PC Upgrades on Byte-Size Budgets -- Savings Experiment
Weird-Mart: Tales of the Bizarre from the Walmart Aisles
This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and watch out for more Battle of the Brands posts.
Some people drink Pepsi, some people drink Coke,
The wacky morning DJ says democracy's a joke.
-- Cake, Comfort Eagle
Unless you are a rare RC Cola drinker, your carbonated beverage decision in the supermarket comes down to the two heavyweights: the flagship products from the Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo Inc (NYSE: PEP). But the battle between these brands spans much further than the supermarket shelves. From which brand restaurants stock, to what countries each operates in, this rivalry is all-encompassing and global. But instead of a list of countries or restaurant chains, lets take a deeper look at the actual products.
Cola and Beyond
We don't have space to list, nor would you have time to read, every different variant of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which would force me to include failed ideas such as Crystal Pepsi. Suffice it to say, you won't find many original ideas here, and when a successful idea comes from either company, an imitator just as quickly appears from the other. Coke/Pepsi, Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi, Cherry Coke/Wild Cherry Pepsi, Coke with Lime/Pepsi Lime, Coke Zero/Pepsi One, Coca-Cola Blak/Pepsi Cappuccino. Had enough yet? Because that was just a list of comparable colas. Both companies also make lemon-lime sodas, orange sodas, and other similar carbonated and noncarbonated beverages. So then what differentiates them? Certainly not their product arsenal, but taste and marketing.
As far as taste goes, you will find most people prefer either Coke or Pepsi, but would drink either if no other choice was offered.
There is, however, one social stigma I noticed back when I was a bartender. A Jack Daniels drinker, for example, that likes his whiskey mixed with cola is much more apt to demand Coca-Cola -- the drink is called a Jack and Coke, after all, and some drinkers take that very literally and very seriously.
I also discovered yesterday that everybody in my office, except Kevin, was able to differentiate between the two colas. So there is at least a recognizable, although not overpowering, difference in taste. Is it enough to make one company a clear cut winner? Not likely, and that is where the marketing comes into play.
Selling Image
Coca-Cola used to have a much wider lead over Pepsi. It was the clear leader -- the standard. But thanks to an infamous branding disaster known as Coke II (which is why Coca-Cola added "Classic" to its name), and a strong push by Pepsi to market to the next generation of cola-chugging children, that gap has narrowed significantly.
While Coke had been playing it safe with ads featuring cute polar bears, Pepsi stole away Generation X with the appropriately titled "The Choice of a New Generation" and "GeneratioNext" marketing campaigns. They had the hottest celebrities drinking Pepsi -- the Spice Girls, Pink, Beyonce, and Puff Daddy. Pepsi continues the celebrity trend to date -- current endorsers include Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blidge, and The All-American Rejects.
Then again, there may be something to be said for Coke's blander advertising campaigns, because for every successful celebrity Pepsi hires, there seems to be one going off the deep end, like bald-headed Britney Spears. Although Spears no longer works for Pepsi, she will be forever associated with it (unless she keeps acting the way she is now, then we'll remember nothing from her other than her descent into insanity). She is not the first celebrity Pepsi may have wished they didn't hire, either. Michael Jackson and Madonna were also controversial spokespeople for the edgier cola.
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola is trying to get hipper without the help of any celebrities. In their big Superbowl ad, they spoofed the Grand Theft Auto series of video games with the "Give a Little Love" ad. The ad was definitely aimed at a younger audience, but still friendly and disney-fied.
Whatever direction the advertising for these two powerhouses goes in, it's unlikely either one is going anywhere. Coca-Cola has a market cap of $111.37 billion and PepsiCo is right behind them with a cap of $103.21 billion. Soda, though declining in popularity, is still an American staple, and don't forget that both companies also make a plethora of non-soda beverages.
Be sure to vote in our poll for Pepsi or Coke as your preferred brand, and let us know why you love it in the comments. Results of all Battle of the Brands match-ups coming soon.
Goldman Earnings Sink After Buffett Dividend
Johnson & Johnson's Income Falls 23%
Burberry Shares Leap on Sales Update
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
5-09-2007 @ 11:14AM
Interstate19 said...
Isn't it funny how in Coca-Cola advertising, it's always upbeat and positive (or "bland" and "safe" as stated in this article) where Pepsi's advertising is often directly knocking Coke. Think of past Super Bowl ads, such as the holiday one where the drivers switch sodas and the Coke driver won't give the Pepsi back causing a fight, or the one where the Coke driver, stocking product, grabs a Pepsi from the cooler to drink and the whole display falls over. Funny, perhaps, but you know you're beaten when the best advertising you can come up with is to knock the leader.
5-09-2007 @ 9:43PM
Ross said...
I drink Coke because i work for Coca-Cola...
Coke is the best....
5-14-2007 @ 7:04PM
Joe said...
I actually prefer coke in a bottle and pepsi in the can. Wierd?
5-21-2007 @ 11:27AM
ben said...
Blue Sky "all natural" Cola rocks!! Otherwise, Coke or Dr. Pepper. And any drink in a plastic bottle really reeks.
5-23-2007 @ 4:41AM
Zweleth Richard Sikakane said...
Coke is much better in taste and quenching thirst. Its less sweet and gives higher satisfaction.
6-11-2007 @ 3:03AM
Betsy said...
I much prefer Diet Coke and will avoid fast food establishments that won't let me indulge in my favorite or take my own along at time. A most interesting thing happened when I attended a psychotherapist convention in CA. After 1 day, I couldn't find a single machine in the 5 hotels near by that had any Diet Cokes in their machines. I conclude psychotherapist have to have their Diet Cokes even if they have to walk to the nearest convenince store!
7-08-2007 @ 8:14AM
Steve said...
Sometime ago Coke sold bottled diet coke with splenda in convenient stores but recently I haven't seen it anywhere, only the 12 pack cans which quickly sell out. It would be a smart move to reintroduce 6 packs of coke with splenda in bottles to the general public. I believe it would be a big seller.
7-08-2007 @ 11:07AM
Cathy said...
Being a diet soda drinker I have tried several with different results. Now though I have found THE one! Coke Zero! While I ignored it at first we did a taste test and it has the "zing" I needed! Try it....ya might like it!!!
7-10-2007 @ 10:38PM
Eileen said...
The New Blue Cap Diet Coke w/Vitamins....great taste!
7-26-2007 @ 5:09PM
Ray said...
Whatever happened to a customer having a choice? I enjoy Pepsi, my other half prefers Coke. When we go to a restaurant, not only fast-food joints, there is no choice - it's one or the other. Will consumer's ever have a choice or are restaurants too caught up in the "discounts" offered by one company or the other to be the sole available beverage?
8-31-2007 @ 2:22PM
DefMall said...
I actually have a website dedicated to the 'battle' between Coca Cola company and Pepsi! It's just deisnged to be entertaining, and you can see it at www.Squidoo.com/CokevsPepsi
9-13-2007 @ 11:52AM
sally said...
Coke is clearly the better of the two cola's - there is definitely a taste difference and although I will settle for Pepsi if that's all that is offered - I much prefer Coke - sweeter taste more effervescence - distinct flavor... reminds me of childhood - glass bottles highly more desirable to cans and plastic...
9-22-2007 @ 11:44AM
Anwer Qureishi said...
It's coke all the way.
10-28-2007 @ 1:14AM
caite said...
i think thatboth coke and pepsi r good but if i had to choose i would choose coke.because it tastes way better.
11-27-2007 @ 12:19AM
LazyKat420 said...
Coke has a MUCH "crisper" taste to it than Pepsi...
Pepsi's after-taste tastes sweeter too...
So,
I see Coke as a crisp, more adult version of Pepsi.
(and I see that a lot of ppl agree)
12-10-2007 @ 7:30PM
Jennifer said...
Pepsi is way better than Coke. Coke just has that acid taste to it. I definitely prefer Pepsi anyday!
1-17-2008 @ 4:53PM
michael foote said...
I LOVE pepsi products way more than coke.......coke is tooo dang sweet or something.....all of cokes products are nothing like my pepsi.....but idk?? pepsi all the way baby!! =)