Analysis from communications agency 5W, using its AI Visibility Index, revealed that AI models are not ranking based on shelf presence or sales volume but on digestible content linked to a brand such as ingredient breakdown, health claims, or earned media coverage.
The US-based report highlights that people do not search by using terms such as “best energy drink” into a chatbot but they ask for a “healthy energy drink,” “gut-health soda,” or “functional beverage.”
The index tracked more than 60 consumer prompts across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews and ranked brands by how frequently AI engines name them.
“Red Bull sells more cans than anyone in this category, but it comes in second in our index, behind Celsius. That’s because AI models aren’t ranking based on shelf presence or sales volume. They are pulling from the volume and specificity of digestible content tied to a brand: ingredient breakdowns, health claims, founder interviews, earned media coverage,” said Ronn Torossian, founder of 5W AI Communications.
“When it comes to AI, it isn’t about who sells the most products. It has become about who is selling a product that fits into what people are actually asking for: clean caffeine, gut health, functional benefits, not just a category label.”
Here are the top 10 brands are being named top by AI citation share in USA.
1. Celsius
The report called this the ‘bridge brand’ as it is cited as both an energy drink and wellness product. It said the dual identity lets it surface across “best energy drink,” “healthy energy drink,” and “fitness drink” queries.
2. Red Bull
The original energy-drink brand and a global volume leader cited heavily for energy, according to the report, but less for “functional.”
3. Liquid Death
The index highlighted that this brand has turned canned water into a “cultural property.” The constant earned coverage of its marketing gives the engines an “enormous, ever-refreshing record” to retrieve.
4. Olipop
The prebiotic soda brand was described as a “pioneer” and owns the “healthy soda” citations along with Poppi.
5. Poppi
The brand acquired by PepsiCo for $1.95B in 2025 is also a Super Bowl advertiser. It defines the prebiotic-soda conversation alongside Olipop, the index said.
6. Gatorade
Another PepsiCo owned brand searched by the “sports drink” citation. This is strong on athletic queries, lighter on the functional and healthy citations, the index reported.
7. Monster
Monster still dominates volume along with Red Bull, but is cited for “energy drink,” not “healthy” or “functional”.
8. Prime
The hydration and sports brand generated enormous attention at launch, but reported sales fell roughly 50% in 2024.
9. AG1
This premium greens powder cited heavily in “daily wellness” and routine queries, the index said.
10. Alani Nui
The brand was acquired by Celsius for $1.65B. The female-focused energy brand has been built through influencer and community marketing.
