Functional beverages, better-for-you offerings and bold flavored snacks were central to PepsiCo, Inc.’s year of innovation.
In October, PepsiCo bolstered its better-for-you snack portfolio with the introduction of Smartfood Smart50. The air popped, ready-to-eat snack is made from 100% whole grain popcorn and contains 50 calories or fewer per cup. Flavors include sea salt and white cheddar.
The sea salt variety is gluten-free, includes 40 calories per cup and contains three ingredients: popcorn, vegetable oil and sea salt.
The white cheddar flavor contains 50 calories per cup and is flavored with cheddar cheese, Romano cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Smart50 is available nationwide in 5-oz and 6-oz bags for a suggested retail price of $3.99.
PepsiCo, Inc. brought some flavor to its Pepsi cola product line in April with the launch of three fruit-flavored varieties: Pepsi Berry, Pepsi Lime and Pepsi Mango. PepsiCo said it is the first time it has added “a splash of real fruit juice” to its cola. The new flavors are available in 12-oz cans in 12-packs at retailers until June 14. The flavors are available in 12-oz sleek cans in 8-packs at Walmart and Target stores.
“We are really excited to release these three new flavors, as they provide our fans with a flavorful new cola experience that combines the delicious flavor of an ice-cold Pepsi with a splash of real fruit juice,” said Todd Kaplan, vice-president of marketing at PepsiCo. “This unique twist on cola creates an unbelievably delightful taste profile that is unparalleled in the marketplace, creating a refreshing way for people to cool off in the warm weather.”
PepsiCo’s Cap’n Crunch cereal gained three new varieties this year: Chocolate Berry Crunch launched in January, while Cotton Candy Crunch and Red, White & Blue Crunch debuted in June.
Limited-edition Chocolately Berry Crunch is a sweetened corn and oat cereal featuring chocolate-flavored crunch pieces with red strawberry-flavored crunch berries. The cereal contains 100 calories and 11 grams of sugar per ¾-cup serving.
Cotton Candy Crunch features blue and pink sweetened corn and oat cereal puffs that include the flavors of cotton candy. Each one-cup serving contains 110 calories and 13 grams of sugar.
Red, White & Blue Crunch contains red, white and blue cereal puffs and contains 150 calories and 17 grams of sugar per 1.25-cup serving.
A new line of premium teas debuted from PepsiCo’s Pure Leaf brand in February. Brewed with hibiscus flowers, Pure Leaf Herbal Iced Teas are caffeine free, contain 100 to 110 calories per serving and come in mango hibiscus, peach hibiscus and cherry hibiscus flavors. Each 18.5-oz single-serve bottle retails for $1.99.
“We’re excited to bring real brewed hibiscus iced tea to all of the places you buy your favorite beverage,” said Amy Tran, manager of product development for Pure Leaf Tea. “We’ve listened to feedback from our iced tea lovers who shared that they love the quality and real-brewed taste that’s synonymous with Pure Leaf, but also wanted a naturally caffeine-free option that can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.”
Innovative limited-edition menu items make their debut.
Beverage innovation is on the rise.