FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—Participants in the Ironman and 70.3 events will see a greater presence from PowerBar®, as Nestlé Performance Nutrition expanded its global partnership with the World Triathlon Corp. to develop a line of Ironman ready-to-drink sports drinks. Three flavors of the Ironman PERFORM™ beverages will hit shelves in June 2010, all of which will feature the C2MAX carbohydrate blend. Nestle is already the official supplier of energy bars and gels to the Ironman events.
“We have a fundamental goal and shared mission with Ironman, which is to help athletes perform at their best,” said Phil Annett, global business head at Nestlé Performance Nutrition. “Applying the latest sports science to get the right balance of performance benefits, taste and stomach comfort in the new Ironman PERFORM sports drink was a long yet essential development process designed to help athletes achieve optimum performance.”
The C2MAX carb formula was developed by Nestlé scientists and has been found in published research to increase exercise performance and fluid delivery while reducing perceived exertion following exercise. Follow-up studies on the formulation are underway at the University of Birmingham, Ala., with the goal of extending Nestlé’s reach in the sports arena. Nestlé’s PowerBar division supports the PowerBar Team Elite™ ambassador program, which includes professional athletes and local educators. Many of the Team Elite athletes provided input during the PERFORM product development process.