PepsiCo to Launch ‘Cocoa’ Cola
The soft drink maker also will allow consumers to customize variety packs of snacks.
Dec 22, 2020 | 2 min read
PURCHASE, N.Y.—PepsiCo’s new “Cocoa” Cola is scheduled to arrive in winter 2021, according to FoodBusinessAfrica.com. The limited edition drink is a blend of hot chocolate and a hint of marshmallow mixed with Pepsi cola.
“There is nothing more classic than hot cocoa on a winter day, but this year has been anything but typical,” said Todd Kaplan, vice president of marketing, Pepsi. “So, why not bring together the delicious taste of a Pepsi with the delicious, wintery taste of chocolate and marshmallow? We are confident we nailed Pepsi Cocoa Cola and can’t wait to get this in the hands of cola fans this winter.”
Pepsi announced its latest flavor last week on Twitter, asking fans to share the announcement to reach more than 2,000 retweets.
With this new drink launch, PepsiCo joins Coca-Cola in the introduction of a hybrid soft beverage. Coca-Cola rolled out its Coca-Cola with Coffee in Japan in 2018, and it’s now available in more than 30 countries, with U.S. distribution slated for early next year.
PepsiCo is also leveraging the direct-to-consumer shopping experience with the launch of what it calls “Make Your Own Variety Pack.” The platform gives consumers an opportunity to get creative with snack customization, allowing them to mix-and-match different Frito-Lay snacks to create a customizable 20-count variety pack for $10.
According to PepsiCo, shopping for snacks online has grown over 100% year-over-year, with the customizable variety consumers are seeking. The latest Frito-Lay U.S. Snack Index1 found that two out of three Americans would be more likely to purchase a variety pack of snacks if they had the ability to customize it.
“Since we launched Snacks.com earlier this year, we’ve seen it resonate with consumers, and our team has uncovered insights to continue giving our consumers more of what they want,” said Michael Lindsey, chief transformation and strategy officer, Frito-Lay North America. “Our ability to own the end-to-end value chain enables us to deliver customized offerings like ‘Make Your Own Variety Pack’ to create a more personalized snacking experience.”
Currently, the variety pack option is available in 27 states and being rolled out nationwide.
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