CPG brands and supermarket retailers understand there's nothing that gets consumer trial and acceptance of new products like good, old-fashioned sampling. So as Pepsi is attempting once again to grow the U.S. market for mid-calorie sodas with a new sub-brand, Pepsi Next, it's time to put the reliable sampling technique to massive use.

In fact, sampling will be a centerpiece of the campaign, "Drink it to believe it," that Pepsi has launched behind Next, the product it tested last year and will begin rolling out nationally to retailers on March 26. Walmart stores will be a key partner for the launch as Pepsi samples Next at 800 Walmart Supercenters across the country. Pepsi also plans to continue a national sampling program for Next in more than 40 cities nationwide through August.Continue reading...

PepsiCo is fighting back in the war on soda by offering a new version of its flagship beverage, called Pepsi Next, which will have 60 calories, about half of its regular soda, according to the Associated Press.

Don't think of it as a "diet" or "low calorie" beverage so much as a mid-calorie drink. Consumers should be able to find the beverage, made with three artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup, on store shelves by the end of March.

Pepsi has been researching the "taste curve" to figure out the sweet (but not too sweet) spot as it tweaks the brand. The move follows sibling brand moves at Gatorade, whose G2, at 20 calories, has a little less than half the calories of the original version; and Trop50, which is half of the 110 calories in a regular glass of Tropicana orange juice.Continue reading...

Pepsi NEXT (not to be confused with the Pepsi Nex soft drink brand in Japan and South Korea) is launching in the US next month — but only as a trial run.

The reduced-sugar cola brand will be tested in two markets in Iowa and Wisconsin, according to PepsiCo's press release today, which adds:

"Pepsi NEXT was created for consumers who seek the rich taste of full-calorie cola but have decreased their consumption in order to reduce the sugar in their diet. While sugar-reduction is a priority for this segment, they have not adopted the flavor profile of a zero calorie cola. Pepsi NEXT delivers in the sweet-spot for these consumers with its real cola flavor and 60 percent less sugar."

"As part of our continued commitment to innovate our carbonated soft-drinks portfolio, we developed Pepsi NEXT, a great tasting, full-flavor cola with 60 percent less sugar," stated Massimo d'Amore, CEO of PepsiCo Beverages America. "In thorough consumer research, Pepsi NEXT resonated very well with consumers who are seeking a new, reduced sugar alternative to their loved cola."

As The Consumerist notes, "both Coke and Pepsi have been down the mid-calorie road before with the short-lived C2 and Pepsi Edge, respectively."