BRAND COMPARISON PAPER

Pepsi Co. and Coca Cola, both are very well known multinational companies. They are so famous that they perhaps don’t need any introduction since almost everyone knows basic info about these companies and their widely used products. Both of these companies have been dealing in the production of flavored waters, plain drinking water and soft drinks for decades now and have always been each other’s competitors in almost all the mainstream products they have been producing.

Coca Cola is a large company that has been around since 1886. They are primarily marketing and selling one product; beverages. They have a 63.9% gross profit margin for 2009 and show reasonably good ratios indicating stability. For the 46th consecutive year dividend shave risen. About 74% of their net operating revenue comes from operations outside of the U.S .PepsiCo, Inc. is also a large company that has been around since 1898. They are also a leader in the beverage market but have diversified into another area; snacks. Well known snack such as Lay’s, Doritos, Frito-Lay, Rold Gold, Cracker Jack, Quaker Oatmeal, Aunt Jemima, and Rice-A-Roni just to mention a few leading brand names. The

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.

The argument is which taste better, and is more appealing to the average person. A general study was done where they blind folded people, and put both drinks in front of them. Majority of the people surveyed, agreed they liked Pepsi more when not knowing which was what. Even though majority of them originally said they prefer Coca-Cola over Pepsi. Coca-Cola has a very secret ingredient called “7x” this is most likely the key factor in its goodness. Once before Coca-Cola used to contain more dangerous ingredients such as cocaine. They also use many simple ingredients such sugar, high fructose corn syrup, caffeine, cane sugar and other basic ingredients that most soft drinks have. Pepsi does not how ever have a secret ingredient, but they have high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and caffeine. It is practically the same as Coke just without the formula “7x”. Coca-Cola has a smoother taste and goes down easier then Pepsi, making Coca-Cola more favorable. Pepsi is also a little more sweeter and not as carbonated.

Although PepsiCo’s current assets grew their current liabilities also grew, which leads me to believe that Coca-Cola is more poised to grow as a company in the future. I believe there is room for both of these companies to fix their financial status in these areas. PepsiCo needs to find a way to increase their current assets without raising their current liabilities and Coca-Cola need to find a way to increase their current assets while maintaining their steady drop in current liabilities.

For decades, the battle between PepsiCo. and Coca-Cola has lasted over the control of restaurants to supplies to big countries, but the ultimate deciders would be consumers, profits and sales.

Firstly, the author introduces the history of the Coca-Cola; and how the brand is successfully developing into the most popular brand and ruling the soft drink world by outstanding products, good leadership, correct strategic decisions, completely distribution system, significant culture accomplishment, impressive marketing campaigns and publicities. But, they also had several problems in the 70s, which result in losing the market position at retail. At the same time, Pepsi, as the main competitor of Coca-Cola, started to make inroads by successfully launching the “Pepsi Generation” and “Pepsi Challenge”. Those kinds of efforts led to a rapid increase in Pepsi market share and strongly hit the brand image of Coca-Cola. Because of the severe situation, the leaders of Coca-Cola decided to change the formula of old Coke with marketing research supporting. So, the New Coke with a smoother and sweeter taste had been launched in April 1985. But out of expected, after launching the new taste soon, many customers boycotted the New Coke, and the market share of the company still decline. The company had to re-launch classic

The Coca-Cola organization has made exemplary strides mainly to offer a variety of products to its clients even with the competitive nature of the market. Consumers’ choice gets based on the brand aspect in which the organization wins most customers' heart against its rivals. Even though a significant number of people deny cases to having inclination picking between Coca-Cola items or its rivals', many have a strong desire in some way. Many inclines toward Coca-Cola products since the organization has more than hundred years of history and predictable brand image. This picture is engraved in a lot of people subsequently end up purchasing their beverages. It is out rightly conspicuous in the company’s high market share in the field of soft drinks.

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.

The pricing technique of Coca-Cola has supported the firm to compete and grow in the soft drink effectively. The volume discount and pricing penetration are the vital aspects to provide the firm generates its sales in the market. For instance, Coca-Cola partners with large supply chains such as Costco, Sam’s Club, and Walmart to provide great discount pricing in order to generate its sales substantially in the U.S and the global market. Equally, the firm also distributes its

“Coca-Cola was founded in 1886 at a soda fountain in downtown Atlanta, Georgia” (Coca-Cola Facts para 1). Coca-Cola is better than Pepsi due to its’ longer experience “being in business for about 125 years, the big name beverage brand inspired many consumers and viewers; sparking social interaction and encouraging innovation” (Coca-Cola Facts para 1). “Coca-Cola had bottlers to create a distinctive bottle for the beverage, and it was so noticeable that it could be recognized in the dark, and this effectively set the beverage brand apart from competition, and because of the Coca-Cola’s bottle features — it was acknowledged by many artists from all around the

Coca-Cola delivers on an expectation every time a can is cracked. Drinkers expect it to taste and look a certain way. Imagine if you noticed (with no prior warning) the Coke was a chunky slime green just as you were taking your first sip. We feel protected when we

Coca-Cola is the result of a patent medicine formulated in a small southern pharmacy over a hundred years ago. It has grown into a multibillion dollar international company. It also owns one of the most valuable brands in the world. Their Coca-Cola banner has won the world’s top brand 13 times on brand c-consulting firm Interbrand’s annual list (Fraser, 2012). In addition to its main product, Coke, the company owns over 3500 beverages. One of its core competencies is brand building. They have built their brand to have respectability and dependability. Their brand and logo are recognized all around the globe. It has actually become a new known on almost all households worldwide (RNWILKIN, 2009).

“Coca-Cola brands are available to consumers throughout the world. Today they account for 1.7 billion servings of all beverages consumed worldwide daily. Coca-Cola has the edge in the market and because they are first to capitalize on new consumer trends. They continue to focus on continuous operating improvements, and they are ever changing to meet market demands. Pepsi Co satisfies the needs of its customers with the wide variety of products offered. They also have the different type of beverage or snack and its brands can substitute for each other. Coco-Cola and Pepsi Co is known as the top 100 most valuable brands in the world.

3.A Company that competes with Coca-Cola and sell similar products would be the known Pepsi Co. However, Coca-Cola is primary recognized globally and has always exceed according to a 2014 Nasdaq article, “Coke holds 42% of carbonated drinks while Pepsi Co. holds 30 (2014).”