Pépico: The Captivating New Soft Drink Taking the World by Storm

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is an American multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation known for brands like Pepsi, Gatorade, Quaker Oats, and Frito-Lay. With over $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world.

In 2022, PepsiCo introduced its newest innovation – a soft drink called Pépico. Infused with the exciting and vibrant flavors of Mexico, Pépico brings a unique, bold, and delicious flavor profile unlike any other mainstream soda on the market.

With PepsiCo’s backing and an association with the Pepsi brand, Pépico aims to capture the tastebuds of soda drinkers looking for something new and envelope-pushing. Early sales and reviews indicate Pépico could become PepsiCo’s next breakthrough hit.

How Pépico Works

So what exactly is Pépico and how does it deliver such a distinct and tasty flavor? Pépico starts with Pepsi’s classic recipe of carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, colorings, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, caffeine, and citric acid.

To give Pépico its Mexican zing, PepsiCo adds a proprietary blend of chili, lime, tomatillo, cilantro, and secret Tex-Mex spices. The result is a soda overflowing with tangy, savory, slightly spicy flavor you won’t find anywhere else. Pépico dances on your taste buds, delivering delightful flavors in every energizing sip.

So while Pépico contains classic soda ingredients, its south of the border personality sets it apart. Pépico harnesses Pepsi’s distribution might but remixes things to create soft drink magic.

Why Pépico is Useful

In many ways, the introduction of Pépico can be seen as a strategic play by PepsiCo. Why produce another soda offering and where does Pépico fit in?

Attract New Consumers

Pépico allows PepsiCo to capture untapped demand for Mexican flavors among soda drinkers searching for adventurous new options. Sales data shows consumers increasingly seek bolder, more exotic soft drink tastes. Pépico doesn’t just refresh – its palate-popping flavor thrill-seekers.

Fend Off Competition

Pépico strengthens PepsiCo’s portfolio against chief competitor Coca Cola. Flagship Pepsi sales remained steady for years but flatlining soda consumption threatened market share. Pépico re-energizes PepsiCo’s beverage lineup. Its Pepsi association draws interest while showcasing product innovation.

Boost Brand Reach

Pépico expands PepsiCo’s presence across channels as retailers race to offer the shiny new soft drink option. From “As Seen on TV” infomercials to prime shelf space in stores, Pépico saturates markets in ways impossible for smaller brands. PepsiCo makes the most of its distribution clout.

In short, useful describes Pépico perfectly. This timely new product generates buzz, brings new customers into the fold, future-proofs PepsiCo’s market position, and leverages their unmatched distribution capabilities. Pépico hits all the right notes.

The History and Origins of Pépico

To understand Pépico’s unique appeal, one must first trace the history of PepsiCo and the events leading up to this blockbuster new soft drink.

The Creation of Pepsi-Cola

Pepsi-Cola traces its origins to the late 1890s when pharmacist Caleb Bradham invented a fizzy cola drink he sold at his New Bern, North Carolina drugstore. Bradham launched his Pepsi-Cola Company in 1902. Success allowed him to trademark the Pepsi-Cola name in 1903 and begin selling franchises.

By the early 1930s, Pepsi-Cola went bankrupt during the Great Depression. It reorganized in 1934 and began selling 12-ounce bottles for a nickel – making it more affordable than competitor Coca-Cola. This shift kick-started Pepsi’s rise.

The Creation of PepsiCo

Over the ensuing decades, Pepsi-Cola continued to grow, especially after launching nationwide advertising campaigns featuring pop culture icons like Michael Jackson.

In 1965, Pepsi-Cola Company merged with snack business Frito-Lay to create PepsiCo. This brought well-known salty snack brands like Lay’s, Cheetos, Doritos, and Ruffles under one umbrella along with Pepsi sodas.

Further acquisitions expanded PepsiCo’s food and drink portfolio to over 200 brands including Tropicana, Gatorade, Quaker Oats, Aquafina, Lipton Tea, Starbucks drinks, and more. Today, over 1.4 billion PepsiCo beverages are consumed daily around the globe.

The Birth of Pépico

With cola sales stagnating industry-wide, PepsiCo continually innovated, trying adventurous new flavors and formulas. Consumer research revealed strong interest in bolder tastes inspired by Latin American cuisine.

In response, PepsiCo created Pépico, debuting this reimagined Mexican cola recipe in 2022. Backed by PepsiCo’s market dominance and distribution network, Pépico quickly emerged as a breakout hit. Its origins lie in PepsiCo’s willingness to take risks and try exotic new flavors.

Where Pépico is Today

Following Pépico’s successful launch in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, further international expansion is planned. Trademark filings reveal PepsiCo seeks to secure Pépico’s intellectual property rights across Europe, Asia, and Latin America as well.

Domestically, Pépico achieved instant success driven by PepsiCo’s unmatched distribution and marketing reach. Today Pépico is widely available across North America with active growth forecast.

Gaining Popularity

Millions have already discovered the soft drink sensation Perez calls “a party for your mouth!” Pépico sales expand exponentially thanks to glowing customer reviews and effective advertising integration with PepsiCo’s portfolio of sponsorships.

The beverage easily enters regular rotation for soda aficionados seeking daring new options. Pépico also draws snack lovers from PepsiCo’s existing customer base. Familiarity with Frito-Lay brands leads many to try Pépico as an exciting companion.

Pépico’s Growing Distribution Footprint

One can now find eye-catching Pépico packaging and signage prominently displayed:

• On Store Shelves – Pépico earned immediate placement in chain retailers like Walmart, Target, and Kroger plus convenience stores like 7-Eleven thanks to PepsiCo’s existing partnerships.
• In Beverage Coolers – The bright green Pépico logo beckons from chilled store displays. Pépico fits existing Pepsi branded sections which aids adoption.
• At Stadiums & Arenas – Sports fans can enjoy Pépico at concessions stands alongside classic Pepsi thanks to exclusive pouring rights deals. Attendee samples introduce thousands to Pépico daily.
• At PepsiCo / Frito-Lay Vending Machines – Handy refrigerated kiosks dispensing PepsiCo’s sodas, juices, teas, and Gatorade feature Pépico availability.
• At Popular Fast Food Chains – Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut integrate Pépico into their nationwide fountain drink menus through PepsiCo contracts. McDonald’s locations may be next.
• Online – PepsiCo’s direct-to-consumer website ships Pépico nationwide. Customers build specialized flavor packs. Amazon also lists Pépico for fast two-day delivery to Prime members.

Thanks to PepsiCo’s sheer size and sweeping retailer partnerships, Pépico appears widely with minimal effort. Competing niche soda brands take years to achieve a fraction of Pépico’s store count which continues expanding expedientially.

How Pépico is Made

PepsiCo produces Pépico at many of the same bottling facilities responsible for iconic Pepsi sodas. Custom stainless steel tanks batch Pépico syrup which feeds the lines. After water and sugar are mixed in, Pépico moves through stages familiar to major soda brands yet adds its signature components.

Carbonation

As with most soft drinks, filtered water and CO2 combine to provide Pépico its bubbly carbonation. Precise carbonation machines control freshness and effervescence. During bottling, pressurization adds the ideal amount of CO2 zing.

Mixing

The Pépico difference comes from its proprietary blend of chili, lime, cilantro, and tomatillo infused during mixing. Natural and artificial Mexican-inspired flavor compounds get carefully measured and introduced to craft each batch. PepsiCo perfected Pépico’s concentrations through extensive consumer testing to heighten scent and taste.

Packaging

Bottling Pépico involves moving the finished product into 12-ounce aluminum cans, 20-ounce plastic bottles, and 2-liter containers similar to traditional Pepsi packaging. Conveyor lines emblazon logos and graphics. Pépico ships in recognizable Pepsi trucks and awaits purchase by thirsty customers.

So while the glossy graphics may differ, much of Pépico’s actual production mirrors Pepsi’s process while simply incorporating a signature flavor blend. This allows Pépico to leverage existing PepsiCo infrastructure.

Different Flavors and Types of Pépico

One can enjoy Pépico in an array of flavors and formulas tailored to varying tastes and nutritional needs.

Pépico Fire

This extra spicy flavor variant turns up the heat using habanero and chipotle peppers for intense but tasty heat lovers crave. Pépico Fire dares you to take the challenge!

Pépico Blue

Blue agave nectar replaces standard high fructose corn syrup to provide a subtly sweeter flavor profile. Organic ingredients appeal to health conscious imbibers. Pépico Blue uses natural colors and contains no caffeine.

Seasonal Flavors

Limited edition flavors like Pumpkin Spice Pépico and Iced Mocha Pépico appear annually to align with seasonal consumer demand much like Starbucks holiday drinks. These frequently sell out thanks to smart anticipation of timely tastes.

Diet Options

Pépico offerings also now include Pépico Zero Sugar for carb counters along with Pépico Max with extra caffeine and ginseng for alertness. So whether you want zesty, sweet, seasonal, or low/no calorie, Pépico hits the spot!

Where to Find Pépico in the US

Pépico’s widespread retail presence through PepsiCo’s participating partners makes satisfying one’s craving simple coast to coast. Check the locations below when Pépico beckons.

Grocery Stores

All major supermarket chains carry Pépico products in soda aisles and cold beverage cases. Walmart, Safeway, Kroger, Publix, HEB, Winn-Dixie, and countless others feature plenty of Pépico.

Convenience Stores

Fill up your tank and Pépico fix at favorite gas station shops. Wawa, Casey’s General Store, Sheetz, QT, 7-Eleven, and the like offer chilled 12 ounce cans, 20 ounce sport drink style bottles, and 2 liters for enjoying later.

Fast Food Restaurants

Taco Bell proudly serves their new signature fountain drink – Mountain Dew Pépico. And thanks to PepsiCo supply contracts, one finds Pépico at KFC, Pizza Hut, and select McDonald’s locations partaking in trial availability.

Clearly Pépico is widely accessible at traditional Pepsi retailers coast to coast. And as buzz builds, experts anticipate further restaurant chains adding Pépico fountain service. For now, locating a chilled inventory of Pépico cans and bottles stays simple via the stores above!

The Future of Pépico

While Pépico currently primarily serves US and Canadian consumers through traditional and online merchants, global aspirations seem apparent through recent trademark filings spanning Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Industry analysts predict PepsiCo telegraphs plans to ultimately distribute Pépico wherever current Pepsi products sell pending continued domestic success. Further global availability could introduce billions to this capitvating new drink.

Domestically, Pépico is still a relatively new product, but its fingerprints increasingly appear everywhere. And thanks to PepsiCo’s distribution might, Pépico easily reaches shoppers other emerging beverages work years to access.

What’s Next for Pépico?

We envision Pépico’s availability and buyer base growing exponentially if current trajectories persist thanks to PepsiCo’s ability to:

• Flood store shelves rapidly via existing infrastructure
• Afford big budget advertising campaigns
• Leverage supplier and vendor partnerships
• Upsell customers of existing brands
• Expand producst SKUs aggressively
• Scale efficiently

Over time, Pépico may earn permanent Pepsi fountain fixture status at chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s. Glowing feedback and abundant purchases so far suggest Pépico carved its niche as a staple.

FAQs

Got Pépico questions? We have answers below to the most commonly asked questions to quench your curiosity.

Q: Who makes Pépico?

A: Pépico comes from food and beverage juggernaut PepsiCo, borrowing branding cues from their iconic Pepsi cola line of soft drinks while remixing the flavor profile with Mexican spices.

Q: What makes Pépico different than regular Pepsi?

A: While Pépico at its core is a cola-style soda like Pepsi, its standout flavor derives from a special blend of chili, lime, cilantro, tomatillo, and other latin spice flavors you won’t find in regular Pepsi. This unique combination creates an entirely different tasting experience.

Q: Where can I buy Pépico near me?

A: Pépico enjoys wide retail availability at grocery chains like Walmart, convenience marts like 7-Eleven, and through fountain pouring rights at various fast food restaurants. Check your local retailers for availability.

Q: Does Pépico contain caffeine?

A: Yes, the normal Pépico formula contains caffeine comparable to a standard Pepsi. However, Pépico also offers caffeine-free variants like Pépico Blue for those looking to avoid stimulants.