- Pepsi’s latest flavor innovation is a limited-edition holiday-inspired flavor, Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread, which will be offered in mini cans and only available through a special brand giveaway or through Pepsi’s TikTok Shop.
- To promote the flavor, Pepsi has enlisted Shaquille O’Neal to participate in a baking show parody in which the basketball great “invents” the new Pepsi flavor by using Pepsi Zero as “baking soda” in his recipe.
- The limited-edition flavor promises to blend the “classic refreshing sweet and citrus fizz of Pepsi with a festive blend of brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger and molasses flavor,” according to press materials.
The 60-second video, which will run on social platforms, depicts Shaq competing in a “Mini Holiday Baking Show,” presented by Pepsi. The former basketball star is depicted as not being the most generous competitor, blocking out others from the pantry and taunting competitors with trash talk. While Shaq is undeniably bad as a baker (even though he calls himself G.B.O.A.T – Greatest Baker of All Time), he winds up producing the new Pepsi Zero Gingerbread flavor by adding his “baking soda” (a.k.a. Pepsi Zero Sugar) to his recipe.
“We’re excited to bring fans a taste of the holidays with this unique twist on a classic cola, with its perfect blend of warm holiday sugars and the zest of ginger,” said Jenny Danzi, head of brand marketing for Pepsi, in a statement. “With the holiday season in full swing, we’re spreading some cheer by bringing Shaq’s hilarious baking antics to our social platforms and giving fans a chance to get their hands on this limited-edition flavor.”
Consumers can get a free Mini Can of Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread when they purchase 10-packs of Pepsi Mini Cans in original or wild cherry flavors from the brand’s TikTok Shop. They can also visit the “Pepsi Drops” platform on the brand’s website to enter for a chance to win some of the Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread Mini Cans via a drawing.
