NEW YORK: A revamped Diet Pepsi without aspartame is popping up on store shelves. So will people start flocking back to the soda?
PepsiCo. says its new Diet Pepsi should be available nationally this week. In response to customer feedback, the company said earlier this year that it would replace the aspartame in the drink with another artificial sweetener that has less baggage.
The rollout will test the theory that the sweetener is to blame for fleeing customers, or if other issues might be at play. Other diet sodas that still have aspartame include Diet Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper and Fanta Zero.
Sales of traditional diet sodas have been falling. Industry executives blaming the freefall on unfounded concerns people have about aspartame. Two years ago, Coca-Cola even tested ads in select newspapers defending the safety of the sweetener.
“It’s the No. 1 thing that our customers have been calling about,” said Seth Kaufman, a senior vice president at PepsiCo.
At least in the short term, Diet Pepsi sales are likely to see bump from the marketing push around the new formula, which will include in-store sampling and discounting in coming weeks.
In terms of taste, Kaufman said it’s not identical but that the drink should still be familiar to fans of Diet Pepsi.
It’s not the first attempt by PepsiCo. Inc. to lift flagging sales of Diet Pepsi. In 2012, the company tried improving the drink by combining aspartame with acesulfame potassium, often called ace-K, another artificial sweetener that helps prevent the taste from degrading over time. The latest version of Diet Pepsi will also have ace-K in addition to sucralose, best known by the brand name Splenda.
Cans and bottles of the new Diet Pepsi have been making their way through the distribution in recent weeks. Stores that don’t do a lot of business may still have the old versions stocked. This weekend, for instance, a store in New York City had the old and new versions side by side.
The new cans will be marked with the words “Now Aspartame Free” above the Pepsi circle logo.
Diet Pepsi gets rid of aspartame, but will customers return?
Diet Pepsi gets rid of aspartame, but will customers return?
Where We Are Going Today: Adani Bar in Jeddah
- The two-way cheese sandwiches, paired with either strawberry or blueberry jam, play on sweet and savory contrasts
Located in Al-Rawdah, Adani Bar is a small cafe founded on Yemeni tea and coffee traditions, with a menu that mixes the familiar with personal interpretation.
The focus here is clearly on Adani tea. The classic version blends milk with tea and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, cloves and habaq. It is served hot or cold and the balance remains steady in both forms.
Other drinks lean toward fusion, including the London, which combines Yemeni Haraz coffee with cinnamon paste, milk and maple syrup, and ya caramela, in which Adani tea is paired with a Haraz espresso shot and caramel sauce.
These drinks show experimentation, though some combinations feel busier than necessary and may not appeal to those who prefer simpler tastes.
Food options are limited, but show some variety nevertheless. Sandwiches such as the ultimate tuna — with sun-dried tomatoes, olives and tahini mayo — and the establishment’s turkey offering — a regional take on turkey and mozzarella — are filling without being heavy.
The two-way cheese sandwiches, paired with either strawberry or blueberry jam, play on sweet and savory contrasts.
And do not miss the lamb kebab, a new menu addition served both as a plate and a sandwich and served with yogurt, tahini and accompaniments that stay close to traditional flavors.
Desserts follow a similar approach. I tried the basboosa with Adani ice cream, which connected well with the cafe’s core theme. I also tried dibs and tahini brownies, both of which were rich and satisfying, boasting layered elements that made for generous portions.
