Pepsi and Frito-Lay CMOs Going Long on Super Bowl Campaigns
*By Carlo Versano*
Super Bowl Sunday is the ー well ー Super Bowl of building brand awareness, particularly for food and beverage companies. This year, Pepsi and Frito-Lay, both units of PepsiCO ($PEP), are once again among the snack giants planning to use the 100 million-plus members of the expected television audience to launch new products and elevate brands in their respective portfolios.
Frito-Lay commissioned a spot featuring the Backstreet Boys, with Chance the Rapper remixing "I Want It That Way" to promote the new Flamin' Hot Nacho Doritos ー what Frito-Lay CMO Jen Saenz called "a hot twist on an original."
Saenz spoke to Cheddar Tuesday alongside Greg Lyons, the CMO for Pepsi, which is known for its Super Bowl ads and social media engagement tied to the Big Game.
Pepsi bought ad time for a commercial featuring Michael Bublé endorsing its Bubly sparkling water line. That product has been an "absolute success" with only 20 percent brand awareness, Lyons said. Pepsi launched Bubly a year ago as a hedge on its main product line ー and to compete with the wildly popular La Croix, as more millennials switch from diet soda to flavored sparkling water.
Lyons previewed Pepsi's other tentpole ad ー a playful riff on the oft-spoken line from waiters when customers order a Coke: "Is Pepsi okay?"
That ad brings together Steve Carell, Lil' Jon, and Cardi B to tell viewers that "Pepsi is more than okay, it's awesome," Lyons said.
Household names like Pepsi and Frito-Lay benefit from "multiplier effects" with Super Bowl advertising. Americans are shopping for, eating, and interacting with their products all at the same time, Lyons said. Pepsi was the most talked-about brand on Twitter for the last two consecutive Super Bowls ー an achievement it's hoping to three-peat.
In addition to the TV ads and social engagement, Pepsi and Frito-Lay have built over 65,000 in-store displays at stores around the country meant to showcase the brands' synergies.
Doritos and Mountain Dew are purchased together more often than peanut butter and jelly, Lyons said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/pepsico-plans-ultimate-super-bowl-party).
BiggerPockets Money podcast is now available on Cheddar Wednesdays at 10am ET! Mindy Jensen shares how her podcast is helping people gain financial freedom.
The social video platform's future remains in doubt, as players scramble to profit from the chaos. Plus: Big oil gets bigger, DOGE downsizes, and tariffs!
Ty Young, CEO of Ty J. Young Wealth Management, joins Cheddar to discuss Trump's moves as he returns to Washington D.C. and how it may affect the U.S. economy.
Starbucks’ decision to restrict its restrooms to paying customers has flushed out a wider problem: a patchwork of restroom use policies that varies by state and city. Starbucks announced last week a new code of conduct that says people need to make a purchase if they want to hang out or use the restroom. The coffee chain's policy change for bathroom privileges has left Americans confused and divided over who gets to go and when. The American Restroom Association, a public toilet advocacy group, was among the critics. Rules about restroom access in restaurants vary by state, city and county. The National Retail Federation says private businesses have a right to limit restroom use.
President Donald Trump is talking up a joint venture investing up to $500 billion for infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence by a new partnership formed by OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank. The new entity, Stargate, will start building out data centers and the electricity generation needed for the further development of the fast-evolving AI in Texas, according to the White House. The initial investment is expected to be $100 billion and could reach five times that sum. While Trump has seized on similar announcements to show that his presidency is boosting the economy, there were already expectations of a massive buildout of data centers and electricity plants needed for the development of AI.
Chris Ruder, Spikeball Founder and CEO, explains how he and his friends put roundnet on the global map, plus, how Spikeball helps people "find their circle."
J.W. Roth, CEO of Venu Holding Corporation, discusses the company's IPO and plans to redefine live music entertainment with their fan founded, fan-owned model.