Pepsi vs. Coke Showdown: Which Soda Reigns Supreme?

Pepsi is making a bold statement, asserting its dominance as the best soda on the market. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Pepsi Challenge, the beverage company is bringing back its famous promotional campaign that famously compares its soda to Coca-Cola’s.

This iteration of the campaign focuses on demonstrating that Pepsi Zero Sugar is superior to Coca-Cola’s equivalent zero sugar product through a series of blind taste tests.

The campaign kicked off in February at the Super Bowl and has been making its way across the country ever since.

In a dramatic move, Pepsi has set up pop-up tasting events all over Atlanta, Georgia—Coca-Cola’s own backyard. Adding to the rivalry, these events started on May 8, coincidentally National Have a Coke Day, effectively challenging the iconic status of Coca-Cola directly in its hometown.

Regardless of their preference in the taste test, participants will walk away with a complimentary 20-oz bottle of Pepsi Zero Sugar.

Pepsi No Longer in America’s Top 3 Favorite Sodas

Amidst this aggressive marketing campaign, Pepsi has received somewhat disappointing news. According to the latest Beverage Digest report, Pepsi has dropped out of the top three most popular sodas in the U.S.

The report places Coca-Cola firmly at the number one position, with its sales more than doubling those of its closest competitors. Dr. Pepper and Sprite have secured the second and third spots, according to a Daily Mail article.

With only 7.97 percent of the market share, Pepsi is currently ranked fourth. Despite this setback, the company remains determined to regain its footing in the market.

“Our focus is on enhancing the Pepsi brand, which includes our Zero Sugar variant and flavor innovations like Wild Cherry,” a company spokesperson explained. They further clarified that despite Pepsi’s fourth-place position in soda rankings, the overall brand holds the second spot right behind Coca-Cola when all varieties, including diet and low-sugar versions, are considered.