Pepsi Max

[dibbers006]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 09 October 2024 at 10:34

[obob]

Maximum taste........... Zero Sugar

[GregE240]

One of the best tasting colas out there, in my opinion.

[Marcellus]

I'm not certain but I don't think that there's actually that much different in formulation between Max and Diet these days due to a change in laws regarding sweeteners and diet drinks.

Obviously totally different market positions though which makes all the difference.

[OzzyR1]

Marcellus said:

I'm not certain but I don't think that there's actually that much different in formulation between Max and Diet these days due to a change in laws regarding sweeteners and diet drinks.

Obviously totally different market positions though which makes all the difference.

I always assumed that Pepsi Max / Coke Zero was the diet equivalent of the brands but for men ie. women buy diet Pepsi, blokes buy Pepsi Max.

[Marcellus]

OzzyR1 said:

I always assumed that Pepsi Max / Coke Zero was the diet equivalent of the brands but for men ie. women buy diet Pepsi, blokes buy Pepsi Max.

100% correct... I forget the exact numbers but when Max was launched it was something like;
> your average "regular cola" drinker drinks 1.5 cans a day
> your average "diet cola" drinker drinks 4cans a day
> BUT "regular" drinkers outnumbered "diet" drinkers 3:1.

Therefore if you could convert 25% of your "regular" drinkers into "diet" drinkers the sales of "diet" would double.

BUT, "regular" drinkers think "diet" is for girlies and they don't like the taste therefore won't convert.

So, launch a "diet" with a "butch" image which resulted in "Max".

That was the jist of the proposition 15/20 years ago, to date I don't think they have achieved the 25% conversion but I've not been involved for 5 or so years.

[Mattt]

Marcellus said:

I'm not certain but I don't think that there's actually that much different in formulation between Max and Diet these days due to a change in laws regarding sweeteners and diet drinks.

Obviously totally different market positions though which makes all the difference.

I was wondering if you'd pick this up

[al1991]

Hmmm, Diet drinkers do drink more I certainly neck the stuff!

As above, seems sweeter than regular Pepsi, and has the 'macho' image.

But...does no one else think that a can of Pepsi Max seems to go flat a lot quicker than other cola drinks?

Bit too sweet for me, I enjoy my caffeine drinks with a cigarette and it's not as enjoyable with Max.

[Wadeski]

dibbers006 said:

Bizarrely it actually tastes sweeter though!

artificial sweeteners are far sweeter than natural sweeteners like sugar, corn syrup etc. Plus a bit more sweetness masks some of the lo-cal aftertaste. I always thought that "Max" and "Zero" used more modern sweeteners (e.g. Sucralose) than the original Diet varieties, but turns out they all use pretty much the same stuff.

Its all about positioning - in America, diet drinks are guzzled like anything as they are "guilt-free"...huge numbers of yanks start their day with a diet Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper or other nastiness. Full-fat fizzy drinks are more of a "treat", so are drunk less often.

I drink full-fat coke every now and then (especially from a glass bottle...) but will keep a bottle of Pepsi Max in the fridge for a post-work rum & coke etc.

[Wadeski]

The main thing that diet drinks lack is the syrupy mouthfeel from the sugar - they taste "thin" to me. But a bit of rum and lime sorts that out.

[Marcellus]

Wadeski said:

Its all about positioning - in America, diet drinks are guzzled like anything as they are "guilt-free"...huge numbers of yanks start their day with a diet Mountain Dew...........

Useless fact for you.. the orginal Max adverts were actual Mountain Dew adverts with the can CGI'd over!

[Wadeski]

Ex-Pepsico?

[Marcellus]

Wadeski said:

Ex-Pepsico?

No an Ex-Pepsico Bottler (who launched Max)

[Simpo Two]

Well I'm out - I hate the taste of aspartame. Proper Coke (ie sugar) for me.

Saccharin was fine too. But then somebody found that if you fed a rat 300 kg of saccharin it got cancer, so we now all have to suffer aspartame instead

[Mattt]

Which has the same effect.

[Jonny671]

You can't beat cold, freezing cold Pepsi Max.

Some outlets fridges aren't cold enough, and fail at making it taste nice.

[moleamol]

All 'diet' drinks are horrible, the sweeteners are disgusting. If you're that keen on the drink but are more spherical than average then drink less of the proper drink and water when you're thirsty. Unless of course you're a pervert and actually like 'diet' drinks.

[mcflurry]

Wadeski said:

but will keep a bottle of Pepsi Max in the fridge for a post-work rum & coke etc.

Rum should be mixed solely with Coca Cola
Do not pass go. Do not collect £200