Not to be confused with Pepsol.
| Pepsi | ||
|---|---|---|
 The official Pepsi logo. | ||
| Description | ||
| Flavor: | Cola | |
| Color: | Brown | |
| Details | ||
| Current Status: | Permanent Flavor | |
| Locations Available: | Various countries across the world | |
| Year(s) Available: | United States: 1893 - Present | |
| Related Flavors: | Pepsi-Cola Made with Real Sugar Diet Pepsi (Classic Sweetener Blend) Diet Pepsi (Aspartame Free) Caffeine-Free Pepsi Pepsi A.M. | |
| Similar Flavors: | Coca-Cola New Coke Double Cola Royal Crown Cola | |
| Related Promotions: | Pepsi Refresh Project Iconic Summer | |
| Gallery | ||
Pepsi is first introduced as "Brad's Drink" in New Bern, North Carolina, United States (currently renamed as Pepsi around the world) is the main drink in the Pepsi line, and is commonly referred to as the "original" flavor in the world that is being sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines, and it is in more than 200 countries around the world.
Description
Pepsi is cola flavored soda and is brown in color, similar to that of Coca-Cola.
History
Main Article: Pepsi Timeline
In 1893 by Caleb Bradham, who made it at his drugstore where the drink was sold. It was renamed Pepsi Cola in 1898 after the root of the word "dyspepsia" and the kola nuts used in the recipe. The original recipe also included sugar and vanilla. Bradham sought to create a fountain drink that is appealing and would aid in digestion, and boost energy.
In 1903, Bradham moved the bottling of Pepsi-Cola from his drugstore to a rented warehouse. That year, Bradham sold 7,968 gallons of syrup. The next year, Pepsi was sold in six-ounce bottles, and sales increased to 19,848 gallons.
In 1909, automobile race pioneer Barney Oldfield was the first celebrity to endorse Pepsi-Cola, describing it as "A bully drink...refreshing, invigorating, a fine bracer before a race." The advertising theme "Delicious and Healthful" was then used over the next two decades.
In 1931, at the depth of the Great Depression, the Pepsi-Cola Company entered bankruptcy in large part due to financial losses incurred by speculating on the wildly fluctuating sugar prices as a result of World War I Assets were sold and Roy C. Megargel bought the Pepsi trademark. Megargel was unsuccessful, and soon Pepsi's assets were purchased by Charles Guth the President of Loft, Inc. Loft was a candy manufacturer with retail stores that contained soda fountains. He sought to replace Coca-Cola at his stores' fountains after Coke refused to give him a discount on syrup. Guth then had Loft's chemists reformulate the Pepsi-Cola syrup formula.
On three separate occasions between 1922 and 1933, The Coca-Cola Company was offered the opportunity to purchase the Pepsi-Cola company, and it declined on the three separate occasions.
During the Great Depression, Pepsi gained popularity following the introduction in 1936 of a 12-ounce bottle.
In 1975, Pepsi introduced the Pepsi Challenge marketing campaign, where PepsiCo set up a blind tasting between Pepsi-Cola and rival Coca-Cola. During these blind taste tests, the majority of participants picked Pepsi as the better tasting of the two soft drinks. PepsiCo took great advantage of the campaign with television commercials reporting the results to the public.
Sports sponsorships
Pepsi has official sponsorship deals with the National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, and has had sponsorship deals with Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball in the past. They also have the first global sponsorship deals with the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Women's Champions League. Since 1997, retired NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon has been sponsored by Pepsi, and the brand sponsors the NFL Rookie of the Year award. Pepsi also sponsors the Pakistani national cricket team and has been a sponsor of the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL since 1997. In 2017, Pepsi was the jersey sponsor of the Papua New Guinea national basketball team. In addition to sports sponsorships, Pepsi had the naming rights to the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado from 1999 to 2020.
ingredients
Pepsi is a popular carbonated soft drink in the United States, made with carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, sugar, phosphoric acid, caffeine, citric acid, and natural flavors. A can of Pepsi (12 fl ounces) has 41 grams of carbohydrates (all from sugars), 30 mg of sodium, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of protein, 38 mg of caffeine, and 150 calories. Compared to Coca-Cola, Pepsi has ten more calories and two more grams of sugar and carbohydrates. For those who wish to avoid caffeine, Caffeine-Free Pepsi has the same ingredients as regular Pepsi but without caffeine.
In recent years, there has been growing awareness among consumers about the harmful effects of excessive sugar consumption. In response to this trend, some regions like Sweden and The Netherlands have reduced the amount of sugar in Pepsi by replacing it with the artificial sweeteners Aceslufame K and Sucralose. This change was made by PepsiCo Europe as part of their commitment to reduce the amount of sugar in all their drinks by 25% by the end of 2025. The United Kingdom version of Pepsi (distributed by Britvic) also underwent a formula change in March 2023 to reduce sugar, and this will be released in North America later in the year.
Despite these changes, Pepsi remains popular among consumers all over the world due to its unique flavor and long history. The brand has undergone numerous changes since its introduction in 1893, including a name change from Brad's Drink to Pepsi-Cola in 1898 and meandering rivalries with other brands such as Coca-Cola. In recent years, Pepsi has also developed a strong sports sponsorship program, partnering with organizations in football, hockey, basketball, and cricket, as well as sponsoring NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and the NFL Rookie of the Year award. Overall, Pepsi has remained a beloved beverage worldwide, and its popularity doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
- List of Pepsi spokespersons
- Pepsi Max Big One (roller coaster)
- Pepsi Orange Streak (roller coaster)
- Pepsi Python (roller coaster)
- Mountain Dew
- Mountain Dew Amp
- Citrus Blast