Today is National Hamburger Day and PepsiCo is celebrating the special occasion with a promotion to prove that burgers go better with Pepsi.
As announced by the beverage company earlier this week, consumers can get reimbursed for their Pepsi on May 28th in two different ways. The first one is by sharing a photo of themselves with a Pepsi and any fast food burger of their choice (even burgers from restaurants that don’t serve Pepsi) purchased on the said date on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook with the hashtag #BetterWithPepsi. Pepsi will then reach out to them to verify their corresponding receipts that show a burger and a Pepsi purchase.
The other way is by clicking a #BetterWithPepsi ad on Facebook or Instagram, which will direct consumers to a webpage where they need to share their receipts. Once Pepsi verifies the receipts, consumers will be provided with a rebate via Venmo, PayPal, or digital gift card up to $3.49. Click here to see the full details, terms, and conditions of Pepsi’s National Hamburger Day promotion.
“For decades, consumers have not had the chance to enjoy the optimal taste combination they deserve at many burger chains – a burger with an ice-cold, refreshing Pepsi,” Todd Kaplan, VP of Marketing, Pepsi, said in a news release. “We know that burgers go better with Pepsi, so we want to provide burger-lovers with the long-overdue opportunity to try the one elusive but deliciously perfect combo – a juicy, meaty, topping-stuffed burger with a Pepsi. Our #BetterWithPepsi initiative is a fun way for us to reinforce the role that Pepsi plays in elevating the taste of burgers, while also reminding consumers that they have a choice when it comes to beverages.”
Pepsi’s National Hamburger Day promotion comes after results of third-party blind taste tests and a consumer survey, all commissioned by PepsiCo, revealed that more participants preferred Pepsi over Coke with McDonald’s Bic Mac, Burger King’s Whopper, and Wendy’s Dave’s Single.
As for why burger fans prefer Pepsi over other cola brands, PepsiCo said that the unique flavor and citrus notes in Pepsi pair flawlessly with the rich flavor of ground beef and cheese, acting as the perfect complement. Other cola brands, meanwhile, reportedly tends to taste heavier in vanilla and raisin-like flavor notes, which over-burden the juicy taste of a burger.
“The signature flavor and bright citrus blend of Pepsi cut through the fat and gives a juicy hamburger a fresh, clean and delightful taste,” explained Chef Kyle Shadix, PepsiCo’s corporate executive research chef for global beverages. “It’s just like how adding a touch of citrus in cooking can heighten flavor and change a food or beverage’s entire flavor profile, which is why it is used by chefs and mixologists across the world to add brightness and lift the flavors of the foods and beverages they create. This is why Pepsi is a no-brainer to pair with burgers.”
Pepsi’s National Hamburger Day promotion is part of the cola brand’s bigger #BetterWithPepsi national campaign that launched earlier this month.