For decades Coca-Cola (IS) – Get a free report and PepsiCo (ENERGY) – Get a free report they have argued over which had the best-tasting cola. That led to the famous “Pepsi Challenge” marketing campaign, which began in 1975 and has been used regularly ever since.
The premise was simple. People were asked to try both Pepsi and Coke in a blind taste test and, at least according to the ads, Pepsi was the overwhelming winner.
In reality, people trust one brand more than another, and the question “which is better?” it is only for marketing campaigns and individual tastes.
Coca-Cola and Pepsi’s battle for supremacy has spanned all sorts of different soft drink areas. They both recently switched their recipes to “zero sugar” (using the word diet is taboo now). And PepsiCo also recently phased out its Sierra Mist lemon-lime brand, replacing it with Starry, a fresh attempt to unseat Sprite from Coke.
In recent years, that battle has spread beyond soft drinks to juices, water, energy drinks, iced teas, and more. That’s largely because soda sales peaked in the US in 1999.
“After peaking in the late 1990s, per capita soft drink consumption has declined every year since,” he wrote. IbisWorld. “There are two reasons behind the drop: an increase in health awareness and an increase in price. Carbonated soft drinks provide little nutritional value, although many of these drinks provide the recommended daily intake of sugar in a 12-ounce can. ounces”.
That’s one version of why. In reality, consumers may also have much more choice and opt for other beverages.
Coca-Cola moves to mixers
Recently, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have jumped right into alcoholic beverages. That is an adjacent space where both have chosen to work with partners.
In June 2021, PepsiCo launched a new line of non-alcoholic mixers designed to capitalize on the growing market for craft cocktails.
“The premium mixers, called Unmuddled, will hit shelves in September.” entrepreneurship reported at the time. “The range comes in three flavor variants, which are all made with juice and contain no artificial sweeteners.”
Pepsi’s Unmuddled line includes:
- Lemon Mint, which the company described as “fresh, flavorful, refreshing and light”, with an herbal note designed to pair with tequila, gin or whiskey.
- burning pineapple combines its namesake fruit with a spicy touch and is suggested to be mixed with vodka, rum, tequila or mezcal.
- spiced tangerinewhich is designed to mix ‘seamlessly’ with any liquor, although tequila, gin or whiskey is recommended
A few months before launching Unmuddled, PepsiCo launched Neon Zebra, another line of non-alcoholic mixers.
“They are designed to appeal to younger consumers who spend more time at home and want to avoid complicated cocktail recipes or large-format mixers,” RetailDive reported.
Now, Coca-Cola has followed its longtime rival into the craft cocktail mixer space.
Coca-Cola’s Simply brand launches a line of blenders
Coke’s Simply brand has been one of the company’s efforts in the juice space. Its main line offers juices, lemonades and almond milk marketed as all-natural. Now, the brand has moved into cocktail mixers with an offering called Simply Mixology.
“The line of all-natural, fruit-flavored juice drinks, made with the same close-to-nature ingredients fans have come to expect from Simply Beverages’ rapidly growing portfolio, are designed to be enjoyed with or without alcohol,” Coca said. -Line. in a press release.
“Three varieties of Simply Mixology, the Strawberry Guava Mojito, Lime Margarita and Peach Sour, will be available beginning January 23 in 52-ounce bottles in the refrigerated juice sections of grocery stores across the United States.”
Coca-Cola noted that the new line speaks to multiple trends: an increase in cocktail consumption and more people drinking non-alcoholic cocktails.
“We know Simply has been a favorite blender for 20 years—you can make an amazing screwdriver with Simply Orange Juice, a great Cape Codder with Simply Cranberry, and an incredible margarita with Simply Limeade,” adds Alex Ames, Creative Director of Nutrition. at Coca-Cola North America.
“With Simply Mixology, we wanted to find a way to simplify and enhance the home drinking experience with great-tasting, natural solutions that not only make amazing shakers, but also stand on their own as ready-to-drink mocktails.” . Coke added.
