Fans rejoice as Pepsi launches brand new flavor that rivals Coca Cola
Pepsi fans are bubbling with excitement after the soda giant announced a brand new flavor launching next week.
Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream flavor will hit stores nationwide on Monday (January 20), the company announced on Tuesday.
The move mimics that of its main rival. Coca-Cola announced last month it will launch its own new flavor with a cream twist., but with orange instead of cherry.
Pepsi says the new drink as its 'most indulgent flavor yet,' by 'combining the nostalgic duo of ripe wild cherry and creamy vanilla with the bold refreshment of Pepsi.'
The flavor is here to stay, with the 12oz cans remaining permanently but the 20oz bottles appearing for a limited time only.
'Wild Cherry & Cream' will also be available in both normal Pepsi and Pepsi Zero varieties.
New flavors are often used as a way for legacy soda companies to reach younger consumers who have a palette for novel flavors.
Cherry is a purposeful choice from Pepsi as Pinterest named cherry a top trend of the new year for Gen Z and millennial.
Pepsi 'Wild Cherry & Cream' flavor will hit stores nationwide on Monday 20th January
Pepsi has seen an 8 percent year on year growth for its Cherry flavor, with particular interest from younger consumers, the company said.
'Building on the enduring success of Pepsi Wild Cherry, we're excited to unveil Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream,' Jenny Danzi, head of marketing at Pepsi said.
'Pepsi Wild Cherry has always been a flavor favorite in the cola world, especially among millennial and Gen Z cola fans.
'This permanent addition to our portfolio boasts a unique profile that's both indulgent and refreshing.'
'I’m HYPED,' one Pepsi fan wrote of the new flavor announcement on Reddit.
'It’s gotta taste like cherry vanilla that got discontinued if it does I’m getting 32 cases,' another commented.
A third simply added, 'stoked.'
Meanwhile, it mimics a drink from its rival. Coca-Cola Orange Cream will hit shelves across the country in February and will remain until at least the first quarter of the following year.
Diet Coke is one of the most popular soft drinks in the world
Coca-Cola Orange Cream will hit shelves across the country in February
Orange Cream will also be available in both regular and Zero forms as well as in both bottles and cans.
'Orange Cream was developed in direct response to consumer demand for the iconic and nostalgic taste of orange cream,' a spokesperson for Coca-Cola told DailyMail.com.
The brand has dabbled in orange flavors before but with limited success, quietly removing its Orange Vanilla flavor in 2022.
Coke is still the undisputed king of the $97 billion US soda industry with more than double the market shares of any of its rivals at 19.18 percent.
Pepsi's market share is 8.31 percent, and Dr Pepper now 8.34 percent.
The Pepsi brand remains the overall No 2 soda - when taking into account the diet and zero sugar versions.
