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Pepsi Lovers Can’t Believe What The Drink Was Originally Called
People are shocked after learning the original name of Pepsi.
The popular drink is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, yet many of its fans have no idea it wasn’t always called Pepsi.
While the name makes total sense once you understand its history, many fans have been left speechless after hearing the drink’s original name.
One person writes: “I was today years old when I learned that.”
A second comments: “I had no idea!”
“Reeling from this news,” adds a third.
Pepsi was founded by Caleb ‘Doc’ Bradham, a local pharmacist in the town of New Bern, North Carolina.
Originally, the beverage was marketed as a digestive aid – despite never proven to having been one.
The loose health connection made sense at the time, as the drink was directly competing against Coca-Cola, which was presenting itself as a health tonic at the time.
Donna Wertalik, professor of practice and director of student excellence in the marketing department at Virginia Tech, explained to Reader’s Digest: “To understand the competitive landscape between Pepsi and Coca-Cola, it’s important to note that Coca-Cola launched in 1886, 12 years before Pepsi.
“Coca-Cola was marketed as a remedy for headaches, exhaustion, and various nervous afflictions, leveraging the supposed medicinal benefits of coca-leaf extract and kola nuts.”
When Pepsi entered the market in 1898, it was initially branded as Brad’s Drink.
Determined the brand would thrive, Bradham threw everything he had into making it a success.
In 1902, he applied for a trademark and formed the Pepsi-Cola company. According to the Pepsi website, Bradham ‘bought the name ‘Pep Kola’ from a local competitor.’
“The strategic rebranding to Pepsi-Cola was a calculated move to position the drink within the medicinal beverage market, directly challenging Coca-Cola’s offerings,” Wertalik said.
“This rebranding was not merely a name change but a deliberate effort to align Pepsi with the digestive benefits implied by its name, foreshadowing the intense rivalry known as the Cola Wars.”
In addition to promoting the drink as a refreshing, non-alcoholic alternative, Bradham also marketed Pepsi as a digestive aid, using slogans like ‘Exhilarating, Invigorating, Aids Digestion.’ This dual-purpose branding – common in an era before federal regulation of food and drug advertising – helped position Pepsi in line with other so-called health tonics of the time.
But how is the brand name related to indigestion?
Well, the digestive-related term connected to Pepsi is pepsin, a digestive enzyme aiding in the breakdown of proteins.
Although pepsin was never an ingredient of Pepsi-Cola, the ‘Encyclopedia of Pepsi-Cola Collectibles’ states that: “Bradham believed that his new drink aided digestion similar to the way the pepsin enzyme does.”
While hardly anyone considers Pepsi ‘healthy’ today, it’s gained a loyal fan base and continues to be one of the most popular soda drinks on the market.
Wertalik summarizes: “Pepsi’s positioning and slogans have consistently offered consumers a fresh alternative in the cola category.”
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