Press Release
Prepare Your Senses for Pepsi Blue: A Fusion of Berry and
Cola; Pepsi-Cola North America (PCNA), the industry's fastest-growing total beverage company, today unveiled its latest soft drink innovation -- a fusion of berry and cola, Pepsi Blue. Providing a whole new beverage experience, Pepsi Blue will be launched nationally in 20-ounce bottles in August. "With its unique look and taste, Pepsi Blue has the potential to reinvigorate the cola category," said Gary Rodkin, president and CEO of PCNA. "We're convinced innovation is the key to growth. In the past 15 months alone, with exciting new products like Mountain Dew Code Red, Pepsi Twist and Sierra Mist, we've proved consumers -- particularly teens and young adults -- will respond enthusiastically to new carbonated soft drinks. We think Pepsi Blue can do for cola what Code Red did for Dew -- that is, grow the entire category." "Pepsi Blue was developed by and for teens," said Dave Burwick, SVP, marketing, carbonated soft drink brands, for PCNA. "We talked to thousands of teens about creating a cola fusion, and they told us two things: Make it berry and make it blue. Teens understand fusion better than any other age group. They live it every day -- in their music, fashion and culture." Nine months in the making, Pepsi Blue was one of more than 100 cola fusion concepts tested by PCNA's innovation and R&D groups. It was the resounding choice among thousands of teens, two-thirds of whom said they would purchase Pepsi Blue regularly when available. Pre-launch marketing activities will reflect the grassroots approach
PCNA established last year for Mountain Dew Code Red. Gradually building
Pepsi Blue awareness among retail customers and
consumers, sampling efforts will begin in teen hangouts and other
youth-oriented venues over the next few weeks. The impending introduction
of Pepsi Blue also will be teased on the Internet,
outdoor postings and other nontraditional outlets. |