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Pepsico Case

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Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative University of New Mexico http://danielsethics.mgt.unm.edu

PepsiCo’s Journey Toward an Ethical and Socially Responsible Culture
COMPANY OVERVIEW PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world. It manufactures and sells eighteen brands of beverages and snack foods and generates over $98 billion in retail sales. PepsiCo encompasses the Pepsi Cola, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, Quaker, and Gatorade brands and offers products in over 200 countries. It currently holds 36 percent of the total snack food market share in the U.S. and 25 percent of the market share of the refreshment beverage industry. The company’s headquarters are in New York and employs over 200,000 people. In 2006, Michael D. …show more content…

During the 1950s, Pepsi evolved from the low cost price leader to a more lifestyle drink approach. For example, as Americans became more health conscious, Pepsi introduced slogans such as “The Light Refreshment” and “Refreshing Without Filling.” Other new advertising campaigns included slogans such as “Be Sociable, Have a Pepsi” and “Now Its Pepsi, For Those Who Think Young” to concentrate on a younger market. It was this younger target market and the post-war baby boom generation that set the stage for Pepsi’s long-lasting brand image. It all started with Pepsi advertiser Alan Pottasch, who recognized the different nature of the newest generation of consumers. Whereas consumers before the war were more cautious and price-conscious, the post-war baby boomer generation was carefree and hopeful. Pepsi once again capitalized on the changing environment, and under Pottasch launched the “Pepsi Generation” campaign in 1963. The campaign was an advertising breakthrough as it helped to set a new standard for advertising in America. The ads portrayed happy Americans living the American dream—with their Pepsis, of course. By associating its brand with youth and excitement, Pepsi-Cola became the forerunner of lifestyle marketing. Future campaigns continued to promote this brand image, with slogans such as “You’ve Got a Lot to Live. Pepsi’s Got a Lot to Give,”

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