Last year offered the sports and protein drinks category a big marketing opportunity through the London 2012 Summer Olympics, says Jennifer Zegler, beverage analyst at Chicago-based market research firm Mintel.

PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y., reported core earnings per share of $1.09 for the fourth quarter of 2012 and $4.10 for the full year, with organic revenue growth of 5 percent for both the quarter and the full year. Overall, the company reported net revenue of approximately $20.2 billion for the quarter and $66.5 billion for the year. Its beverage division reported net revenue of approximately $6.3 billion for the quarter and $22.4 billion for the year.

 Sports and protein drinks are transitioning from being separate categories into one overall sports performance market, experts say.  

PepsiCo Inc., Purchase, N.Y., and the National Football League (NFL) renewed their long-term partnership with a multi-year agreement to take effect in 2012. As part of the new agreement, several of PepsiCo’s brands, including Gatorade, Pepsi Max, and Tropicana, will be involved in aspects of the football league.

With platforms geared toward athletic enthusiasts, sports drinks experienced a resurgence in sales. The total category increased 14.9 percent to more than $3.9 billion in sales, according to SymphonyIRI Group, Chicago, for the 52 weeks ending May 15 in U.S. supermarkets, drug stores, gas and convenience stores and mass merchandise outlets, excluding Wal-Mart. Non-aseptic bottled sports drinks made up most of the category with more than $3.8 billion in sales and a 14.6 percent increase, SymphonyIRI states.