Suntory Minami Alps PEAKER Bitter Energy Drink to be Relaunched in March 2019

Suntory released the "PEAKER Bitter Energy Drink" in 2018 as a collaboration with Snow Peak.
This energy drink is made with carefully selected natural ingredients and contains low caffeine.

Now, just seven months after its launch, PEAKER is getting a renewal.

Starting March 5, 2019, the packaging design will change, and the formula will be improved for a new and enhanced PEAKER Energy Drink.
The updated version will gradually replace the current one nationwide.

**Release Date:** Rolling out nationwide from March 5, 2019
**Volume:** 375ml PET bottle
**Price:** 190 yen

From Black Bottle Cover to Silver Bottle Cover

As you can see, the new PEAKER has undergone a complete packaging redesign.
The black bottle cover has been replaced with a silver one, and the word "ENERGY" is now prominently displayed on the front to make it clearer that this is an energy drink.

This change was made in response to feedback that the previous black PEAKER design was often mistaken for a bottled coffee.
I even mentioned this in my own review! (^_^;)

Review

Additionally, there were complaints that the original design failed to communicate what kind of product it was.
To address this, "ENERGY" was made more prominent on the packaging.

Changes to the Flavor

While the core flavor remains the same, the ginger notes have been intensified to enhance the "energy feel."
With a refreshing taste and a stronger ginger kick, this update could make PEAKER more appealing to a wider audience.
The previous version lacked a distinct character, so this might be a step in the right direction.

That said, simply increasing the ginger intensity doesn’t necessarily make it feel more like an energy drink.
Along with flavor improvements, further branding refinements might still be needed.

Would a Can Have Been a Better Choice?

If they were going to renew the product, switching to a 250ml can instead of a PET bottle might have been a better move.
While PET bottles are convenient for resealing, they can't be placed in the energy drink sections of convenience stores.

Previously, the black PET bottle design led many people to mistake PEAKER for a coffee drink.
Even with "ENERGY" printed in large letters, placing it among regular beverages in the refrigerated section may still make it hard to recognize as an energy drink.

A simple switch to a 250ml can would allow it to be displayed alongside other energy drinks in dedicated store racks.
If another renewal happens in the future, I hope they consider switching to a can.

The key here is **250ml**—not 350ml or 500ml. Larger cans tend to look clunky and give off a cheap, juice-like impression, so sticking to 250ml would be ideal.

It’s been a while since I let my energy drink imagination run wild like this (；´∀｀), but surprisingly, there are quite a few fans of PEAKER’s taste.
Hopefully, this renewed version will stay on the market for a long time.

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