SodaStream, the Israeli-based home soda device manufacturer, was acquired by beverage giant PepsiCo in 2018 as part of a multi-billion dollar buyout, and despite not having a Pepsi or Coca-Cola concetrate, their legions of customers don’t seem the least bit phased. Sure, even Keurig sports K-Cups filled with coffee from popular brands like Starbucks and Dunkin’, but SodaStream’s concentrates are mostly private-label versions of cola, lemon-lime, and sparkling waters.
That is, until now.
SodaStream is now offering SodaStream-compatible concentrates of popular PepsiCo offerings like Pepsi, Pepsi Max, and 7 Up (PepsiCo controls international rights to the latter). Initially, they’ll roll the soft drink mainstays out in Sweden and Norway, with plans for expansion to Germany and France early next year, reports CTech.
Available now on SodaStream’s Swedish website, each 440ml bottle of concentrate makes about 8L of soda for 59 kronor, or about US$6. It’s slightly cheaper than buying bottled-up soda, but the real savings come in the reduction of single-use plastic.
SodaStream’s offering of at-home, on-demand Pepsi isn’t the first time a soda kingpin has tried to make their beverages in customers’ kitchens. In 2015, Coca-Cola and Keurig released a home soda maker called Keurig Kold, which was pulled off the market within a year of launch, due to low demand.
The Kold machines retailed for $300-$369, compared to SodaStream’s sub $100 entry-level system price. Kold’s consumable pods weren’t cheap either, with single 8oz servings costing $1-$1.25 apiece.
With soda consumption down, offering on-demand Pepsi through the affordable and versatile SodaStream ecosystem might be a savvy move to retain consumers that want an occasional indulgence. Better still, it’s an appeal to the eco-conscious consumer who wants a little less plastic in their pop.
