Pepsi enthusiasts were recently taken aback when they learned the original name of their beloved soft drink. The age-old rivalry between Coca-Cola and Pepsi is a debate that may never find resolution. Nonetheless, one thing we can all agree on is the refreshing joy of cracking open a cold can of soda, regardless of the weather.
Indeed, you don’t need a sunny day as a pretext to enjoy a fizzy beverage. But did you know that Pepsi, which is a blend of sugar, water, caramel, and spices, was not always known by its iconic name?
Originally, Pepsi was the brainchild of Caleb D. Bradham.
In 1893, Bradham, a North Carolina native, started selling this carbonated concoction at a local pharmacy after leaving university.
Starting as a mere side project to earn some additional income, it’s safe to say the venture turned out to be immensely successful. Interestingly, when it came to naming his creation, Bradham opted for a personal touch, initially calling it ‘Brad’s Drink’—a far cry from its current globally recognized name.
Imagine if it had retained that original name! The drink only underwent a name change around five years later when Bradham purchased the name ‘Pep Kola’ from a competitor, eventually evolving into Pepsi-Cola.
Linguists point out that the term ‘Pepsi’ derives from the Greek word for ‘digestion’, aligning with the beverage’s early slogan in 1904: ‘Exhilarating, Invigorating, Aids Digestion’.
This intriguing tidbit about the brand’s early days has sparked quite a reaction among Pepsi fans on social media platform X. One user exclaimed, “I just learned that Pepsi was originally called Brad’s drink. So anyway, I’m going to be reeling from that for a week or so.”
Others chimed in with their thoughts; one person commented, “Brad’s Drink sounds like the name of a 90s alt-rock album,” while another simply expressed disbelief: “What? ? ? Oh my God.”
Despite these shifts in brand identity, the logo has remained remarkably consistent. The most recent update to the Pepsi logo occurred in March 2023, fueled by feedback that while many couldn’t pinpoint the exact logo, they generally recalled the red, blue, and white color scheme and some text within a circular motif.
PepsiCo’s inaugural Chief Design Officer, Mauro Porcini, shared with CNN, “We couldn’t ignore that kind of insight. Instead of rejecting it, we decided to embrace it.” The adjustments to the logo were further detailed by Pepsi’s Chief Marketing Officer, Todd Kaplan, who noted that the ‘Pepsi’ text is now ‘decoupled from the globe’, featuring a lowercase, italicized font where “the blue is a little bit muted … it doesn’t exude that confidence and energy that the brand really represents.”
This recent revelation and rebranding effort have certainly added a fizz of excitement to Pepsi’s storied history.