• Guayaki® Yerba Maté, sustainably harvested from the leaves of South American Rainforest trees, contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids and is considered to be nature’s most balanced stimulant.  

Question 5. Tell us a little more about Acerola. Acai is a little more well known but Acerola is not very well known by most.
Acerola is a citrus cherry from the Brazil that is extremely high in vitamin C and is often used as a Vitamin C supplement. We also have a juice product called Shaman’s Immunity (acerola juice) and a frozen acerola smoothie pack, both of which are great for boosting immunity.

Question 5. Do you plan on releasing other flavors of Amazon energy?
Yes – for sure a diet version (still organic) and probably a few more flavors in the next year or so. I have some really good ideas we’re working on right now but they are still top secret.

Question 6. Some companies target extreme athletes, Students, Party crowd, office workers etc... Who is your target market?
People often ask that question and for us it’s much more of a psychographic than a demographic. Really, we’re reaching out to people around the world with a healthy active lifestyle, people that support organics and companies that actually care about the effects of their supply chains and the health implications of people consuming their products – seems like that should be the norm but take a look at most of the stuff you’re consuming and ask yourself those questions.

Question 7. Who is your products main competition? Energy drinks, sodas, Teas, coffee?
This is an energy drink – so it’s the big guys like Red Bull, Monster and Rock Star and in the still very small “healthy energy drink” world our friends at Steaz Energy (who use our Açai in their drink)

Question 8. Do you see Amazon Energy someday being available alongside regular energy drinks at the corner store? I’d love to see such a healthy alternative readily available everywhere.
Absolutely.  More and more people are becoming concerned with eating and drinking natural, healthy products. And Amazon Energy is a great alternative to mainstream drinks full of chemicals and artificial stimulants. We expect the product to do quite well as the word gets out.

Question 9. Why did you decide to go with the can as opposed to a bottle? Why carbonated?
A can really says energy drink – and since ours is a premium energy drink the slim 12 oz can really stood out because it looks great on the shelf.  Plus cans are by far the best environmentally friendly package – more recycled than other packages by far and less weight for shipping/etc.

Question 10. Who came up with the label design?
Our creative team which includes our long time Graphic Designer Matt Bright of Fortified Design and myself.

Question 11. Tell all Energy drink junkies out there why they should use and support Sambazon Amazon energy.
#1- it tastes really good – better than any energy drink you’ve had
#2- it’s good for you – it’s ORGANIC with 1000% RDA Vitamin C, tons of Antioxidants, and lightly sweetened with organic sugar – nothing artificial!
#3- it works – although it’s got 80mg of caffeine, the stimulants in Amazon Energy (Guarana, Yerba Mate) pack a lot more than caffeine- both Guarana and Mate are huge in South America and if you’ve ever seen the way they party in Brasil and Argentina you’ll understand why.
#4- And when you buy Sambazon you’re also helping protect the Amazon Rainforest by supporting our fair trade and sustainable agro-forestry practices.

Read my review of Amazon energy drink

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