Pepsi NEXT Unveils First "Internet Taste Test" to Inspire Cola Lovers to "Drink It to Believe It"

PURCHASE, N.Y., April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today new Pepsi NEXT, the first cola to deliver real cola taste with 60% less sugar, unveiled the world's first "Internet Taste Test", a digital incarnation of the product's premise, "Drink it to Believe it."  Focused on driving consumer trial and brand engagement, the Pepsi NEXT marketing campaign encourages consumers to take their first sip of the game changing cola, whether it's across 800 Walmart Supercenters or more than 40 cities conducting sampling events nationwide or online via the Internet Taste Test.  

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55531-pepsi-next-internet-cola-taste-test-drink-it-to-believe-it-funny-or-die

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120403/MM81085)

The Internet Taste Test, a unique experience on www.facebook.com/pepsinext, invites cola lovers to opt in for a chance to watch themselves "taste" new Pepsi NEXT through the power and humor of improv.  Funny or Die comedians and actors will do their best impressions of selected consumer and notable personalities' "online personas" trying Pepsi NEXT, using relevant information from their profiles, such as recent "experiences" and "likes."

"To launch Pepsi NEXT, we're focused on getting consumers to 'Drink it to Believe it' – even online, in a fun and uniquely digital way," said Shiv Singh, Head of Digital, PepsiCo Beverages. "The Pepsi NEXT Internet Taste Test demonstrates how a brand can utilize social media to create consumer-driven, personalized branded entertainment."

The Internet Taste Test kicks-off with a video starring actor and comedian Rob Riggle who describes how the test works while watching his online persona "trying" Pepsi NEXT and referencing his "likes," from skeet shooting to painting with water colors.  In addition to Riggle's "how-to" video, fans can also watch humorous video impressions featuring notable figures in social culture "taking their first sip," including Internet mogul Gary Vaynerchuk and Internet meme, Scumbag Steve.

The Pepsi NEXT Internet Taste Test was created by the internal PepsiCo Beverages team, digital agency The Barbarian Group and Funny or Die.  The shoot will take place in Los Angeles over the course of five days, using four simultaneous sound stages and 12 notable Funny or Die  improv comedians. The fan videos will then be edited and posted back to selected users in approximately 24 hours of the shoot. 

Pepsi NEXT, the first cola to deliver real cola taste with 60% less sugar, is now available nationwide.  Come experience Pepsi NEXT by visiting facebook.com/pepsinext and share your "Drink it to Believe it" experience on Twitter with @pepsinext.

For more information regarding new Pepsi NEXT visit http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54979-pepsi-next.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.  

SOURCE PepsiCo

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