Pepsi

Pepsi is a cola-flavored carbonated soft drink and the main product of PepsiCo. As of 2023, it ranked as the second most valuable soft drink brand globally, trailing only Coca-Cola, with which it has a famous, long-running competition often referred to as the "cola wars."

The drink was first created in 1893 by Caleb Bradham, who sold it as "Brad's Drink" from his drugstore in New Bern, North Carolina. In 1898, it was renamed "Pepsi-Cola," a nod to its supposed digestive benefits, and the name was later shortened to just "Pepsi" in marketing as early as 1951. The company faced early financial trouble, going bankrupt in 1923, but was bought and revived by Charles Guth, who had the syrup recipe reformulated. Pepsi gained traction during the Great Depression by introducing a 12-ounce bottle and using the "Nickel, Nickel" jingle, which doubled sales by promoting the drink's value.

In the mid-20th century, Pepsi began targeting African American consumers—a demographic largely overlooked at the time—through positive advertising and endorsements from prominent figures, which helped increase its market share. The rivalry with Coca-Cola, known as the "cola wars," spurred major cultural and market battles, including the "Pepsi Challenge" taste tests and Coca-Cola's introduction of New Coke in response. Internationally, Pepsi had mixed success, with notable achievements like a landmark barter deal that brought it into the Soviet Union and sustained popularity in some regions over Coca-Cola.

Despite occasional controversies—such as a scrapped Madonna advertisement and the "Pepsi Number Fever" promotion that went wrong in the Philippines—Pepsi has remained a major global brand, aided by creative marketing and sponsorships in sports and entertainment. PepsiCo has also expanded the brand with other drinks like Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Max, which join the original cola in the current product lineup.