* 5-Hour Energy CEO says to focus on US, Canada
* Wants to sell rights for international expansion
* Would be open to selling brand outright
NEW YORK, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The makers of 5-Hour Energy, a caffeinated drink sold in small bottles, often in U.S. convenience stores, is looking for a partner to take it abroad, its chief executive said on Monday.
Manoj Bhargava, the company's chief executive, said he wants to focus on growing in the United States and Canada, where sales already exceed $1 billion at retail. He said he wants to sell the rights to international sales to a company with experience in other countries.
Energy drinks are an attractive category for beverage companies as they are growing faster than traditional carbonated sodas.
Spokesmen for Coca-Cola Co
Bhargava's target customers include older adults -- "the
AARP crowd" -- in contrast to the younger consumers that are
the focus of energy drinks such as Red Bull or Hansen Natural's
He also said he'd be willing to sell the brand outright.
"I'd love to sell, but nobody's going to believe me that we can quadruple in a couple years," Bhargava said at a conference hosted by Beverage Digest. (Reporting by Martinne Geller; editing by Gunna Dickson)