logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
17m 50s

Can Pepsi Make a Comeback?

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL & GIMLET
About this episode

After decades of fighting Coca-Cola to be the nation’s favorite soda, Pepsi dropped to third place, after Dr Pepper. Now PepsiCo needs to win back soda drinkers . WSJ’s Laura Cooper reports that after years of focusing on potato chips and energy drinks, the company’s new beverage head Ram Krishnan is trying to refocus PepsiCo on drinks, in part with an agreement to purchase prebiotic soda brand Poppi. Allison Pohle hosts.  


Further Listening:

- ‘It Came out of Nowhere’: The Rise of Dr Pepper 

- The Fight to Kick Soda Out of Food Stamps 

- PepsiCo’s New Healthy Diet: More Potato Chips and Soda 


Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Oct 8
She Swore Off Legacy Media. Now She's Running CBS News.
Paramount has acquired news and opinion website the Free Press for $150 million. The company's co-founder, Bari Weiss, has a new job as editor in chief of CBS News. She's a polarizing figure, known for her outspoken support of Israel and strong views on topics like gun rights and ... Show More
18m 10s
Oct 7
They Won Millions for Life. Until They Didn't.
In 2021, Tamar Veatch won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes competition run by Publishers Clearing House, the company best known for delivering oversized checks to winners. But then last April, Publishers Clearing House went bankrupt. WSJ’s Akiko Matsuda explains why the compa ... Show More
20m 33s
Oct 6
Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Wants to Be Set Free
Last month, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield quit the brand after 47 years, accusing parent company Unilever of not allowing the company to speak out on social issues. Host Jessica Mendoza talks to Ben Cohen, the co-founder who stayed, about why he’s not leaving, what he ... Show More
23m 27s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Is there a Dr Pepper in the house?
Dr Pepper has overtaken Pepsi as the second-bestselling soda in the US. Its rise helps explain dirty sodas, healthy sodas, and the overall explosion of the beverage market.This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineer ... Show More
24m 48s
Feb 2024
Why Pepsi Went Bankrupt
THE STORY OF PEPSI & PEPSICO - Here’s the truth Pepsi don’t want you to know: Pepsi started off as a rip off of Coca-Cola. And Pepsi Cola even tried to sell their company to Coca-Cola on three separate occasions. But Coke kept turning them down. As a result, Pepsi struggled and l ... Show More
27m 38s
Apr 2025
The 'New Coke' Debacle
Coca-Cola was approaching its 100th birthday on 23rd April, 1985, when it unveiled a new beverage at New York City's Lincoln Center: the ‘smoother, rounder, bolder’ flavour of ‘New Coke’. The success of Diet Coke had fragmented the market, and, in response to Pepsi's aggressive m ... Show More
13m 1s
Jan 2025
India's cola wars
For decades, two multi-national giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, have been competing for one of the world’s biggest consumer markets.And now they face a tough competition from Asia’s richest man. Mukesh Ambani’s company - Reliance Retail, has launched its own cola brand - Campa Cola ... Show More
16m 50s
Mar 2025
Severe weather aftermath, missing student update, Pepsi new acquisition & more
We begin with the latest reactions to the Trump administration. Communities are picking up the pieces following a deadly cross-country storm. Tensions are growing at the Lebanon-Syria border. New details are emerging about the man last known to have seen a missing college student ... Show More
6m 14s
Mar 2025
🥤 “Diet Bros” – Diet Coke’s political rebrand. Tennis’ collusion case. BYD’s 5-minute EV.
Diet Coke always targeted women… but now it’s the drink of Hustle Bros & the White House.The top tennis players sued the grand slam tournaments… but pro sports is a monopoly.BYD just announced the Holy Grail of Electric Cars… Zero to fully-charged in 5-minutes.Plus, the Oregon Du ... Show More
22m 1s
Jul 23
💫 “Viva La Profits” — Coldplay’s record-breaking tour. Coke’s Mexican Coke. Cetaphil’s AI skin hack.
Coldplay is now the #2 highest-grossing concert tour ever… their concerts manufacture virality.Coca-Cola is launching coke w/ cane sugar instead of corn syrup… it could be “Luxury Coke”Cetaphil has given their website a makeover… because chatbots read websites, not people.As Shar ... Show More
23 m
Mar 2025
🧃 “Hold the caffeine” — Four Loko’s return. Europe’s military stocks. Warren Buffett’s fave biz.
Four Loko is the #1 malt liquor in America… thanks to the Japanese philosophy of Misogi.European stocks are shockingly beating American stocks this year… because Europe’s building a military.Warren Buffett just revealed his favorite CEO ever… It’s an RV guy who didn’t have a comp ... Show More
21m 11s
Jan 2025
🐳 “AI’s Goodwill Hunting moment” — China’s DeepSeek Drama. Coke vs Pepsi vs Costco. Unlimited PTO Paradox.
One Chinese AI app, DeepSeek, just shocked the world… and the entire US tech market.Costco is swapping Pepsi for Coke in the food court… here’s how Coke’s beating Pepsi.7% of workers have Unlimited Paid Time Off… but people only take 16 days in practice.$KO $PEP $COSTWant more bu ... Show More
22m 50s