Who's a Pepper? Claim: A new Pepsi soda can design omits the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.FALSE
Examples:
[Collected via e-mail, February 2002]
Pepsi has a new patriotic can coming out with pictures of the Empire State Bldg. and the Pledge of Allegiance on them. But Pepsi forgot two little words on the pledge, "Under God." Pepsi said they did not want to offend anyone.
If this is true then we do not want to offend anyone at the Pepsi corporate office. If we do not buy any Pepsi product then they will not receive any of our monies. Our money after all does have the words "Under God" on it. Please pass this word to everyone you know. Tell your Sunday School class tomorrow and tell your Pastors so that they can tell the whole congregation. Christians stand up and let your voices be heard. We want the words "under God" to be read by every person who buys a can.
[Collected via e-mail, February 2003]
To drink or not to drink?
Coca-Cola has a new patriotic can coming out with pictures of the Empire State Building and the Pledge of Allegiance on them. But Coke forgot two little words on the pledge, "Under God."
Coke said they did not want to offend anyone. If this is true then we do not want to offend anyone at the Coke corporate office. If we do not buy any Coke products then they will not receive any of our monies. Our money, after all, does have the words "Under God" on it.
If you agree with this policy, please pass this word to everyone you know. Coke doesn't have the right to rewrite the Pledge Of Allegiance!! If you do not agree, just erase or delete this message.
Origins: Although there once was at least some element of truth to the item quoted above, the information it contains is long outdated and never had anything to do with Pepsi or Coca-Cola. Neither soda company is producing, or has ever produced, redesigned cans bearing any portion of the Pledge of Allegiance or an image of the Empire State Building. This issue concerns a special patriotic can design briefly produced by Dr Pepper back in November 2001, a can which was marketed for a limited time and has been off store shelves since February 2002.
The brouhaha began in mid-November 2001, when the Dr Pepper soft drink company, in response to the terrorist attacks on America a few months earlier, introduced a new can design featuring the Statue of Liberty with the words "ONE NATION ... INDIVISIBLE" from the Pledge of Allegiance displayed above it:
Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper did not print the entire Pledge of Allegiance on their cans while leaving out the words 'under God'; they invoked the Pledge of Allegiance by using a mere three words from the pledge. However, because the three words Dr Pepper chose to use were the words surrounding the phrase 'under God' (which was not itself part of the original pledge as written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 but was added to the pledge by an act of Congress in 1954), the new patriotic can design prompted calls for boycotts from some religious groups and news media who maintained that Dr Pepper had "omitted 'under God'" from their version of the Pledge (because it falls where Dr Pepper used ellipses) and publicized the issue by encouraging a campaign of sending e-mail and letters of complaint to the Dr Pepper company:
Dr Pepper has designed a new patriotic can featuring the Statue of Liberty and the Pledge of Allegiance, but they left out the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. When asked why, Dr Pepper replied: "We felt 'One Nation . . . Indivisible' best represented the message we were trying to get across."
Dr Pepper has also used the excuse that wasn't enough room on the can for the words "Under God". The real reason is that the company didn't want to risk offending anyone who doesn't believe in God. Bad timing. After the events of 9/11, that's just not politically correct anymore!
I really do like Diet Dr Pepper, but I'm joining the ranks of those who won't be buying another one until new cans are printed that include the whole Pledge of Allegiance. I don't want them to simply yank the cans off the shelves, I want new cans printed with the words, "under God" on the can! And if enough people demand this, we'll get it. Walt Disney, AT&T, and K-Mart all chose to ignore boycott efforts; and now those companies are reaping the financial consequences of their decisions.
This is an example letter that can be sent to the unfortunate victim of the latest boycott:
OPEN LETTER TO Dr PEPPER/SEVEN-UP, INC.
President Doug Tough
Dr Pepper/7-Up, Inc.
5301 Legacy Drive
Plano, TX 75024-3109
Toll Free Number 1-800-696-5891
E-Mail address for Mr. Doug Tough:
consumer_relations@dpsu.comDear Mr. Tough, I want to make it very clear that as an American, I am deeply offended that you had the audacity to leave out the all-important words "under God" from our Pledge of Allegiance on your new Dr Pepper cans. It seems you have taken it upon yourself to rewrite our country's Pledge of Allegiance in order not to offend those who don't believe in God. I also want you to know that I am joining the public boycott of Dr Pepper until such time as you rethink your advertising decision. Yanking the cans off the shelves won't be sufficient to correct this error. I demand you have new cans printed, with the words "under God" included in the Pledge of Allegiance and distribute them! At one time, Dr Pepper addressed the issue on its web site, saying: In recent days, several news media outlets in the country have reported on a special edition Dr Pepper can that was created to show support for the patriotic fervor that has been sweeping America since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, and to show the world that we are a united nation of people who place a high value upon freedom. Much of the information being circulated on this subject is incomplete or inaccurate. Here are the facts: The can, released last November, features an image of the Statue of Liberty along with the words "One Nation ... Indivisible." The special packaging was designed to reflect our pride in this country's determination to stand together as one. The Statue of Liberty and Pledge of Allegiance were chosen as two of the greatest symbols of American freedom. Due to space limitations on the can, only a few of the 31 words from the Pledge of Allegiance could be used. The available area for graphics limited the amount of verbiage on the can. Of the 31 words in the Pledge of Allegiance, only three were included. More than 90 percent were not included. We at Dr Pepper/Seven Up strongly believe that the message on these cans is a resoundingly patriotic, bipartisan message that we are a united nation. More than 41 million special edition cans were ordered by Dr Pepper bottlers in portions of a dozen states. Because the limited edition patriotic can is to be retired in February, you will soon see regular packaging graphics for Dr Pepper at your local retail stores. Although 18 million Dr Pepper cans bearing the new design had been produced by February 2002, the company said they had received only "four complaints from Dubuque" and "200 other negative comments nationwide," and the issue seemed to have largely disappeared along with the cans by March 2002. However, when a United States Court of Appeals handed down a decision regarding the constitutionality of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance in June 2002, it breathed new life into the Dr Pepper controversy even though the controversial cans had been off store shelves for months. Messages like the following began circulating much more widely than those of the initial campaign from February 2002: Subject: Dr Pepper Boycott We called on God on 9-11 so what's wrong with him now? For those who have not heard, the bottlers/manufacturers of Dr Pepper and their other products, have started a "new" can campaign. They are putting patriotic scenes on them. One, is the Empire State Bldg. with the pledge of allegiance...but...they left off the words..."under God". They felt it might "offend" some. I don't know about you, but as a Christian, their position offends me! I am boycotting their products! They said they didn't "have room" for those words, but yet they had room for "indivisible" on the can! Please pass this along to others and see if we can get a message out to Dr Pepper . . . if having "under God" on cans offends them, then they don't need our money with "in God we trust" on it! PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO YOUR FRIENDS! Somehow along the way this message morphed into the versions quoted at the head of this page, which inaccurately attribute the "Pledge" can design to Pepsi. Dr Pepper and Pepsi are two completely different companies: Pepsi is a product of the Pepsico corporation; Dr Pepper is a product of Dr Pepper Snapple Group (which was spun off from Cadbury Schweppes in 2008). Although Dr Pepper has been produced and distributed by Pepsi bottlers in some parts of the U.S., the Dr Pepper company has never been owned by PepsiCo, as the Washington Times erroneously reported. PepsiCo eventually had to issue its own rumor alert regarding this issue: FALSE RUMOR ALERT: PATRIOTIC CANS You've received an erroneous email about a "patriotic can" that Pepsi allegedly produced with an edited version of America's Pledge of Allegiance. The truth is, Pepsi never produced such a can. In fact, this is a hoax that has been circulating on the Internet for more than six years. A patriotic package used in 2001 by Dr Pepper (which is not a part of PepsiCo) was inappropriately linked to Pepsi. Thanks for giving us the chance to clarify the situation and please feel free to share this message with anyone else who may have received the erroneous email. In February 2003 we began seeing the call to boycott the soda bottler who had omitted "Under God" from its patrotic cans aimed at Coca-Cola. It was the same wording as the summons to arms against Pepsi that had circulated a year earlier but with "Coke" replacing "Pepsi" in the text. It too was false, as Coca-Cola had had no more to do with the short-lived Dr Pepper cans than had Time Pepsi. However one may feel about the Dr Pepper can design, writing to the company now and threatening to boycott them until they "put 'under God' back on their cans" is pointless. The patriotic "Pledge" can was produced only between November 2001 and February 2002, it was only sold in parts of twelve states, it has long since been retired, and it has not been available in stores since that one time.
Sources:
In 1898, Caleb D. Bradham, a small town pharmacist looked for a name that would better describe his formula which he was selling locally under the name "Brad's Drink." He bought the name "Pep Kola" from a local competitor and changed it to Pepsi-Cola. Today, every one of our workers strives to maintain the same high standards of quality and taste that have made Pepsi so popular the world over. PEPSI ...something for everyone HOME ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS ABOUT OUR INGREDIENTS BRAND SITES STORE LOCATOR Info By Product | Info By Category | Products For Schools Ingredient Glossary | Caffeine | Potassium | Sodium | Sugar Substitutes | Allergens | Other Home > About Our Products > Info By Product Print this page See Nutrition & Ingredient Information for One of Our Products To see information for another product, select the appropriate choices from the drop down boxes and click UPDATE. Product Category: Product: Type: Size: To see information for all products in this category, click here. Pepsi Pepsi - the bold, robust, effervescent magic cola It's the cola pepsiusa.com Nutrition Info Serving size 8 fl oz (240 mL) For More Information on Serving Sizes Click Here. PER SERVING 8 fl oz % DV* Calories 100 - Total Fat (g) 0 0 Sodium (mg) 25 1 Total Carbs (g) 28 9 Sugars (g) 27 - Protein (g) 0 - Not a significant source of other nutrients. *Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Due to variations in sodium contributions from water, the sodium level of our fountain beverages may vary. Ingredients CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CARAMEL COLOR, PHOSPHORIC ACID, CAFFEINE, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVES FRESHNESS), CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVORS Information reflects rounding as required by the Food & Drug Administration (21 CFR 101). This may produce occasional irregularities in some values when comparing information for different serving sizes. Product may not be available in all areas. More Information Because You Asked PER SERVING 8 fl oz Caffeine (mg) 25 Potassium (mg) 10 Phosphorous (mg) 36 Acesulfame Potassium (mg) 0 Aspartame (mg) 0 Sucralose (mg) 0
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Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry – Product UpdateFor over 100 years, Pepsi-Cola has produced some of the finest soft drink ads available anywhere in the world. From today's "Joy of Pepsi," as sung by Britney Spears, to yesterday's "Nickel, Nickel" (1939), our ads are as memorable as the products we produce. Check out highlights of our favorite ads here.
2004: Pepsi unveils five new TV commercials for Pepsi and Sierra Mist on Super Bowl XXXVIII, making this the 19th straight year that Pepsi has advertised in the big game.
• On Super Bowl Sunday, Apple and Pepsi officially launch a historic promotion to legally give away millions of free songs to Mac and Windows PC users from Apple's iTunes Music Store.
• On the Academy Awards telecast, Diet Pepsi stole the spotlight as the country’s fastest-growing major soft drink bowed a new advertising campaign with the tagline, “Diet Pepsi. It’s the Diet Cola. The zero-calorie cola brand illustrates how it is the best option to go with food and social occasions, much like its sister brand, Pepsi-Cola.
• Two popular sportscasters help turn life’s everyday moments into a cause for celebration in a new advertising campaign for Pepsi EDGE, the new cola with full-flavored taste but half the sugar, carbs & calories of regular colas. The campaign tagline, "This moment deserves a Pepsi EDGE," reminds consumers that they can reward themselves with a Pepsi EDGE for completing even the simplest of tasks.
• Mountain Dew brings nostalgia back into pop culture as it introduces new commercials featuring the classic Mad Magazine "Spy vs. Spy" characters — who will stop at nothing to get their Dew.
2003: Pepsi-Cola unveils a new advertising campaign, "Pepsi. It's the Cola," which is the brand's first major campaign shift since 1999. The new campaign highlights the popular soft drink that goes with everything from food to fun.
• Pepsi's last major campaign change was in 1999, when it debuted "The Joy of Cola," which became "The Joy of Pepsi" in 2000.
• Pepsi updates its look with a bolder, more contemporary image that better captures the brand's youthful attitude.
• Mountain Dew offers its third line extension with Mountain Dew LiveWire, combining the unique citrus taste of Mountain Dew with a bold orange flavor. Available summer 2003.
• Pepsi's blockbuster summer promotion "Pepsi Play for a Billion" gives 1,000 consumers the chance to play for $1 billion on a live television show on The WB. A guaranteed $1 million prizewinner will be chosen and will then have a chance to win $1 billion without forfeiting the $1 million prize.
• In September, Richard Bay, a 42-year-old high school teacher from Princeton, West Virginia, became a millionaire on "Pepsi Play for a Billion" on The WB. Bay and the television audience then held their collective breath to see if he would also win the billion dollars. Instead, his number was two digits off the billion-dollar number, but Bay was still pleased with his cool million.
2002: In March, supermodel Cindy Crawford helps introduce a new look for Diet Pepsi. The updated graphics better represent the brand's light, crisp, refreshing qualities.
• Pepsi-Cola teams up with the National Football League, becoming its Official Soft Drink Sponsor.
• Pepsi declares, "It's a blue thing," and unveils Pepsi Blue in July. A fusion of berries with a splash of cola, the blue-hued soft drink is created by and for teens. Through nine months of research and development, Pepsi asks young consumers what they want most in a new cola. Their response: "Make it berry and make it blue."
• In December, American music and film sensation Beyoncé Knowles is welcomed as the newest member of the Pepsi family.
2001: The popular "Joy of Cola" tagline gets an update, becoming the "Joy of Pepsi." Three months later, Britney Spears stars in a blockbuster Pepsi commercial that breaks during the Academy Awards. An hour before the telecast, the high-energy spot debuts online, where more than 2 million fans click their way to Britney's own version of the "Joy of Pepsi."
• Thirsty consumers are invited to "discover a sensation as real as the streets," when cherry-flavored Mountain Dew Code Red is introduced.
• Pepsi puts a little twist on a great thing, unveiling the first national TV commercial for new lemon-flavored Pepsi Twist.
2000: The popular Pepsi Challenge makes its return, and consumers across the country let their taste decide the best cola and one-calorie cola. Helping launch the Challenge are two of baseball's top sluggers – Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr.
• On the airwaves, the "Joy of Cola" campaign is a hit as "Pepsi Girl" Hallie Eisenberg rocks with pop star Faith Hill and perennial rockers KISS.
• Among those doing the Dew is hip-hop artist Busta Rhymes, and Aquafina launches its first-ever television advertising campaign.
1999: "The Joy of Cola" new advertising campaign for brand Pepsi features the voices of actors Marlon Brando, Issac Hayes and "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin.
• Pepsi and Lucasfilm team up again as Star Wars Episode 1, The Phantom Menace hits movie theaters. Consumer excitement is heightened as special Pepsi bottles and cans offer 24 different Star Wars characters. The collection series includes an all-gold Yoda can. In addition, Pepsi introduces animated character "Marfalump," Star Wars' biggest fan, in its ads supporting the film.
• In a dramatic restructuring of this business, Pepsi announces one of the largest IPOs in history. On March 31, 1999, the Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (PBG) becomes a publicly traded company and the largest Pepsi bottler (http://www.pbg.com).
1998: Pepsi celebrates its centennial year with a birthday party attended by Pepsi-Cola bottlers from all over the world. Joining the festivities are Pepsi stars and friends, including Ray Charles, Kool and the Gang and the Rolling Stones. President and Mrs. George Bush, Lady Thatcher and Walter Cronkite also help to commemorate the occasion where the legacy of Pepsi is honored, and a new look for the millennium is unveiled: the three-dimensional symbol for one Pepsi family – poised for innovation and world leadership as it enters the new century.
1997: "GeneratioNext" signals a return to the long-running "generation" theme, and pop stars, The Spice Girls, build on the excitement of Pepsi advertising.
• A group of disco-dancing bears high-step their way into national popularity when they feel the pull of Pepsi and the beat of the Village People.
1996: The "Nothing Else Is A Pepsi" campaign makes its point in a memorable way when "Security Camera" catches a competitor's salesman preferring Pepsi.
• Lucasfilm and Pepsi agree to a long-term partnership for the Star Wars films and sequels.
1995: America raves over the new "Nothing Else Is A Pepsi" advertising campaign. The commercials achieve the highest popularity ratings ever and win top honors at the prestigious Cannes Advertising Festival.
• Pepsi is now the "Choice of a New Generation" in 195 countries around the world.
1994: Pepsi teaches consumers the importance of product expiration dates by adding "Freshness" information to each and every package sold.
1993: "Be Young, Have Fun, Drink Pepsi" advertising starring basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal is rated as best in the U.S.
1992: Celebrities join consumers, declaring that they "Gotta Have It." The interim campaign supplants "Choice of a New Generation" as work proceeds on new Pepsi advertising for the '90s.
• Mountain Dew growth continues, supported by the antics of an outrageous new Dew Crew whose claim to fame is that, except for the unique great taste of Dew, they've "Been There, Done That, Tried That."
1991: "You Got the Right One Baby" is modified to "You Got the Right One Baby, Uh-Huh!" The "Uh-Huh Girls" join Ray Charles as backup singers, and a campaign soon to become the most popular advertising in America is on its way.
• Supermodel Cindy Crawford stars in an award-winning commercial made to introduce the updated Pepsi logo and package graphics.
1990: Teen stars Fred Savage and Kirk Cameron join the "New Generation" campaign, and football legend Joe Montana returns in a spot challenging other celebrities to taste their colas against Pepsi.
• Music legend Ray Charles stars in a new Diet Pepsi campaign, "You Got the Right One Baby."
1989: "The Choice of A New Generation" theme expands to categorize Pepsi users as "A Generation Ahead."
1988: Michael Jackson returns to "New Generation" advertising to star in a four-part "episodic" commercial named "Chase." The ad airs during the Grammy Awards program and is hailed by the media as "the most watched commercial in advertising history."
1987: After an absence of 27 years, Pepsi returns to New York's famed Times Square with a spectacular 850-square-foot electronic display billboard, declaring Pepsi to be "America's Choice."
1985: Lionel Ritchie leads a star-studded parade into "New Generation" advertising followed by pop music icons Tina Turner and Gloria Estefan. Sports heroes Joe Montana and Dan Marino are part of it, as are film and television stars Teri Garr and Billy Crystal.
• Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman nominated to be vice president of the U.S., stars in a Diet Pepsi spot. And the irrepressible Michael J. Fox brings special talent, style and spirit to a series of Pepsi and Diet Pepsi commercials, including a classic, "Apartment 10G."
1984: A new generation has emerged – in the United States, around the world and in Pepsi advertising, too. "Pepsi. The Choice of a New Generation" announces the change, and the most popular entertainer of the time, Michael Jackson, stars in the first two commercials of the new campaign. The two spots quickly become "the most eagerly anticipated advertising of all time."
1983: The soft drink market grows more competitive, but for Pepsi drinkers, the battle is won. The time is right and so is their soft drink. It's got to be "Pepsi Now!"
1982: With all the evidence showing that more people prefer the taste of Pepsi, the only question remaining is how to add that message to Pepsi Generation advertising. The answer? "Pepsi's Got Your Taste for Life!" – a celebration of great times and great taste.
1979: With the end of the '70s comes the end of a national malaise. Patriotism has been restored by an exuberant celebration of the U.S. bicentennial, and Americans are looking forward to the future with renewed optimism. "Catch that Pepsi Spirit!" catches the mood, and the Pepsi Generation carries it forward into the '80s.
1976: "Have a Pepsi Day" is the Pepsi Generation's upbeat reflection of an improving national mood. "Puppies," a 30-second snapshot of an encounter between a very small boy and some even smaller dogs, becomes an instant commercial classic.
1975: The Pepsi Challenge, a landmark marketing strategy, convinces millions of consumers that more people prefer the taste of Pepsi.
1973: Pepsi Generation advertising continues to evolve. "Join the Pepsi People, Feelin' Free" captures the mood of a nation involved in massive social and political change. It pictures us the way we are – one people, but with many personalities.
1969: "You've Got a Lot to Live. Pepsi's Got a Lot to Give" marks a shift in Pepsi Generation advertising strategy. Youth and lifestyle are still the campaign's driving forces, but with "Life/Give," a new awareness and a reflection of contemporary events and mood become integral parts of the advertising's texture.
1967: When research indicates that consumers place a premium on the superior taste of Pepsi when chilled, "Taste That Beats the Others Cold. Pepsi Pours It On," emphasizes the brand's product superiority. The campaign, while product-oriented, adheres closely to the energetic, youthful lifestyle imagery established in the initial Pepsi Generation campaign.
1966: The first independent Diet Pepsi campaign, "Girlwatchers," focuses on the cosmetic benefits of the low-calorie cola. The ad's musical theme becomes a Top 40 hit. Advertising for another new product, Mountain Dew, a regional brand acquired in 1964, airs for the first time, built around the instantly recognizable tag line, "Ya-Hoo, Mountain Dew!"
1964: A new product, Diet Pepsi, is introduced into Pepsi-Cola advertising.
1963: In one of the most significant demographic events in commercial history, the post-war baby boom emerges as a social and marketplace phenomenon. Pepsi recognizes the change and positions Pepsi as the brand belonging to the new generation – The Pepsi Generation. "Come Alive! You're in the Pepsi Generation" makes advertising history. It is the first time a product is identified, not so much by its attributes, as by its consumers' lifestyles and attitudes.
1961: Pepsi further refines its target audiences, recognizing the increasing importance of the younger, post-war generation. "Now It's Pepsi, For Those Who Think Young" defines youth as a state of mind as much as a chronological age, maintaining the brand's appeal to all market segments.
1959: Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev and U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon meet in the soon-to-be-famous "kitchen debate" at an international trade fair in Moscow. The meeting, over cups of Pepsi, is photo-captioned in the U.S. as "Krushchev Gets Sociable."
1958: Pepsi struggles to enhance its brand image. Sometimes referred to as "the kitchen cola," as a consequence of its long-time positioning as a bargain brand, Pepsi now identifies itself with young, fashionable consumers with the "Be Sociable, Have a Pepsi" theme. A distinctive "swirl" bottle replaces the earlier straight-sided bottle.
1956: 149 Pepsi-Cola bottling plants are operating in 61 countries outside the U.S.
1954: "The Light Refreshment" evolves to incorporate "Refreshing Without Filling."
1953: Americans become more weight-conscious, and a new strategy based on lower caloric content of Pepsi is implemented with "The Light Refreshment" campaign.
1950: "More Bounce to the Ounce" becomes the new Pepsi theme as changing soft drink economics force Pepsi to raise prices to competitive levels. Alfred N. Steele becomes President and CEO of Pepsi-Cola. His wife, Hollywood movie star Joan Crawford, is instrumental in promoting the company's product line.
1949: "Why Take Less When Pepsi's Best?" is added to "Twice as Much" advertising.
1948: The Pepsi-Cola corporate headquarters moves from Long Island City, New York, to Midtown Manhattan. Pepsi is produced in cans for the first time.
1947: International profits reach $6,769,000. Pepsi moves into the Philippines and Middle East.
1943: The "Twice as Much" advertising strategy expands to includes the theme, "Bigger Drink, Better Taste." Sugar is again rationed during World War II. To counter the effects of rationing, Mack purchases a sugar plantation in Cuba, which proves to be a highly profitable venture.
1941: In support of America's war effort, Pepsi changes the color of its bottle crowns to red, white and blue. A Pepsi canteen in Times Square, New York, operates throughout the war, enabling more than a million families to record messages for armed services personnel overseas. Pepsi-Cola Company, until now a subsidiary of Loft Incorporate, is merged with Loft. Since the Pepsi brand name has become more famous than that of its owner, the parent company's name is changed to Pepsi-Cola Company. Pepsi-Cola stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange for the first time.
1940: Pepsi makes advertising history with the first advertising jingle ever broadcast nationwide. "Nickel, Nickel," will eventually become a hit record and will be translated into 55 languages. A new, more modern logo is adapted.
1939: Having survived the Great Depression and a handful of ownership changes, Pepsi is still being sold in a 12-ounce bottle for just a nickel – twice as much refreshment as other soft drinks for the same price. A newspaper cartoon strip, "Pepsi & Pete," introduces the theme, "Twice as Much for a Nickel," to increase consumer awareness of the Pepsi value advantage. Walter S. Mack Jr. is elected President of Pepsi-Cola Company.
1938: The trademark is registered in the Soviet Union. There are 85 Pepsi-Cola bottlers operating under franchise agreements across Canada.
1936: Pepsi-Cola Limited of London is established. 94 new U.S. franchises are granted. Year-end profits reach $2,100,000.
1935: Pepsi-Cola operations are moved to Long Island City, New York. The company sets up national territorial boundaries for the Pepsi bottler franchise system. Compania Pepsi-Cola de Cuba is formed.
1934: A landmark year for Pepsi-Cola. The drink is a hit, and to attract even more sales, Pepsi begins selling a 12-ounce bottle for five cents – the same price charged by its competitors for six ounces. The 12-ounce bottle debuts in Baltimore, where it is an instant success. The cost savings prove irresistible to depression-worn Americans, and sales skyrocket nationally. Pepsi-Cola Company of Canada Limited is formed. Caleb Bradham, the founder of Pepsi-Cola and "Brad's Drink," dies.
1932: The trademark is registered in Argentina.
1931: U.S. District Court for Eastern District Virginia declares the National Pepsi-Cola Company bankrupt. Loft, Inc., the giant candy company, buys Pepsi-Cola Company.
1928: After five continuous losing years, the company is reorganized as the National Pepsi-Cola Company.
1923: Pepsi-Cola Company is declared bankrupt and its assets are sold to a North Carolina concern, Craven Holding Corporation, for $30,000.
1922: An attempt at reorganization fails as few shares of stock are sold and investor interest in the new company wanes.
1921: The collapse of the sugar market results in enormous financial losses for Pepsi-Cola Company. Bradham attempts to put the company back on its feet by borrowing cash and selling assets and additional shares of stock. But by the end of the year, the company is insolvent and the bottling network collapses. Only two plants remain open.
1920: Pepsi appeals to consumers: "Drink Pepsi-Cola. It Will Satisfy You." The price of sugar on the New York Exchange reaches 26 cents per pound. Bradham gambles on the price going higher and buys large stocks of sugar. By the end of the year, sugar demand slows on the open market and the price drops to a catastrophic low of two cents per pound.
1917-18: Price controls hold sugar at 5-1/2 cents per pound during WWI. When the war ends, so do the price controls. The price of sugar begins an upward spiral.
1910: The first Pepsi-Cola bottlers' convention is held in New Bern, North Carolina.
1909: Automobile racing pioneer Barney Oldfield becomes the first celebrity to endorse Pepsi when he appears in newspaper ads describing Pepsi: "A bully drink…refreshing, invigorating, a fine bracer before a race." The theme "Delicious and Healthful" appears and will be used intermittently over the next two decades.
1908: Pepsi-Cola becomes one of the first companies to modernize delivery from horse-drawn carts to motor vehicles. A total of 250 bottlers are now under contract in 24 states.
1907: Pepsi-Cola Company continues to expand. The bottling network reaches 40 franchises. The trademark is registered in Mexico, and syrup sales top 100,000 gallons.
1906: The logo is redesigned and a new slogan is added: "The Original Pure Food Drink." The Pepsi-Cola trademark is registered in Canada. There are 15 Pepsi bottling plants in the U.S., and syrup sales reach 38,605 gallons.
1905: A new logo appears, the first change from the original created in 1898. First Pepsi-Cola bottling franchises are established in Charlotte and Durham, North Carolina.
1904: Bradham purchases a building in New Bern known as the Bishop factory for $5,000 and moves all bottling and syrup operations to this location. Sales increase to 19,848 gallons.
1903: "Doc" Bradham moves the bottling of Pepsi-Cola from his drugstore to a rented warehouse. In keeping with its origin as a pharmacist's concoction, Bradham's advertising praises his drink: "Exhilarating, Invigorating, Aids Digestion." And he sells 7,968 gallons of syrup in his first year of operation.
1902: The instant popularity of this new drink leads Bradham to devote all of his energy to developing Pepsi-Cola into a full-fledged business, and he applies for a trademark with the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C. The first Pepsi-Cola Company is formed.
1898: One of Bradham's formulations, known as "Brad's Drink," a combination of carbonated water, sugar, vanilla, rare oils and kola nuts, is renamed "Pepsi-Cola" on Aug. 28.
1893: Caleb Bradham, a young pharmacist from New Bern, North Carolina, begins experimenting with many different soft drink concoctions; patrons and friends sample them at his drug store fountain.
History Of The Pepsi-Cola Logo
The Pepsi logo has made a remarkable evolution over the years into the three-dimensional globe against an ice blue background that's become synonymous with Pepsi products. Check out a recap of the Pepsi logo over the years.
Pepsi-Cola Logo Timeline
1998: In celebration of the company's centennial, Pepsi unveils a new look – a three-dimensional globe against an ice blue background, which becomes a universal symbol for one Pepsi family – poised for innovation and world leadership as it enters the new millennium.
1991: To foster the earlier scripted logo's sense of movement, "Pepsi," now in italic capital typeface, is removed from a smaller blue and red Pepsi swirl and runs vertically up the package.
1973: The logo evolves into a boxed look with minor typeface changes occurring throughout the decade.
1965: The "Bottle Cap" look is replaced with two bulls-eye swish marks surrounding "Pepsi."
1962: A "serrated" bottle cap logo debuts, accompanying the brand's groundbreaking "Pepsi Generation" ad campaign.
1943: The logo incorporates a "bottle cap" look. The bottle cap logo includes the tag, "Bigger Drink, Better Taste." In 1958, the Pepsi swirl bottle bows with the "Be Sociable" advertising campaign.
1941: To support the war effort, the Pepsi bottle crown colors change to red, white and blue.
1940: New CEO Walter Mack adopts standardized embossed 12-oz. bottle, which debuts with the "Pepsi-Cola" label blown and baked into the glass.
1933: After giant candy company Loft, Inc. buys the company in 1931, Pepsi-Cola sells for 10 cents in a 12-ounce bottle instead of the standard six-ounce package size. The tagline "Refreshing & Healthful" is added to the Pepsi bottle logo. When the price of a "twelve full ounce" bottle is slashed to 5 cents, the tagline is dropped.
1906: Modified script logo is created along with the slogan, "The Original Pure Food Drink."
1903: The Pepsi-Cola trademark is registered.
1898: New Bern, N.C., pharmacist Caleb Bradham renames "Brad's Drink," his carbonated fountain cola concoction, Pepsi-Cola.
Brand Sites
Want to know more about our products and what makes them some of America's favorite drinks and most talked about brands? Simply click on the product logos or links below and check out our brand sites.
AMP Energy by Mountain Dew AMP Energy
More Power to You
ampenergy.com Aquafina Aquafina
Make your body happy!
aquafina.com Dole Juice Dole Juice
Healthy juices on the go
dolejuice.com
Ethos Water Ethos Water
Helping children get clean water.
ethoswater.com Gatorade Gatorade
Rehydrate. Replenish. Refuel.
gatorade.com Lipton Brisk Lipton Brisk
It’s bold. It’s refreshing.
It’s Lipton Brisk.
liptonbrisk.com
Lipton Pure Leaf Tea Lipton Iced Tea
Refreshment comes in
many flavors.
liptonicedtea.com Lipton Pure Leaf Tea Lipton Pure Leaf Tea
Lipton Tea can do that.
liptonpureleaf.com Mountain Dew Mountain Dew
Do the Dew
mountaindew.com
Mug Root Beer Mug Root Beer
The taste you crave
mugrootbeer.com No Fear No Fear
Man Up!
energy.nofear.com Pepsi Pepsi
It’s the cola
pepsiusa.com
Pepsi Max Pepsi Max
The Invigorating Cola
pepsimax.com Propel Propel
Water. Propelled.
propelwater.com Sierra Mist Sierra Mist
It’s that refreshing
sierramist.com
SoBe SoBe
SoBelieve!
sobeworld.com Starbucks Coffee Drinks Starbucks Coffee Drinks
A new way to refresh
doubleshot.com
MANZANITA SOL Manzanita Sol 110 0 25 29 28 0 - - - -
MIRINDA Mirinda - Strawberry 110 0 50 29 29 0 0 0 0 0
MOUNTAIN DEW Mountain Dew 110 0 35 29 29 0 - - - -
Mountain Dew Baja Blast 110 0 30 29 29 0 0 0 0 0
Mountain Dew Code Red 110 0 35 31 31 0 0 - 0 0
Diet Mountain Dew 0 0 40 0 0 0 - - - -
MUG Mug Root Beer 100 0 15 26 26 0 - - - -
PATIO Patio Ginger Ale 90 0 20 23 23 0 0 0 0 0
Patio Quinine Tonic 80 0 20 22 22 0 0 0 0 0
PEPSI Pepsi 100 0 25 28 27 0 - - - -
Caffeine Free Pepsi 100 0 20 28 28 0 - - - -
Pepsi Wild Cherry 100 0 20 28 28 0 0 0 0 0
Diet Pepsi 0 0 25 0 0 0 - - - -
Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi 0 0 25 0 0 0 - - - -
SIERRA MIST Sierra Mist 100 0 20 27 27 - - - - -
Diet Sierra Mist 0 0 25 0 0 0 - - - -
TROPICANA TWISTER SODA Tropicana Twister Soda - Orange 110 0 25 31 30 0 - - - -
If they only had a heart. Upon seeing this week's 