Starting in the early 1980’s and lasting well into the 1990’s, the Coca-Cola Company  and Pepsi Cola engaged in what would be called the “cola wars.” While to the average consumer, the cola wars meant being blasted with Pepsi and Coke commercials and billboards, while to both the companies it was a pivotal point from a branding aspect. On one side, Coca-Cola dominated the market when it came to soft drinks while on the other, Pepsi Cola was trying to build brand awareness with consumers. Coca-Cola, who had been around since 1886, had built a strong brand with consumers and was well known around the world. Pepsi on the other hand, while large and well known, struggled to put a dent in the mind of buyers when it came to choosing Pepsi over Coke. While one could make the case that Pepsi should have been happy with the market share that they had, one must remember that the most successful brands today aren’t the ones that are ‘content.’ In the case of Pepsi, the Pepsi Generation advertising campaign and it’s subsequent advertising ploys helped shape the Pepsi brand we know today. (more…)