Coca-Cola acquired Energy Brands in 2007 to obtain the Glacéau enhanced-water business.
Energy Brands, commonly known as Glacéau, built a portfolio of enhanced-water products including vitaminwater and smartwater. Coca-Cola purchased the company in 2007, expanding its non-carbonated beverage business beyond traditional soft drinks.
The acquisition was part of a wider shift in the beverage industry. Consumers were increasingly interested in bottled water, flavored water, and drinks marketed with added vitamins or functional benefits. Glacéau gave Coca-Cola established brands in those growing categories.
This deal is sometimes confused with Coca-Cola’s later investments in energy drinks and other beverage companies. Energy Brands was the corporate owner of the Glacéau portfolio at the time of the acquisition, while vitaminwater and smartwater were the consumer-facing brands most visible to shoppers.