The recipe for Pepsi Zero Sugar has been upgraded.
On Friday, January 13th, PepsiCo officially launched a new and improved Pepsi Zero Sugar, which fans can try by joining a giveaway that kicked off at the start of the NFL Playoffs on January 14th and will run through the Super Bowl LVII on February 13th.
What is Pepsi Zero Sugar sweetened with?
The soda company didn’t reveal what exactly changed in the Pepsi Zero Sugar formula, but it noted in a press release that it is now using a “new sweetener system” that gives the drink a more “refreshing and bolder taste profile” compared to its previous iteration.
According to PepsiCo, consumers in its comprehensive assessment study “preferred the new Pepsi Zero Sugar, considering it more: refreshing, tasty, having a real cola taste, smooth, able to pair with food and more.”
The soft drink manufacturer also noted that “preference testing has shown that the new Pepsi Zero Sugar outpaces the old formula across the board, including key metrics like overall liking and purchase intent.”
In the press release announcing the new version of the soda, Pepsi’s Chief Marketing Officer Todd Kaplan said that the company’s research and development team “leveraged the best new beverage technology” to upgrade Pepsi Zero Sugar and give “fans the best tasting cola in the zero-sugar category.”
“The product is truly a breakthrough as it is the best zero sugar cola we’ve ever had – period,” Kaplan added. “We’re so confident in its taste, that we are making up to 10 million free Pepsi Zero Sugars available to consumers so that people can try it for themselves.”
While PepsiCo didn’t reveal what specifically changed in the Pepsi Zero Sugar recipe, the soda maker told CNN that reduced the drink’s amount of caffeine, which is now equal to the amount in regular Pepsi cola. Despite the drink’s less-caffeine formula, results of the firm’s customer research on the new flavor revealed that it tastes more refreshing with a “real cola taste.”
Reddit users who tried the new and improved Pepsi Zero Sugar a few weeks ago wrote that it tastes “way sweeter” and no longer has a “weird aftertaste” compared to its previous version.
Although the packaging for the sugar-free soda remains the same, Pepsi did add a “new improved taste” badge to the drink’s cans to help shoppers identify the new formula.
How to try the new and improved Pepsi Zero Sugar
As mentioned above, PepsiCo is giving away up to 10 million free Pepsi Zero Sugars to consumers to prove through taste and trial that it is the best-tasting version of the soda ever. To get a free Pepsi Zero Sugar, simply text “FREE PEPSI” throughout the NFL Playoffs and “FREE ZERO” during the Super Bowl to 81234. Click here to read the complete rules of the promotion.
In addition to the giveaway, Pepsi is also releasing new commercials, both in English and Spanish, throughout the entire NFL Playoffs, as part of the campaign activation around the new and improved Pepsi Zero Sugar.
PepsiCo also confirmed in the press release that there’s going to be a Super Bowl campaign for Pepsi Zero Sugar. This will be the first time in three years that Pepsi will run a commercial during the highly anticipated sporting event.
Why did Pepsi Zero Sugar change its recipe?
According to CNN, PepsiCo decided to update the formula for Pepsi Zero Sugar in an attempt to compete better with The Coca-Cola Company’s Coke Zero Sugar, which debuted a new taste and look in July 2021.
According to data from Beverage Digest obtained by CNN, Pepsi Zero Sugar has captured less than 1% of overall soda sales, while Coke Zero Sugar has impressively grown its market share over the past five years to nearly 4%.
“Pepsi can no longer be satisfied having an also-ran to Coke Zero Sugar,” Duane Stanford, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest, said in an interview with CNN. “Reformulating Pepsi Zero Sugar is a line in the sand that says it’s time to compete in earnest for share in the most important cola segment today.”
Because customers, in general, prefer sweeter cola, the reformulation of Pepsi Zero Sugar “is a must to compete effectively” in the market, added Stanford.
Is sugar-free Pepsi actually sugar-free?
Yes. PepsiCo has two sugar-free brands: Zero Sugar and Diet. All Pepsi sodas that bear either the Zero Sugar brand or the Diet brand contain 0mg of sugar.
Is Pepsi with zero sugar good for you?
If you are watching your sugar intake, then Pepsi Zero Sugar is good for you, as it doesn’t contain any sugar.
What is the difference between Pepsi Diet and Pepsi Zero Sugar?
While Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar are both sugar-free, the two drinks have different sets of ingredients. For one, the latter contains 40mg of sodium, while the former has 35mg of sodium. Below is the ingredient breakdown for both Pepsi brands:
Diet Pepsi ingredients
- Carbonated water
- Caramel color
- Aspartame
- Phosphoric acid
- Potassium Benzoate (preserves freshness)
- Caffeine
- Citric acid
- Natural flavor
- Acesulfame Potassium
Pepsi Zero Sugar ingredients
- Carbonated water
- Caramel color
- Aspartame
- Phosphoric acid
- Potassium Benzoate (preserves freshness)
- Caffeine
- Citric acid
- Natural flavor
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Panax Ginseng root extract
- Calcium Disodium Edta (to protect flavor)