GU

Background

Sports energy gels emerged in the United Kingdom in 1986 as a "convenient, prewrapped, portable" way to deliver carbohydrates during endurance events. Gels have a gooey texture and are sometimes referred to as "goo" generically.

Company history

Bill Vaughan, a biophysicist at University of California, Berkeley, began working on an energy gel product in 1990. He established GU Energy Labs in Berkeley, California, in 1994. GU Energy Labs is regarded as the first major distributor of energy gels, supplying products at the Ironman World Championship in 1996. GU is now run by Bill's son, Brian Vaughan, who serves as president.

In June 2011, GU moved its corporate operations and 50 employees from a 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m2) space to one with twice as much floor space. The larger, 26,000-square-foot (2,400 m2) space, located in Berkeley's 4th Street shopping district, affords the company an increased production capacity, with room for additional growth.

GU Energy Labs produces a variety of performance sports nutrition products, intended to increase the endurance of athletes. Its products include GU Energy Gel, energy chews, drink mixes, hydration tabs, stroopwafels and a line of Roctane products. Their energy gel contains carbohydrates (maltodextrin and fructose), an amino acid blend, electrolytes (sodium and potassium) and, in some flavors, caffeine. Gel packets provide 100 calories and come in a variety of flavors, including triberry, chocolate outrage, mandarin orange, mint chocolate, salted caramel, strawberry banana, and vanilla. The energy chews, created in 2009 and based on the gel formula, are made from similar ingredients but also include antioxidants and come in a chewable form.

GU produces three drink products: the GU Roctane Energy Drink Mix and the GU Roctane Protein Recovery Drink Mix. The Roctane Protein Recovery Drink Mix, designed for consumption following physical activity, was created in 2009 and includes amino acids, antioxidants, carbohydrates, and protein. GU Hydration Tablets contain a low-calorie sweetening agent derived from Stevia.

GU's Roctane line, introduced in 2008, includes an energy gel, energy drink mix, protein recovery drink mix, and capsules. The drink formula contains caffeine (in most flavors), beta-Alanine, taurine, and additional amino acids. Compared to GU's original energy gel, servings of Roctane energy gel contains three times more branched-chain amino acids, more electrolytes, and ten times more histidine.