Sponsored in part by Pepsi.
Pepsi Timeline
1898 - 1940
1898
Caleb Bradham, a New Bern, North Carolina, pharmacist,
renames "Brad's Drink," a carbonated soft drink he created
to serve his drugstore's fountain customers. The new name,
Pepsi-Cola, is derived from two of the principal
ingredients, pepsin and kola nuts. It is first used on August
28.
1902
Bradham applies to the U.S. Patent Office for a trademark
for the Pepsi-Cola name.
1903
In keeping with its origin as a pharmacist's concoction,
Bradham's advertising praises his drink as "Exhilarating,
invigorating, aids digestion."
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1905
A new logo appears, the first change from the original
created in 1898.
1906
The logo is redesigned and a new slogan added: "The
original pure food drink." The trademark is registered in
Canada.
1907
The Pepsi trademark is registered in Mexico.
1909
Automobile racing pioneer Barney Oldfield becomes
Pepsi's first celebrity endorser when he appears in
newspaper ads describing Pepsi-Cola as "A bully
drink...refreshing, invigorating, a fine bracer before a race."
The theme "Delicious and Healthful" appears, and will be
used intermittently over the next two decades.
1920
Pepsi appeals to consumers with, "Drink Pepsi-Cola. It will
satisfy you."
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1932
The trademark is registered in Argentina.
1934
Pepsi begins selling a 12-ounce bottle for five cents, the
same price charged by its competitors for six ounces.
1938
The trademark is registered in the Soviet Union.
1939
A newspaper cartoon strip, "Pepsi & Pete," introduces the
theme "Twice as Much for a Nickel" to increase consumer
awareness
of Pepsi's value advantage.
1940
Pepsi makes advertising history with the first advertising
jingle ever broadcast nationwide. "Nickel, Nickel" will
eventually become a hit record and will be translated into
55 languages. A new, more modern logo is adopted.
1941 - 1960
1943
The "Twice as Much" advertising strategy expands to include
the theme, "Bigger Drink, Better Taste."
1949
"Why take less when Pepsi's best?" is added to "Twice as
Much" advertising.
1950
"More Bounce to the Ounce" becomes Pepsi's new theme as
changing soft drink economics force Pepsi to raise prices to
competitive levels. The logo is again updated.
1953
Americans become more weight conscious, and a new
strategy based on Pepsi's lower caloric content is implemented
with "The Light Refreshment" campaign.
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1954
"The Light Refreshment" evolves to incorporate "Refreshing
Without Filling."
1958
Pepsi struggles to enhance its brand image. Sometimes
referred to as "the kitchen cola," as a consequence of its
long-time positioning as a bargain brand, Pepsi now identifies
itself with young, fashionable consumers with the "Be Sociable,
Have a Pepsi" theme. A distinctive "swirl" bottle replaces
Pepsi's earlier straight-sided bottle.
1959
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and U.S. Vice-President
Richard Nixon meet in the soon-to-be-famous "kitchen
debate" at an international trade fair. The meeting, over Pepsi,
is photo-captioned in the U.S. as "Khrushchev Gets Sociable."
1961 - 1980
1963
In one of the most significant demographic events in commercial
history, the post-war baby boom emerges as a social and
marketplace phenomenon. Pepsi recognizes the change, and
positions Pepsi as the brand belonging to the new generation-The
Pepsi Generation. "Come alive! You're in the Pepsi Generation"
makes advertising history. It is the first time a product is identified,
not so much by its attributes, as by its consumers' lifestyles and
attitudes.
1964
A new product, Diet Pepsi, is introduced into Pepsi-Cola
advertising.
1966
Diet Pepsi's first independent campaign, "Girlwatchers," focuses on
the cosmetic benefits of the low-calorie cola. The "Girlwatchers"
musical theme becomes a Top 40 hit. Advertising for another new
product, Mountain Dew, a regional brand acquired in 1964, airs
for the first time, built around the instantly recognizable tag line,
"Ya-Hoo, Mountain Dew!"
1967
When research indicates that consumers place a premium on
Pepsi's superior taste when chilled, "Taste that beats the others
cold. Pepsi pours it on" emphasizes Pepsi's product superiority.
The campaign, while product-oriented, adheres closely to the
energetic, youthful, lifestyle imagery established in the initial Pepsi
Generation campaign.
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1969
"You've got a lot to live. Pepsi's got a lot to give" marks a shift in
Pepsi Generation advertising strategy. Youth and lifestyle are still
the campaign's driving forces, but with "Live/Give," a new
awareness and a reflection of contemporary events and mood
become integral parts of the advertising's texture.
1973
Pepsi Generation advertising continues to evolve. "Join the Pepsi
People, Feelin' Free" captures the mood of a nation involved in
massive social and political change. It pictures us the way we
are-one people, but many personalities.
1975
The Pepsi Challenge, a landmark marketing strategy, convinces
millions of consumers that Pepsi's taste is superior.
1976
"Have a Pepsi Day" is the Pepsi Generation's upbeat reflection of
an improving national mood. "Puppies," a 30-second snapshot of
an encounter between a very small boy and some even smaller
dogs, becomes an instant commercial classic.
1979
With the end of the '70s comes the end of a national malaise.
Patriotism has been restored by an exuberant celebration of the
U.S. bicentennial, and Americans are looking to the future with
renewed optimism. "Catch that Pepsi Spirit!" catches the mood
and the Pepsi Generation carries it forward into the '80s.
1981 to -----
1983
The soft drink market grows more competitive, but for Pepsi
drinkers, the battle is won. The time is right and so is their soft
drink. It's got to be "Pepsi Now!"
1984
A new generation has emerged-in the United States, around
the world and in Pepsi advertising, too. "Pepsi. The Choice of
a New Generation" announces the change, and the most
popular entertainer of the time, Michael Jackson, stars in the
first two commercials of the new campaign. The two spots
quickly become "the most eagerly awaited advertising of all
time."
1985
Lionel Richie leads a star-studded parade into "New
Generation" advertising followed by pop music icons Tina
Turner and Gloria Estefan. Sports heroes Joe Montana and
Dan Marino are part of it, as are film and television stars Teri
Garr and Billy Crystal. Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman
nominated to be vice president of the U.S., stars in a Diet
Pepsi spot. And the irrepressible Michael J. Fox brings a
special talent, style and spirit to a series of Pepsi and Diet
Pepsi commercials, including a classic, "Apartment 10G."
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1987
After an absence of 27 years, Pepsi returns to Times Square,
New York, with a spectacular 850-square foot electronic
display billboard declaring Pepsi to be "America's Choice."
1988
Michael Jackson returns to "New Generation" advertising to
star in a four-part "episodic" commercial named "Chase."
"Chase" airs during the Grammy Awards program and is
immediately hailed by the media as "the most-watched
commercial in advertising history."
1989
"The Choice of a New Generation" theme expands to
categorize Pepsi users as "A Generation Ahead!"
1990
Teen stars Fred Savage and Kirk Cameron join the "New
Generation" campaign, and football legend Joe Montana
returns in a spot challenging other celebrities to taste test their
colas against Pepsi. Music legend Ray Charles stars in a new
Diet Pepsi campaign, "You got the right one baby."
1991
"You got the Right one Baby" is modified to "You got the
Right one Baby, Uh-Huh!" The "Uh-Huh Girls" join Ray
Charles as back-up singers and a campaign soon to become
the most popular advertising in America is on its way.
Supermodel Cindy Crawford stars in an award-winning
commercial made to introduce Pepsi's updated logo and
package graphics.
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1992
Celebrities join consumers, declaring that they "Gotta Have
It." The interim campaign supplants "Choice of a New
Generation" as work proceeds on new Pepsi advertising for
the '90s. Mountain Dew growth continues, supported by the
antics of an outrageous new Dew Crew whose claim to fame
is that, except for the unique great taste of Dew, they've "Been
there, Done that, Tried that."
1993
"Be Young, Have fun, Drink Pepsi" advertising starring
basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal is rated as best in U.S.
1994
New advertising introducing Diet Pepsi's freshness dating
initiative features Pepsi CEO Craig Weatherup explaining the
relationship between freshness and superior taste to
consumers.
1995
In a new campaign, the company declares "Nothing else is a
Pepsi" and takes top honors in the year's national advertising
championship.
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Last updated: November
4, 1999
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