Dive Brief:
- PepsiCo is officially bringing back Crystal Pepsi for a limited time via a sweepstakes after hinting that the company would reintroduce the 1990s-era variety over the summer.
- The sweepstakes will run on the "Pepsi Pass" app from Dec. 10 to Dec. 11, and winners will find out about the clear soda prize on Dec. 14. PepsiCo also released a video to promote the soda's return, which features the '90s theme, "Whoomp! (There It Is)."
- "Loyal Crystal Pepsi fans and their enthusiastic requests for its return, inspired Pepsi to bring back this iconic '90s product for the holiday season," a spokeswoman told Ad Age.
Dive Insight:
Back in June, competitive eating star Kevin Strahle, a self-proclaimed Crystal Pepsi fan, received a letter from PepsiCo after his social media campaign to bring Crystal Pepsi back. In the letter, PepsiCo wrote, "We definitely hear you and your followers and we think you'll all be happy with what's in store."
The return of retro sodas has been a common theme for major soda companies looking to drum up sales. Last week, PepsiCo said it would be bringing back its Mtn Dew Pitch Black in a limited supply, also available via a sweepstakes, after it too had a social media campaign asking for its return.
Coca-Cola offered its own throwback soda, Surge, selling the variety in a partnership with Amazon starting in 2014 and rolling out Surge to some stores in the U.S. earlier this year.