Pepsi taps nostalgia for new flavor
Sourced by: FoodDive
Pepsi turns to nostalgia for latest cola launch
Pepsi is turning to two popular soda flavors and bringing them together for its first permanent flavor in four years.
The soft drink is combining the nostalgic duo of ripe wild cherry and creamy vanilla for Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream. The beverage and snack giant described the soda as having a “sweet, fruity effervescence [that] is followed by a smooth, creamy vanilla swirl.”
Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream debuted nationwide on Jan. 20. The offering, which comes in full and zero-sugar varieties, are available permanently in 12-ounce cans and for a limited time in 20-ounce bottles.
The new flavor is the first permanent launch for Pepsi since Mango in 2021, which is being discontinued.
“This permanent addition to our portfolio boasts a unique profile that’s both indulgent and refreshing,” Jenny Danzi, head of marketing for Pepsi, said in a statement. “With 2025 trends bubbling up on all things cherry, we’re confident Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream will be a serious hit with fans this year!”
Danzi noted that Pepsi Wild Cherry, which the company launched in 1988, has been popular, especially among millennial and Gen Z cola fans, posting 8% growth year over year.
By combining the cherry and vanilla flavors, PepsiCo is giving consumers a new offering from the nostalgia wave that is increasingly popular with consumers today. The new flavor also provides the company with another way to draw younger shoppers into the brand who will be responsible for a greater portion of the company’s sales going forward.
The launch comes less than a year after Coke discontinued its own Cherry Vanilla soda.
— Christopher Doering