Dive Brief:
- PepsiCo is launching a new brand of mid-calorie soda called Pepsi True, sweetened with a mix of sugar and stevia.
- Pepsi True is aimed at consumers who have concerns about the health risks of soda. The beverage will contain 30% less sugar than regular Pepsi and is free of high-fructose corn syrup.
- PepsiCo is moving slowly with the new brand. Pepsi True will be debut in October, but will be only sold through Amazon. A slow ramp-up of more traditional distribution will follow.
Dive Insight:
The long-awaited battle between the soda giants over mid-calorie, stevia-sweetened sodas is here.
What's most striking about this early skirmish is how very similar the two products appear to be. Pepsi True, just like Coke Life, isn't sugar-free. Both drinks are essentially the same full-calorie soda they've always sold but with roughly one-third of the sugar replaced by stevia. Pepsi True, just like Coke Life, is set for an ever-so slow launch aimed at building buzz and, more importantly, allowing room to retreat if things don't go well.