Case Analysis: Cola Wars

        Marketing is the Development of consumer demand is also changing, no one brand can not be in the same mode in the face constantly in the development of consumers. Coca-Cola does not do so, Pepsi does not do so, as the

Marketing strategies began to take broader dimensions as the soft drink industry continued to expand and became more complex. In 1976, Pepsi introduced the Pepsi Challenge in its campaigns, a moved that directly challenged Coca-Cola’s longstanding dominance. In 1985, responding to the pressure of the taste tests, which Pepsi always won, Coca-Cola decided to change its formula. This move set off a shock wave across America. Consumers angrily demanded that the old formula be returned, and Coca-Cola responded three months later with Classic Coke. Five years after the infamous Coke fiasco, the Coca-Cola

The existing concentrate business is largely controlled by Coca-Cola Company (Coca-Cola) and PepsiCo (Pepsi), together claiming a combined 72% of the U.S. carbonated soft drink (CSD) market sales volume in 2009. Refer to Exhibit 1 for an illustration of the CSD industry value chain. For more than a century, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have maintained growth and large market shares through mastering five competitive forces, shown in Exhibit 2, that drive profitability and shape the industry structure.

For more than a century, Coca Cola and PepsiCo have been the major competitors within the soft drink market. By employing various advertising tactics, strategies such as blind taste tests, and reward initiatives for the consumer, they have grown to become oligopolistic rivals. In the soft-drink business, “The Coca-Cola Company” and “PepsiCo, Incorporated” hold most of the market shares in virtually every region of the world. They have brands that the consumers want, whether it be soft-drink brands or in PepsioCo’s case, snacks. With only one soft-drink market, the two competitors have no choice but to increase sales by stealing the other competitor’s clients. This led to the term, the “cola wars” which was first used

stores counted on soft drinks to generate consumer traffic, so they needed Coke and Pepsi products. But due

In the long term prospects, Pepsi will fare better because of its better marketing and advertising strategies, more widely accepted and more market share.

The rivalry between coke and Pepsi is legendary and not just only product development and occasionally get personal collusions which sometimes resonate their marketing and promotional activates.

In an industry dominated by two heavyweight contenders, Coke and Pepsi, in fact, between 1996 and 2004 per capita consumption of carbonated soft drinks (CSD) remained between 52 to 54 gallons per year. Consumption grew by an average of 3% per year over the next three decades. Fueling this growth were the increasing availability of CSD, the introduction of diet and flavored varieties, and brand extensions. There is couple of reasons why the industry is so profitable such as market share, availability and diversity and brand name and world class marketing.

Another important weakness is that the company’s products are seen as a major cause of obesity. (Melser, 2013) The beverage sales are affected by various factors including change in trends and preferences. Recently, beverage sales have fallen because of people’s increased preference for the health drinks. Around the world, obesity is a major problem and the Coca Cola products are seen as a major cause of obesity. As people are getting health conscious they are moving towards low calorie healthy drinks. This affects coca cola’s profitability and popularity. However, the brand can overcome this situation by increasing the number of low calorie products in its brand portfolio. It will need to add more healthy choices for its customers in its product portfolio.

These two-company’s economic characteristic include their market size and growth rate from the early 2000’s to 2010. Coke and Pepsi have struggled for years in the carbonated and non-alcoholic sector. According to Barbara Murray (2006c) "But as the pop fight has topped out, the industry 's giants have begun relying on new product flavors and looking to noncarbonated beverages for growth.” (Murry, 2006). For instance, Coke boasts in the advertisement as the king of the soft drink; as a consumer of both products, I agree. About 15 years ago, I was selected to participate in a critiquing of Coke and Pepsi products. Additionally, my travel to Africa in 2007 and 2010 provided the same raving review for the Coke Cola products. Apparently, Coke and Pepsi have been rivals for ages locally, regionally, nationally, multinational, and globally, therefore, one expects them to have an on-going rivalry when marketing the high-energy beverages.

PepsiCo’s corporate strategy had diversified, in 2008, the company into salty and sweet snacks, soft drinks, orange juice, bottled water, and ready-to-eat drink teas and coffees, purified and functional waters, isotonic beverages, hot and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, grain-based products, and breakfast condiments. Strategies that kept their brands at the top were tied to new product innovation, close relationships with distribution allies, international expansion, and strategic acquisitions. A new element of PepsiCo’s corporate strategy was product reformulations to make snack

PepsiCo Inc.: The challenge of Pepsi (as an opponent to Coca-Cola) has never lost its fizz for

Moreover, Pepsi attempted to differentiate its products from Coke's by targeting a different category of consumers, as Pepsi focused on the teen's market segment. The competition goes beyond the domestic market. Coke and Pepsi have fought over international markets in order to increase sales and profitability as the US market becomes more mature, with a slowing growth rate.

According to PepsiCo SWOT, “it is better equipped to satisfy the needs of customers with a wide variety of successful products” (2008). PepsiCo managed to present almost every type of drink and food brands. The merchandise that is earned is the majority of their revenue. This makes them extremely at risk to change any of their marketing products. However

Pepsi Co 's assignment taken as a whole is to amplify the value of its shareholder 's investment through sales intensification, expenditure gearshift and prudent investment of resources (Bongiorno, 1996, p 71). In this pose, Pepsi believes that its moneymaking triumph depends on providing safe and quality drink to its consumers and customers while adhering to the highest standards of truthfulness. Pepsi Co 's product portfolio encompasses sixteen labels that produce enough cash for the company. The most popular of these brands include Pepsi Cola, and Mountain Dew.