G2 is known by fans for being an athlete’s go-to drink to rehydrate and recover after participating in a strenuous sports game or activity.
The drink boasts a lower sugar count than many sports drinks, with superior hydration and electrolyte replenishment capabilities.
However, fans have been increasingly noticing that the drink seems to have disappeared from store shelves.
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic and the resulting supply chain shortages, it has become difficult for fans to determine if their favorite products are missing due to the pandemic, high demand, or because they have been discontinued.
Is G2 Gatorade Being Discontinued?
No, PepsiCo has not discontinued the G2 Gatorade line.
However, G2 Gatorade does appear to be slowly discontinuing flavors, one at a time, making the future of the G2 line unclear.
UpThirst states that a representative from PepsiCo provided a statement that the G2 product line hadn’t been attracting members of the athletic community in the way that they had hoped it would, so the company was discontinuing G2 due to a lack of demand.
However, there are very few official comments by Gatorade that reference the entire lineup of G2 flavors.
Fans leaving reviews have noticed that the brand has been slowly discontinuing production of certain flavors, like lemon-lime, orange, and raspberry lemonade.
Many of the reviews above, found on the official G2 Gatorade page, insinuate that the G2 line has been discontinued although there are no comments from Gatorade directly on any of the reviews which confirm that.
The rumors that the beverage was being discontinued had been circulating since as early as 2017, even before the Coronavirus pandemic forced many companies to reevaluate their portfolios.
We’re still making it. Here’s our locator so you can check in your area: https://t.co/3bwP3Cuocy
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) April 25, 2017
Social media also can provide some clearer information on the status of the G2 flavors.
Social Media
Social media sources like Twitter and other fan review pages are often the first source for fans to determine if a product has been discontinued, likely due to the ease that companies have to respond to tweets or other social media posts.
However, in the case of G2, it is still difficult to determine if the beverage has been completely discontinued or just certain flavors.
Even in 2020 and mid-2021, the company was responding to fans that their G2 line had not been discontinued but was experiencing supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic.
Sorry you’ve had trouble finding G2. The pandemic has caused changes to production and supply chains, but it has not been discontinued. Until our return to normal production, we recommend continuing to check stores, as we’re working to it re-stocked quickly.
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) December 8, 2020
We apologize for delayed response as we experience high volumes. We’re sorry you haven’t been able to find G2. It’s still out there! Try our product locator to search for this flavor nearby: https://t.co/BINhlRU8s9. Many of our products are also available in e-commerce.
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) August 26, 2021
However, Gatorade has confirmed in the above tweets that they had discontinued certain flavors in the G2 line.
Even in early 2022, the official Gatorade Twitter page wasn’t confirming if G2 was completely discontinued and rather directed their fans to use their product locator and to check e-commerce websites.
@Gatorade quick question, is g2 orange flavor still around?? Or is it discontinued???
— D.m (@Dm48813838) February 16, 2022
Additionally, fans are likely confused because G2 is still listed on Gatorade’s official website.
When searching for seller options through their site there are very few retailers to be found with a stock of the specific G2 beverage.
A potential reason for this may be that, even though PepsiCo may no longer be actively producing G2 for distribution, there is still likely some stock leftover in retailers from the last time they purchased it.
Confusion On Discontinuation Vs. Low Stock
It is common for there to be confusion regarding whether or not a beverage is discontinued, or if it is just experiencing lower stock levels due to high demand.
The Coronavirus Pandemic has certainly played a large role in the inability of retailers to maintain stock of a variety of goods including G2.
In particular, plastic bottles have been difficult for production companies to obtain due to a plastic shortage.
The plastic shortage was a result of an increase in the number of single-serve plastic bottled beverages being purchased as a result of individuals staying home during lockdowns.
The increased popularity of working from home in recent years has also played a role.
The number of individuals experiencing illness throughout the pandemic means that there was a higher demand for hydrating beverages to minimize symptoms of dehydration related to illness.
Therefore, the demand for hydrating drinks such as G2 increased, and customers purchased items in bulk due to the fear of the retailers’ stock running out.
The impulsive bulk purchases did contribute to stores running out of stock of a variety of goods, such as plastic-bottled beverages and household items.
Changes In Production Materials
Additional confusion regarding the status of G2 Gatorade may be because the company has undergone a few different changes in the last several years, which have made it difficult for fans to keep up.
These changes included a transition by Gatorade out of bottling their beverages in 32-ounce plastic bottles, which many fans had become accustomed to finding in grocery stores.
The company transitioned from 32-ounce bottles in favor of 28-ounce bottles instead.
With ongoing change and uncertainty, it is common for fans to become concerned when they perceive a product to have disappeared from the shelves.
The reasoning behind the shift in bottle sizes is unclear, although it may be due to competition like BodyArmor, which is also known for its larger bottle size options.
Gatorade may have determined that their larger-sized bottles did not have a significant return on investment as compared to their smaller sizes.
Gatorade And PepsiCo’s Official Websites
Additional confusion as mentioned above is because G2 is still listed on Gatorade’s website as being part of their official lineup of beverages.
The G2 lineup is also still listed on PepsiCo’s Smart Label website, which holds the full lineup of PepsiCo’s products including Gatorade, Pure Leaf, and Tropicana among many other brands.
Interestingly, and further adding to fans’ confusion, PepsiCo’s and Gatorade’s product locators do not match up.
Gatorade’s website above lists only three flavor options for G2: Grape, Fruit Punch, and Glacier Freeze.
PepsiCo contradicts Gatorade in that there are a wider variety of flavors found on PepsiCo’s product locator—such as Glacier Cherry, Glacier Freeze, Fruit Punch, and Raspberry Lemonade—which directs the user to local retailers that have the product.
As mentioned previously, Raspberry Lemonade was a flavor that Gatorade had confirmed with fans on Twitter was discontinued.
The inconsistency between the two companies is likely a big reason that fans continue to be confused about the status of G2.
However, it is important to note that when searching for retailers using PepsiCo’s product locator above, there are very few to be found or it states that each retailer only has a few bottles left.
It is unclear why the company would continue to keep it on its website, especially when social media comments by Gatorade lead us to believe that G2 has been discontinued and is waiting for the remaining stock to sell out.
Gatorade’s Competition
There is a wide variety of beverages available to those within the athletic community that contain electrolytes and other added benefits meant to energize and sustain performance.
While many fans likely enjoy having a wide selection of drinks to choose from, it does make the competition a problem for companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola whose products are very similar.
Also, the average person may consider sports drinks like Gatorade, Powerade, and Propel to all be very similar and are not aware of the differences in sugar content and electrolytes found in each beverage.
The most common sports drinks found in gas stations and convenience stores include:
- Gatorade
- Powerade
- Body Armor
If you’re looking for a drink that is less sports drink and more water, but still with the added twist of hydration properties, you may be interested in trying:
- Propel
- Vitamin Water
- SoBe Life Water
- Liquid IV Energy Multiplier
- Nuun Sport
The Gatorade Portfolio
There are a variety of different Gatorade beverages, so a wide variety of consumers may find at least one or two that can meet any specific hydration needs that they may have.
Additionally, for those fans particularly sad about the potential discontinuation of G2, there is a wide variety of other options to taste test.
The Gatorade portfolio is wide, and according to the list of beverages on the official Gatorade website the current lineup includes:
- Gatorade Thirst Quencher
- Gx Pods
- Gatorade Zero
- Gatorade (traditional)
- G2
- Gatorade Fit
- Gatorade Organic Thirst Quencher
- Endurance Formula
- Endurance Gatorlytes
- Propel
G2 was designed with the sports community and athletes in mind, but as we can see from the list above, G2 is not the only beverage that can meet the needs of athletes.
The formula contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium which are all lost during an intense sporting event or rigorous, sweat-inducing activities like yard work or other labor-intensive jobs.
This blend of electrolytes is beneficial for those who may become nauseous or confused after an extended period of sweating or working in the heat.
G2 is also known for having lower amounts of sugar than the traditional Gatorade.
However, individuals who may have dietary restrictions that require ingesting lower amounts of sugar still have the opportunity to find another Gatorade beverage that satisfies their needs.
Where Can I Buy Gatorade?
On occasion, a retailer may have leftover stock of the drink which you can determine by going to Gatorade’s website and searching for retailers nearby your location.
In particular, the Fruit Punch, Glacier Freeze, and Grape flavors are still available.
At the time of this article, customers can use Gatorade’s product locator and find that certain areas within the United States still have some limited G2 products remaining.
Additionally, some internet sources may sell the drink, however, the scarcity of G2 Gatorade may encourage these retailers to sell the product at an increased price.
Amazon in particular appears to have a few varying flavors of G2 available for purchase.
As G2 becomes less available and retailers sell out of their remaining stock, it appears that the next up-and-coming Gatorade beverage is Gatorade Zero.
PepsiCo may hope that Gatorade Zero will ultimately replace G2 in its portfolio.
Alternatives To Drinking Gatorade
If you’re looking for an alternative to the sugary drinks from Gatorade in general, there are a variety of other options to choose from to still receive the benefits of hydration and supplemental electrolytes.
These include:
- Powerade Zero
- Body Armor Light
- Coconut Water
- Broth
- NOOMA Organic Electrolyte Sports Drink
Broth may not seem like the most common alternative to a sports drink like Gatorade, but broth provides hydration and nourishment because it contains magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium.
It is particularly useful for individuals who are sick and may be dehydrated.
The products above are known for containing less sugar and more natural ingredients as compared to many sports drinks.
In particular, NOOMA Organic Electrolyte Sports Drink was voted by a dietician on InsideHook as being one of the best products.
This is because the beverage is known for its high-quality ingredients like stevia extract to sweeten without adding extra sugar or chemicals like food coloring or preservatives to the formula.
