Content about Pepsi

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Pepsi unveiled its latest television ad, which celebrates the brand's rich music history, during the premiere of Fox's "The X Factor."

The "Music Icons" spot, which features global icons Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Kanye West, Ray Charles and Mariah Carey, was in line with the concept of "The X Factor," which is to search for the next pop music star. The spot also featured the following slogan: "where there’s Pepsi, there’s music."

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo has expanded its board of directors with a new member.

Bunge chairman and CEO Alberto Weisser will join Pepsi's board, effective Sept. 14. Bunge is a global food, commodity and agribusiness company.

Weisser's election brings the total number of directors to 13 and the total number of independent outside directors to 12. PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi serves as the company's inside director.

LOS ANGELES — Pepsi announced that it is bringing back its memorable Diet Pepsi and Ray Charles ads for "You Got the Right One Baby, Uh-Huh!" with a line of retro T-shirts.

The recent collaboration was brokered through The Joester Loria Group, Pepsi's exclusive licensing agency for North America, and Act III Licensing in conjunction with the Ray Charles Marketing Group, the licensing agency for The Ray Charles Foundation. The collection, designed by licensee Ripple Junction features imagery of the late music legend Ray Charles.


Sports drinks and energy beverages remain the driving forces behind the beverage category. Dollar volume across all three channels for both segments spiked nearly 15% for the 12-week period ended April 17, according to SymphonyIRI Group data.


PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo said that it is ready to test market a new reduced-sugar cola.

The company said that its latest innovation, Pepsi Next, would be available in the Iowa and Wisconsin markets. The beverage offers consumers the taste of a full-calorie cola while touting less sugar, Pepsi said at the Beverage Digest Wall Street Smarts conference on Monday.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo is building on the social networking experience by providing consumers with a new kind of vending system.

The company announced plans to roll out an interactive vending machine, dubbed the Social Vending System, which features a full touchscreen that enables users to give a gift to a friend by selecting a beverage, entering the recipient's name, mobile number and a personalized text message. There's also the option to further personalize the gift with a short video recorded right at the machine.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A former PepsiCo executive has joined Kellogg's as its new SVP global supply chain.

Steven Sterling, who most recently served as group VP operations for Pepsi's Frito-Lay division, joined Kellogg's on Friday. He will serve as a member of the company's executive leadership team and report to Kellogg president and CEO John Bryant.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo has appointed Maura Abeln Smith as its new EVP government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective May 5.

Smith, who now will be responsible for the company's worldwide legal function and government affairs organization, succeeds current EVP Larry Thompson, who is retiring from the company.

Prior to this position, Smith served for eight years as SVP, general counsel, corporate secretary and global government relations of International Paper. She has worked as a corporate attorney for more than 30 years, Pepsi said.

PLANO, Texas — According to published reports, Dr Pepper is gearing up to launch a 10-calorie beverage targeted at male consumers.

The move by Dr Pepper for Dr Pepper Ten — a product that the company hopes will reach 25- to 34-year-old men — is similar to such competitors as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which omitted "diet" from their respective Coke Zero and Pepsi Max products, perhaps betting that the word carries a negative connotation.

LAUREL, Md. — There’s no mistaking the emphasis of this Pepsi display here at a Shoppers (a Supervalu banner) located between Baltimore and Washington in the week leading up to the National Football League’s main event. 

The eye-catching soda wall is conveniently located opposite the salty snacks display, making chips, dip and soda all an easy grab for the Super Bowl partygoer.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo has upped its investment in O.N.E., a coconut water company.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but PepsiCo noted that it now has the majority stake in the company.

"Coconut water is one of the fastest-growing categories in the U.S. beverage market, and one in which we see a great deal of potential. Our investment in O.N.E. is an investment in the future," said Massimo d'Amore, CEO of PepsiCo Beverages Americas.

Supplier News — PepsiCo and GNC are teaming up to develop and sell fortified coconut water products. The Phenom brand will launch during second quarter 2011 and will be sold exclusively at GNC stores and GNC.com. 



One of Hershey’s popular mint brands is adding a powerfully cool taste experience to its line. Ice Breakers Frost sugar-free mints are coated with xylitol, cooling and flavor crystals and will be available in Wintercool and peppermint varieties. The mints are now available in 1.2-oz. containers.