Pepsi Cola was invented in the USA in 1898 by pharmacist, Caleb D Bradham who wanted to offer a refreshing beverage to customers coming into his shop. Five years later, 'Brad's drink' (as it was originally known), was trademarked as Pepsi Cola. It was first launched in the UK in 1953.
Pepsi Cola is committed to offering a wide choice of products for consumers to enjoy every day. As well as regular Pepsi, we offer consumers Pepsi Max and Diet Pepsi which are low calorie and sugar free. Most recently, the UK was the first market in the world to launch Pepsi Raw, a premium adult cola drink made with ingredients from natural sources.
World class advertising
Pepsi Cola is known for its world class advertising which is enjoyed year after year around the world featuring memorable jingles, music and football celebrities of international and local appeal. Since the 1980s, the brand has worked with some of the biggest music stars of the day, from Michael Jackson and Tina Turner, through to Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams, Pink, Beyonce and most recently the Black Eyed Peas.
Pepsi has an equally strong heritage with football, and has featured some of the world's top players in a series of advertising campaigns from David Beckham through to Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho. In the UK, Pepsi was the official sponsor of the England team during Euro 2004 and the World Cup 2006.
Responsible marketing and clear labelling
Pepsi is committed to responsible marketing. Our efforts to promote Pepsi Max and Diet Pepsi to consumers has meant that our sugar free drinks account for more than 50% of all our carbonated soft drinks sales in the UK.
Pepsi signed up to the Union of European Beverages Association (UNESDA) code, a self-regulatory code restricting advertising to children in 2006. This was several years before the Government's Office of Communications (Ofcom) ruling to restrict advertising to children, which came into effect in 2007.
Pepsi Cola is committed to helping consumers make informed choices about their diet, which is why the brand introduced Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) labeling on all of its packs in 2007. The GDA lables inform consumers of the nutritional content of the products, so that they can enjoy them as part of a balanced diet. For more information on GDA visit www.whatsinsideguide.co.uk
