In the next stage of its evolution from sports drink to sports performance innovator, The Gatorade Company, a division of PepsiCo, is launching G Series Pro—a new variant of its recently launched G Series—through a distribution alliance with GNC.

G Series Pro was originally developed by The Gatorade Sports Science Institute to meet the needs of professional and aspiring professional athletes. Until now, G Series Pro has only been available in locker rooms and specialized training facilities. Beginning May 1 it will be available to a broader segment of elite athletes. The range will be distributed initially through an exclusive co-marketing and co-distribution collaboration with GNC and its network of more than 5500 outlets nationwide.

“Make no mistake, Gatorade is all about the athlete,” said Sarah Robb O’Hagan, chief marketing officer of Gatorade. “Our 2010 product range focuses on the intersection between the insights of pro athletes and the advantages of our peerless scientific approach to product development. G Series premiered on the Super Bowl sidelines, where we promoted the ‘before, during, and after’ system of sports performance, and G Series Pro raises the bar even higher. Up to now, we have kept these products in the locker room; but the compatibility between G Series Pro athletes and GNC customers persuaded us this is a product line of genuine interest to those looking to go pro.”

“The Gatorade brand has enormous credibility with GNC’s sports nutrition customers, and the G Series Pro line will be a valuable addition to GNC’s sport performance product line-up,” said Joe Fortunato, CEO of GNC. “We have the right retail presence and marketing muscle to drive G Series Pro through our nearly 5500 U.S. stores.”

Massimo d’Amore, CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, added: “We recognize different needs of specialized and distinct groups of athletes across the spectrum of the whole category. G Series Pro is a manifestation of this insight—the elite athlete, with his or her particular nutrient requirements, needs a highly customized product. G Series Pro is such a product, made available through premium distribution channels such as GNC.