Vanilla Pepsi ?
 

Am I the only one who thinks this sounds gross? :confused:


Joy of (Vanilla) Pepsi?
Coke holds the bragging rights, but Pepsi's upping the ante in the cola war with new Pepsi Vanilla.
August 8, 2003: 11:17 AM EDT
By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money Staff Writer

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - To some it's just "plain vanilla." But Coca-Cola and Pepsi see it a little differently, more like a multimillion-dollar flavor battle that's about to get tastier.

New York-based PepsiCo (PEP: Research, Estimates), the No. 2 soft-drink maker behind leader Coca-Cola (KO: Research, Estimates), is launching Pepsi Vanilla and its diet version in stores across the country this weekend.

In this instance, industry watchers say Pepsi has its work cut out for the new brand.

Coke came out with Vanilla Coke in May 2002 and it was a resounding success, selling 90 million cases, according to trade publication Beverage Digest.

In fact, Coke's flavored soft drink has been purchased by about 29 percent of U.S. households, the strongest one-year trial rate among recent carbonated soft drink introductions, according to market research firm AC Nielsen.

"The vanilla colas are an important line extension for both companies, and Pepsi has the distribution capabilities to support a new brand" said Todd Stender, analyst with Crowell, Weedon & Co.

"There's definitely room for Pepsi in the vanilla sub-segment, even if Pepsi Vanilla may not be as good as Vanilla Coke," Stender added.

Pepsi begs to differ.

"We're doing vanilla our way," said Dave DeCecco, spokesman for PepsiCo North America. "If consumers want Pepsi Vanilla, they can have it now, and we want a share of the market."

And DeCecco insists Pepsi Vanilla's taste will be unique.

"In our market research, consumers told us that they wanted a vanilla soda that was lighter and smoother that what is currently on the market," DeCecco said.

No matter how hot the battle gets between the two arch rivals, Coke won't be sweating it too much.

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, the world's largest beverage maker, is still comfortably perched in its slot as the U.S. market leader.

In fact, the company increased its market share of the $63 billion U.S. soft-drinks market by 0.6 percentage point to 44.3 percent in 2002, according to Beverage Digest. Meanwhile, PepsiCo saw its market share dip by 0.2 percentage point to 31.4 percent.

Industry analysts credit Vanilla Coke's launch last year as a huge success for Coke, similar to Pepsi's breakthrough in 2001 with Mountain Dew Code Red, a cherry-flavored variation of the drink.

"We're a little surprised that Pepsi decided to enter the vanilla segment," said Mart Martin, spokesman for Coca-Cola. "When we came out with Vanilla Coke, Pepsi originally said the idea sounded 'a bit vanilla.' But, whatever."

Pepsi, Coke both losing their fizz
According to Beverage Digest editor John Sicher, Coke and Pepsi can keep taking potshots at each other, but that won't detract from the real concern: The soft-drinks market is slowing down.

"Soft-drinks sales have declined from annual rates of growth of 3 percent in the 1990s to less than 1 percent," said Sicher. "That has largely to do with the growth of bottled water, which is growing at 26 percent a year."

For the second quarter, Coke's U.S. volume grew 3 percent, driven by strong sales for Vanilla Coke, Diet Vanilla Coke and Sprite, Coke said in its earnings report.

Pepsi's North America volume grew 4 percent for the quarter, led by a better performance from its Mountain Dew and Diet Pepsi brands, although its trademark Pepsi brand disappointed.

Said Sicher, "At this juncture, innovation is critical, and it needs to include new beverages, new packaging and new marketing. Vanilla Coke added incremental volume for Coke, and I think it will do the same for Pepsi. Pepsi is a huge brand name, and a new product will generate a lot of interest."

The Pepsi Vanilla ad campaign is coming, and DeCecco said consumers should watch out. "The ads kick off mid-August, and they will reflect the fact that Pepsi Vanilla is fun."

DeCesso isn't saying whether the company will hire a new pop star as spokesperson for the brand, but it's a possibility. "I can't comment on that. You'll just have to wait." he said.

Previous stars who've appeared in Pepsi ads include singers Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Britney Spears. Pepsi last year replaced Spears with Beyonce Knowles, lead singer of pop group Destiny's Child, as its latest celebrity endorser.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--Analysts quoted in this story do not own shares of Coca-Cola or PepsiCo., and their firms do not have an investment banking relationship with the companies.


Find this article at:
http://money.cnn.com/2003/08/07/news...ex.htm?cnn=yes

I do think its gross. I used to love vanilla coke until one night i got totally hammered off vanilla stoli. i puked my guts out the next day and I can't even smell vanilla now without feeling sick. so in answer to your question, I do thinks its very gross.

I like Coke better anyways! :)

Ok.

I LIKE vanilla coke, BUT... I bought some Bacardi Vanila and thought I'd mix it with the only soft drink I had in the apartment at the time, which was Pepsi. It was SO gross! I imagine that's what Vanilla Pepsi would taste like, so I don't think I'll be giving that a try.

I read about this earlier today. I probably will try it. Who knows, I may just like it. :)

Pepsi owns Aquafina and Coke owns Dasani so I don't think that the bottled water biz is hurting them any!

I have only tried Vanilla Coke! If Pepsie Vanilla Coke is Same! Puke!!!

If you ever had real Fountain Nilla Cola, then that is Da, Da The Best!:)

Same goes for Cherry Cola!:cool:

Ah, The good Ole Daze!

yuck...get it at the fountain where it can be legitimately mixed. in a can or pre-pared, it just can't make it.

Soooo true. Always best at the diner....

I had the Diet Vanilla Pepsi the other day and it was pretty good.

Ah and vanilla dr pepper is da shiznit :) One of a few things I like @ Waffle House!

I bought a diet vanilla pepsi. Not too bad. Better than the coke version.

I am a diehard pepsi drinker,but the vanilla pepsi tastes like really flat vanilla coke.

I saw this vanilla pepsi in an ad the other day and got really annoyed because I think coke is a thousand times better than pepsi any day! Diet Vanilla Coke is pretty good, but just so sweet. I personally prefer Diet Cherry Coke to Diet Vanilla Coke, Vanilla Pepsi, or Wild Cherry Pepsi!

Why get annoyed? Companies put out similar products all the time.
If you don't like Pepsi Products, just don't buy them. It's not worth getting upset about.

I had a Pepsi Vanilla the other day on my vacation (I hadn't even heard of it/seen it at home yet), and I liked it better than Vanilla Coke. I've always been a huge Vanilla Coke fan too... to me, it tasted less syrupy, or something... that's the best way I can think of to describe it.

okay, as i really don't care for pepsi products (i definately prefer coke) but i saw it in the store yesterday, so i thought i'd give diet vanilla pepsi a try...and i actually liked it better then diet vanilla coke..the vanilla flavor isn't as strong, and it actually tastes more like coke then pepsi..it didn't have a bad nutrasweet aftertaste either.

These are my sentiments exactly! :D I've only tried the diest Vanilla Pepsi and I love it!

I am sold on it. Buh bye diet Vanilla coke!

man, and I thought it sounded gross

I ain't feeling the vanilla taste http://superbabies.homestead.com/files/puke.gif

If I wanted to taste vanilla I would get a friggin milk shake!

Its a cheap rip off.

Well...I'm a Pepsi girl...but...I'm going to have to go for Vanilla Coke. But, I do like the Diet Vanilla Pepsi than the reg Vanilla.

I don't like Vanilla Coke-- my sister grabbed what she thought was a regular Coke out of the store's case, when I went to drink it, I thought it was Cherry Coke, which I don't like either. Needless to say, I didn't drink the Vanilla Coke. So I will be sticking to my regular Coke and Pepsi.

IMO - It's just another pittiful attempt to out-do Coke...

What happened to Pepsi Blue? What happened to Pepsi ONE? What happened to Pepsi Twist (it's still around, and I love it). What happened to Clear Pepsi?

Is anyone else catching on? Seems like they market whatever they want for temporary sales.

i tried the vanilla coke last week. i thought i was going to puke

hmmm, for some that might not be such a bad thing :D

I HATE coke, too syrupy for me. I like pepsi okay and I had a chance to try the vanilla pepsi and diet vanilla pepsi. I like both, a lot more than the coke versions. I think it bears mentioning that both are really good when you add a little bit of Ciclone ;)

~Emily

are you speaking from personal experience?;)

I thought grape juice caused that. I love Vanilla Pepsi.

I tried the Vanilla Pepsi the other week, and I like it!! :)

COke
 

I prefer coke. vanilla coke. that twist stuff pepsi came out with tasted like pine sol mixed with pepsi. barf bags.

Well, Pepsi tastes like flat Coke, so I can see that.

Coke vs. Pepsi...

Soda Wars! Or is that Pop Wars? Coke Wars? Oh well...

I tried the Vanilla Pepsi today. I won't be drinking it again. Pepsi is just not supposed to taste that way!

Now. Right now.
 

I am drinking one now. Shoot. It is smooth. I like Vanilla, just like Vanilla Ice.

Diet Vanilla Pepsi is pretty good, but I prefer Diet Cherry Pepsi. I am drinking a Diet Cherry Pepsi right now. That's good stuff. :)

I finally tried Vanilla Pepsi today. It was alright. Reminded me of Pepsi, but with a vanilla flavor (DUR). I don't think I'll drink it on a regular basis...I prefer vanilla coke IF I want to drink that...only cuz it reminds me of a mixed drink LOL!