I like to throw around the phrase "Pepsi Challenge" as a way of indicating something is a worthy competitor. However, I have realized that Coke is always the sure winner in the Pepsi challenge:

Coke C2 <comic book guy>Best... Drink... Ever</cbg> It is the perfect balance between the regular "high-octane" Coke (which has too much sugar IMO), and Diet Coke which should only be used to strip paint off of junkyard body panels as a science expriment. Pepsi, quick on the heels of Coke came out with "Edge." While I do feel that Pepsi has the 'edge' (pun intended) on Coke in the diet drink category (more on this below), "Edge" simply tastes like someone poured 50% Pepsi and 50% Diet Pepsi into a bottle and relabeled it as "Edge."

Coke Zero When I first saw this, I wondered, "What's the difference between this and Diet Coke?" The latter which I despise. With the ingredients lists and nutrition information side-by-side there is not much different. Nutrition info is the same and so is the ingredient list, although some ingredients have moved up or down in their quantity order. The result? Perfection in a no-calorie drink. A slam-dunk on Diet Pepsi and Pepsi One.

Pepsi should take a cue to become the AMD of Coke's Intel. Come up with something new and better -- and be the first. Otherwise you're just riding on their coat-tails.

Trackback URL for this post: