This year marks the 125th anniversary of Pepsi as a refreshment choice. Since the “Pepsi Generation” came along, it has vied with another southern creation as competitive co-king of the soda world. While Coca-Cola has its museum in Atlanta, the alternative has Tarheel roots.
Pepsi is actually older than its birthday. Like most old people, it cheats on its age. The drink we now call Pepsi began as the creation of a pharmacist in New Bern. Caleb Bradham mixed up a concoction of sugar, water, caramel, kola nuts, nutmeg, lemon oil and a few secret ingredients as a pick-me-up for those flagging in the afternoon sun of eastern North Carolina. Five years later, the name got changed to Pepsi-Cola, and the long trek from Tarheel swill to international beverage began.
The word “Pepsi” originally had no meaning except that it was a reference to dyspepsia, a 19th century term for indigestion. Brad’s Drink, the original title was changed to suggest that drinking it offered digestive help, a nice way of saying, well, you know what it is saying.
Going toe-to-toe with Coca-Cola didn’t work. Pepsi went broke, but it came out of bankruptcy with a brilliant idea fit for the times. The Great Depression was fortuitous when the soft drink began offering servings in 12 ounce bottles. Folks liked the added value and Pepsi gained market share.
The brand made another wise move. In the post-WWII boom, it was presented to baby boomers as the hip thing. They responded by gravitating toward the liquid refreshment as something new and fresh, though it had been around for a long time, proving that marketing works.
The battle for supremacy intensified. Coke countered with a song that hit the charts (“I’d like to teach the world to sing…”). By that point, Pepsi had dropped the word “Cola” from its name and in the early 80s landed Michael Jackson as the newer, hipper embodiment of what you should drink on a hot summer afternoon. Winter, too? Yes, winter, too.
Since then, the cola wars have raged. Choices go well beyond the two cola drinks to include water, almost water, juices, energy drinks. Most every choice you can make when you open a convenience store cooler is owned by either Pepsi or Coke. In honor it its 125/130th birthday, Pepsi is changing its logo, again. Back in 2008, they added a wobble to their look, while Coke has stayed with its fluid ribbon device.
And all of this might never have happened if some Tarheel had not gotten an idea that took on a life of its own. In fact, if you buy a Pepsi these days, the label proudly proclaims that it is a taste born in the Carolinas (to be nice and sell drinks in SC, they include our little brother to the south).
Pepsi, Coke, Chero-Cola, R.C., Cheerwine, Sundrop. Southerners used to call them all “dopes” because of the early cocaine content. Caffeine took over the stimulative need but the big worry today is high fructose corn syrup. Some states have cracked down on the sugar content.
So, a toast. Happy birthday and good luck with the new logo. May the drink flow as long as Carolinians need an afternoon pick-me-up.
Image: Logos from 125 years of enjoying a good Tarheel drink.
