Hansen has a reputation for knowing what will appeal to the taste buds of trend-setting Californians, a population that accounts for more than half of the company's sales. Sacks, along with the Hansen management team, believed that the functional beverage category had good growth potential, so it developed more functional drinks, including a black cherry flavored drink that contains creatine, glutamine, red panax ginseng, and key B vitamins. Meanwhile, Hansen continues to sell fresh, unpasteurized juices, much as Hubert Hansen did more than half a century ago. Hansen has expanded its basic juice product line with fruit juice smoothies, including an energy smoothie that contains ginseng and taurine, two popular energy supplements, as well as vitamins B2, B6, B12, Niacin, vitamin C and glucose. Besides fluids, Hansen has most recently begun selling healthy cereals and energy bars.
Sacks attributes the rise in sales to the functional drinks.
Tom Pirko, a beverage consultant in Santa Barbara, complimented Hansen for being innovative, especially considering that the company competes against beverage giants Pepsi and Coke, among others. Truer words were never spoken. The uptick in revenue was helped by an increase in sales of functional drinks and new products. If you're merely thirsty, the company also offers natural sodas, fruit juice, juice cocktails, smoothies, lemonade, iced tea, and spring water. Hansen is branching out with soy drinks and food bars.