PURCHASE, N.Y. -- PepsiCo Inc. is getting ready to slim down this summer by offering a cola with 40% of the calories of its Pepsi-Cola soft drink, according to a Reuters report citing Beverage Digest. The new drink, called Pepsi Next, will have 40 calories per 235-milliliter serving, or 60 calories per 355 mL can.
Regular Pepsi has 100 calories per serving and 150 calories per can. Diet Pepsi has no calories.
Sources told the beverage industry publication that the new drink may be launched in July or August. A spokesperson for PepsiCo declined to comment.[image-nocss]
Past versions of such drinks, which taste more like full-calorie colas than no-calorie colas, have not lasted long, said the report; however, the market may be ready for these types of drinks now, as people try to allow themselves small indulgences without blowing their diets.
In 2004, The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, had its own mid-calorie drink, C2, while Pepsi had Pepsi Edge. Neither brand lasted more than a couple of years.
Pepsi Next's recipe is still unclear. According to the publication, a source said the new drink would likely be sweetened with a mixture of high-fructose corn syrup, sucralose, ace-K and aspartame, while another source said there could still be some tweaks to the sweetener blend.
Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of food and beverage brands, including Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.