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Pepsi Next
Product type	Mid-calorie cola, and 30% less sugar
Owner	PepsiCo
Country	United States
Introduced	2011
Discontinued	2015
Related brands	Pepsi Edge; Pepsi ONE; Pepsi Max; G2; Tab

Pepsi Next (stylized as pepsi next or pepsi NEXT) is a discontinued cola-flavored carbonated soft drink produced by PepsiCo. It was a variant of the Pepsi cola range.

In some markets it was sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose,^[1] and marketed toward drinkers of full-calorie Pepsi, and those who do not enjoy the taste of Diet Pepsi, Pepsi ONE, Pepsi Max, and other diet colas.

On June 25, 2013, PepsiCo informed their Facebook readers that the new formulation of Pepsi Next no longer contained aspartame, the artificial sweetener used in many diet soft drinks including Diet Pepsi, hence some bottles sold in the U.S. read 'aspartame free'. However, the continued presence of acesulfame potassium means this version of the product still contained artificial sweeteners.

In other marketing areas, including Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, where it was marketed as having "30% less sugar", Pepsi Next was sweetened using an extract from stevia and had no artificial sweeteners.

Creation

Pepsi Edge, Pepsi's first mid-calorie cola, was introduced in 2004 and discontinued only two years later. PepsiCo, towards the end of the 2000s, found a new interest in mid-calorie beverages and then released G2, a version of Gatorade with less than half the calories, and in the year 2011, Trop50, a juice blend, with 50% the calories of regular juice.

In September 2007, PepsiCo filed for trademarks in the US Patent and Trademark Office, for "Pepsi Next", and "Diet Pepsi Next".

In 2010, PepsiCo began to test Pepsi Next via market research groups. In June 2011, PepsiCo announced that Pepsi Next was going to be moved into two test markets, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After testing, on February 27, 2012, PepsiCo announced the launch of Pepsi Next.^[2]

In the Australian market, Pepsi Next was bottled by Schweppes Australia and is sweetened by stevia which reduces the sugar content by 30% compared to regular Pepsi.^[3] Pepsi Next was first introduced in France in March 2013, and in Finland and Canada in March 2014. Stevia extract is used in all three markets.

Reception and taste

One site stated that, Although it contains three artificial sweeteners and has 60 percent fewer calories than regular Pepsi, it's really hard to taste anything "diet" about Pepsi Next. But it's not quite like regular Pepsi; it's less syrupy and smoother. There are also differences in flavor between Pepsi Next and the original Pepsi. I thought Pepsi Next had a slightly stronger cola flavor and, for some reason, my taste buds perceived a hint of lemon.^[4]

According to the BevReview, the initial taste of Pepsi Next is similar to the original Pepsi, but this is followed by the less pleasant taste of artificial sweeteners.^[5]

Marketing

After the launch of Pepsi Next, a television commercial was launched that depicted a young couple, enjoying Pepsi Next.

Eva Longoria, Paula Patton, and Nicki Minaj all have featured in advertisements for Pepsi Next. Paula Patton has filmed a television commercial for Pepsi Next, as has Nicki Minaj.^[6]

A series of Internet and print ads were made, with a picture of a can of Pepsi Next, with the words: Real Cola Taste, 60% Less Sugar, Drink It To Believe It.

In the 2013 Super Bowl, Pepsi used its advertising minutes right before the halftime show (which featured Beyonce, a "brand ambassador" for Pepsi) to advertise Pepsi Next. The presentation by Pepsi (the halftime show plus the advertising) was unique in that it featured photos of Pepsi customers. Pepsi had asked customers to send in photos before the Super Bowl.^[7]

References

^ "Official Site for PepsiCo Beverage Information | Find". Archived from the original on 2013-07-10. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
^ Miller, Mark J. (27 February 2012). "Pepsi Expand Mid-Calorie Brands With 60 Calorie Pepsi Next". BrandChannel. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
^ "PepsiCo rolls out cola with stevia in Australia". Wall Street Journal. Associated Press. September 25, 2012. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012. NEW YORK — PepsiCo Inc. is launching a reduced-calorie soda in Australia that uses stevia, the first time the beverage maker is using the natural sweetener in its namesake cola. The Purchase, N.Y.-based company says the drink, called Pepsi Next, is also sweetened with sugar and has 30 percent fewer calories than regular. The rollout follows the launch of Pepsi Next in the U.S. earlier this year. That version has about half as many calories as the regular at 60 calories per can but uses a mix of artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup.
^ Marvo (25 March 2012). "Review: Pepsi Next". The Impulsive Buy. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
^ Tanner, Steve (29 March 2012). "Review: Pepsi Next". BevReview. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
^ Wilson, Julee (10 April 2012). "Paula Patton Gets Gorgeous For Pepsi NEXT And Lands Role With Denzel Washington". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
^ Zmuda, Natalie (7 January 2013). "Pepsi puts public in Super Bowl spot; Consumers are pop stars with Beyonce; second spot features Pepsi Next". Advertising Age.