Pepsi Blue

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Pepsi Blue
A plastic bottle of Pepsi Blue.
Type Flavored soda
Manufacturer PepsiCo
Country of origin United States
Introduced Mid-2002
Discontinued 2004 (Canadian markets)
Related products Crystal Pepsi

Pepsi Blue was a berry-flavored soft drink produced by PepsiCo.

History

Pepsi Blue was launched in mid-2002 and discontinued in Canada and the United States in 2004, although it remains available in Indonesia. Its flavor was the result of taste-testing over 100 flavors over a 9-month period.[1][2] Designed to compete with Vanilla Coke which was produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia. [3] the flavor of Pepsi Blue was described by Pepsi only as "berry" and described by drinkers as like blueberries or raspberries, or similar to cotton candy with a berry-like after taste and much more sugary and syrupy than regular cola. It was tinted using Blue 1,[4] a highly controversial coloring agent banned in numerous countries at the time. The move to make a brightly colored version of the flagship Pepsi brand was spurred by 2001's introduction of Mountain Dew Code Red, which had bumped PepsiCo's Mountain Dew division sales up 6%.[3]

Promotion

Although heavily promoted by PepsiCo, including advertisements by the pop singer Britney Spears and the bands Sev and Papa Roach, as well as in the movies The Italian Job and Garfield: The Movie, it is widely seen as a commercial flop as sales remained low. Even with the failure of Pepsi Blue, PepsiCo still managed to post double-digit growth. [1] Also, multiple groups claim to be "bringing back" Pepsi Blue, but are so far unsuccessful. Pepsi has since denied any plans to bring back Pepsi Blue.[citation needed]

Pepsi Blue was promoted after New York Mets games during the summer of 2002, where the color blue was one of the symbolic colors of the ball club. Other promotions included handing out free bottles from a Pepsi Blue themed VW New Beetle at popular shopping centers around the country. Jolt Cola makes a similar beverage called Jolt Blue CX2; a blue raspberry soda in a battery shaped metal can with a flavor often described as like that of cotton candy. Pepsi Blue was also endorsed by Adam Vinatieri, the then New England Patriots kicker.

In Manila, Philippines, Pepsi Blue was sold for a limited time in late 2002 to commemorate the championship of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP. In 2011, Pepsi released a similar product to the Pepsi Blue in Metro Manila, Philippines called "Pepsi Pinas".[5] In India, Pepsi Blue was sold during the 2003 Cricket World Cup as a gesture of support to the Indian cricket team, the cricketers of which wear blue jerseys.[6]

A similar drink is also featured in Rick Riordan's bestseller series Percy Jackson and the Olympians as the main character's (Percy Jackson) favourite drink.


A contemporary can next to a glass of Pepsi Blue

See also

  • List of Pepsi types

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rick Aristotle Munarriz, for Fool.com. September 5, 2002. "Swallowing Pepsi Blue".
  2. ↑ CNN Money staff. May 7, 2002. "Pepsi Blue is Coming".
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Theresa Howard, for USA Today. May 8, 2002. "Marketers of colorful drinks dye for big sales".
  4. ↑ BevNet.com reviews: Pepsi Blue
  5. ↑ "Pepsi Pinas Goes Global". BBDO Guerrero Philippines. 
  6. ↑ http://www.superbrandsindia.com/images/brand_pdf/consumer_1st_edition_2004/pepsi/pepsi.htm

External links

Varieties of Pepsi
Regular
Low-calorie
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