Coca-Cola for decades (KO) – Get a Free Report and PepsiCo (PEP) – Get a Free Report We fought over which one was the tastiest glue. This led to the famous “Pepsi Challenge” marketing campaign, which began in 1975 and has been used periodically ever since.
The basic condition was simple. People were asked to sample both Pepsi and Coke in a blind taste test and, at least according to the ads, Pepsi was the big winner.
In reality, people swear by one brand over another and ask, “Which one is better?” the question is really only for marketing campaigns and personal tastes.
Coke and Pepsi’s battle for supremacy has spanned all sorts of soda fields. Both recently switched to “zero sugar” recipes (using the word diet is now taboo). PepsiCo also recently killed lemon-lime The Sierra Mist brand is a new attempt to dethrone Coke’s Sprite by replacing it with Starry.
In recent years, this battle has moved beyond soda to juice, water, energy drinks, iced teas, and more. The main reason for this is that soda sales peaked in the United States in 1999.
“After peaking in the late 1990s, per capita soft drink consumption has declined every year since then.” IbisWorld. “There are two reasons behind the decline: increased health consciousness and price increases. Carbonated soft drinks provide little nutritional value, even though many of these drinks provide the entire recommended daily intake of sugar in a 12-ounce can.”
Here’s a point that explains why. In fact, it is also possible that consumers have more choices and prefer other drinks.
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Coca-Cola moves to mixers
More recently, Coke and Pepsi have dipped their toes into spirits. It is an adjacent space where both choose to work with partners.
In June 2021, PepsiCo launched a new line of alcohol-free mixers designed to capitalize on the growing craft-cocktail market.
Unmuddled premium mixers to hit shelves in September Soul work said the time. “This range comes in three flavors made with juice and no artificial sweeteners.”
Pepsi’s Unmuddled line includes:
- Lemon Mint, which the company describes as “cool, delicious, refreshing and light,” with a herbal note designed to pair with tequila, gin or whiskey.
- Flaming Pineapple it matches its namesake fruit with a spicy kick and is recommended for mixing with vodka, rum, tequila or mezcal.
- Spicy Tangerinedesigned to mix “seamlessly” with any spirit, although tequila, gin or whiskey are recommended.
A few months before launching Unmuddled, PepsiCo released another line of alcohol-free mixers, Neon Zebra.
“They’re designed to appeal to younger consumers who spend more time at home and want to avoid complicated cocktail recipes or large-format mixers,” RetailDive reports.
Now Coca-Cola has followed its longtime rival into the craft-cocktail-mixer space.
Launches Coca-Cola’s Simply Brand Mixer Line
Coke’s Simply brand has been one of the company’s juice efforts. Its main line offers naturally sold juices, lemonades and almond milk. Now the brand has moved into cocktail mixers with an offering called Simply Mixology.
“Made with the same close-to-nature ingredients fans have come to expect from Simply Beverages’ rapidly growing portfolio, the line of fruity, all-natural flavored juices is designed to be enjoyed with or without alcohol,” Coca-Cola said in a news release.
“Three Simply Mixology varieties – Strawberry Guava Mojito, Lime Margarita and Peach Sour – will be available in 52-ounce bottles in refrigerated juice sections of grocery stores across the U.S. starting January 23rd.”
Coca-Cola noted that the new line speaks to several trends: the increase in cocktail consumption and more people drinking non-alcoholic alcoholic beverages.
“We’ve known that Simply has been a favorite mixer for 20 years—you can make a mean screwdriver with Simply Orange Juice, a great Cape Codder with Simply Cranberry, and a killer margarita with Simply Limeade,” adds Alex Ames, creative director of nutrition. Coca-Cola in North America.
“With Simply Mixology, we wanted to find a way to simplify and elevate the home drinking experience with not only amazing mixers, but delicious, natural solutions that stand out as ready-to-drink cocktails.” Coke was added.
