Thai Firm Promotes Coconut Water Sports Nutrition Gel

Thai-based firm Smile Organics aims to expand its market for coconut water sports nutrition gel, targeting the US and Middle East markets, reports FoodNavigator-Asia on May 25.  Under the brand POWCO, the firm has already started testing the Middle East market, specifically in Bahrain.  From the US and Middle East, the company targets Europe from 2023 onwards, said CEO Thanada Thomas.

Smile Organics uses the coconut water from the aromatic Thai coconut variety known for its flavorful and nutritious water.  The firm gets its coconut water supply from TGI horticultural lands in central Thailand, namely the three provinces of Ratchaburi, Samut Sakorn, and Samutsongkhram.  TGI is Thai Geographical Indication which serves as government assurance of place of origin of the coconut where the desired variety is grown. 

Presently POWCO has two formulations. The first one is the POWCO energy gel Formula (POWCO F1), made of 89% young coconut water, maltodextrin, Konjac gum, sugar, fructose syrup, carrageenan, and coconut flavor.  One sachet of 100 ml contains 70kcal and 310 mg potassium. The other formulation is the POWCO Formula-2, made of 93.4% coconut water and has a lower potassium content of 250 mg.  The products have a shelf life of one year at ambient temperature.