Brand: Pepsi
Country of Origin: United States šŗšø
Introduced: 1898
Founder: Caleb Bradham
Industry: Beverages | Carbonated Soft Drinks
Parent Company: PepsiCo, Inc.
PepsiCo Chairman & CEO: Ramon Laguarta
Official Website: Pepsi Official Website
Featured By: ASIA Best Brands ā Global Brands
About Pepsi
Pepsi is one of the worldās most recognised cola brands, known for its distinctive taste, global marketing and long association with music, sports, food and popular culture.
The Pepsi-Cola name was introduced in 1898, and the brand is now enjoyed across more than 200 countries and territories as part of PepsiCoās global beverage portfolio.
From Bradās Drink to Pepsi-Cola
Birthplace of Pepsi. Image Source: New Bern.
Pepsiās story began in New Bern, North Carolina, where pharmacist Caleb Bradham created a beverage called āBradās Drinkā in 1893.
On August 28, 1898, Bradham renamed the drink Pepsi-Cola. The Pepsi-Cola name was trademarked in 1902, and the business soon expanded beyond Bradhamās pharmacy through a growing bottling network.
A major corporate change came in 1965, when the Pepsi-Cola Company merged with Frito-Lay to form PepsiCo.
Reinventing an Iconic Cola Brand
Pepsi has repeatedly updated its products, packaging and marketing while maintaining its core cola identity.
One of its best-known campaigns, the Pepsi Challenge, began as a blind taste test and became a defining part of the brandās challenger positioning.
Pepsi revived the campaign around Pepsi Zero Sugar in 2025, reflecting the growing importance of lower- and zero-sugar choices within the cola category.
A New Global Identity
In 2023, Pepsi unveiled its first major visual identity redesign in 14 years.
The updated design brought the Pepsi globe and wordmark together, introduced electric blue and black, and placed greater emphasis on Pepsi Zero Sugar.
Following its North American introduction, the new identity rolled out globally in 2024 across more than 120 markets.
The redesign combined elements from Pepsiās history with a more contemporary identity designed for both physical and digital environments.
Expanding Beyond Traditional Cola
PepsiĀ® Prebiotic Cola goes on sale nationwide this Black Friday. Image Source: PepsiCo.
Pepsi continues to adapt its portfolio as consumer preferences change.
Alongside original Pepsi, the brand has expanded through products such as Pepsi Zero Sugar and flavour extensions.
In 2025, PepsiCo introduced Pepsi Prebiotic Cola, containing 5 grams of sugar, 30 calories and 3 grams of prebiotic fibre per can, with no artificial sweeteners. The product received a wider U.S. launch in 2026.
The move illustrates how Pepsi is experimenting with new formats while retaining its established cola identity.
Pepsi and Popular Culture
Pepsi has built much of its global identity through connections with music, sport and entertainment.
Its campaigns have historically featured major artists, athletes and cultural events, positioning the brand around shared social occasions rather than the drink alone.
This relationship with popular culture has helped Pepsi remain recognisable across generations while adapting its marketing to changing audiences.
A Major Presence Across Asia
Asia is an important part of PepsiCoās international business and Pepsiās global reach.
PepsiCo maintains operations across markets including China, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, with its broader international network extending throughout Asia Pacific.
Pepsiās 2024 global identity rollout also included prominent activations in Asian markets such as Vietnam and Pakistan, alongside campaigns across other international locations.
The regionās large consumer markets, expanding middle class and diverse food cultures make Asia significant to the continuing development of global beverage brands such as Pepsi.
Part of the PepsiCo Portfolio
Pepsi is owned by PepsiCo, Inc., a global food and beverage company whose portfolio also includes brands such as Layās, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Quaker.
PepsiCo generated nearly US$94 billion in net revenue in 2025 and operates a portfolio of more than 500 brands.
This is PepsiCo-level financial performance, not standalone Pepsi brand revenue. PepsiCo does not publicly report a separate annual revenue figure for the Pepsi brand.
Why Pepsi Is Featured on ASIA Best Brands
Pepsi demonstrates how a beverage brand can remain culturally relevant for more than a century through continuous reinvention.
From its beginnings as Bradās Drink to Pepsi-Cola, Pepsi Zero Sugar, new product formats and a modern global identity, the brand has consistently adapted to changing tastes and consumer behaviour.
Its broad international distribution and established presence across Asia also make Pepsi an important part of the global beverage landscape.
By combining brand recognition, product innovation, cultural relevance and international reach, Pepsi remains one of the worldās most influential beverage brands featured on ASIA Best Brands.
Official Website:
Pepsi Official Website
Category: Beverages | Carbonated Soft Drinks | Consumer Brands
Tags: Pepsi, Pepsi-Cola, PepsiCo, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Cola, Soft Drinks, Beverage Brands, Pop Culture, Asia Pacific, ASIA Best Brands
Sources
1. PepsiCo ā Pepsi Brand History
Official 2026 history covering Bradās Drink, Pepsi-Cola, international expansion and the creation of PepsiCo.
Pepsi: From Bradās Drink to a Global Brand
2. Pepsi ā Official Brand Page
Official information covering the current Pepsi product brand.
Pepsi Brand
3. PepsiCo ā Pepsi New Visual Identity
Official information covering Pepsiās 2023 redesign and global brand direction.
Pepsi New Logo and Visual Identity
4. PepsiCo ā Global Pepsi Redesign
Official information covering the 2024 rollout across more than 120 international markets.
Pepsi Global Redesign
5. PepsiCo ā Pepsi Prebiotic Cola
Official information covering Pepsiās expansion into prebiotic cola.
Pepsi Prebiotic Cola
6. PepsiCo ā Pepsi Challenge and Pepsi Zero Sugar
Official information covering the revival of the Pepsi Challenge and Pepsi Zero Sugar.
Pepsi Challenge
7. PepsiCo ā Company Overview
Official information covering PepsiCoās portfolio and international operations.
About PepsiCo
8. PepsiCo ā 2025 Annual Report
Official source for PepsiCoās corporate financial performance.
PepsiCo Annual Reports