Pepsi is launching Pepsi Prebiotic Cola on November 28 in a limited online drop ahead of its 2025 retail rollout. Available on Amazon, Walmart.com, TikTok and select delivery platforms, the 30-calorie cola offers prebiotic fiber and no artificial sweeteners. A shoppable ad during Amazon’s Black Friday Football will drive instant purchases.
Pepsi is setting the stage for one of its most ambitious product moments in recent years, using the frenzy of Black Friday to usher in what it calls the boldest evolution of cola in more than two decades. Beginning November 28, consumers across the United States will get a first taste of Pepsi Prebiotic Cola, a limited online release designed to preview a drink that merges the familiar thrill of Pepsi with functional ingredients that reflect the shifting habits of modern beverage drinkers. With its upcoming early-2025 retail rollout already generating curiosity, Pepsi has chosen the country’s biggest online shopping day to spotlight a cola that promises both nostalgia and novelty in every sip.
Pepsi’s long-running positioning as a brand unafraid to tinker with its legacy has taken many forms, from flavour innovations to daring collaborations. But Pepsi Prebiotic Cola marks something more foundational—a reformulation of what a mainstream cola can be. Available in Original Cola and Cherry Vanilla, the new drink maintains the iconic Pepsi taste profile while introducing a lighter, functional twist: 30 calories, just 5 grams of sugar, no artificial sweeteners and 3 grams of prebiotic fiber. For a category that has traditionally relied on either full sugar or zero sugar pathways, this new formula aims to carve out a middle ground—flavour-forward, but better aligned with the concerns of contemporary consumers.
In announcing the launch, Pepsi frames the move as both a continuation of its heritage and an intentional step into a new era. Gustavo Reyna, VP of Marketing at Pepsi, described it as “a significant moment in our brand’s history and the cola category.” He emphasised that while Pepsi Prebiotic Cola brings innovation in nutrition, it does not compromise on the unmistakable Pepsi taste. “This breakthrough innovation upholds the iconic taste of Pepsi that people love, now with no artificial sweeteners, lower sugar and functional ingredients,” he said. “It’s an inimitable taste—designed to meet the demands of cola lovers, cola newcomers, and everyone in between.”
That description hints at who Pepsi hopes to reach. Traditional cola drinkers get to enjoy a familiar flavour delivered in a modernised format, while new and health-curious consumers, who tend to be sceptical of sugary sodas, may find the ingredient profile more inviting. The addition of prebiotic fibre—a first for Pepsi in this form factor—also signals the company’s ongoing drive to merge indulgence with wellness-oriented benefits. While functional beverages have grown into a sizeable category, colas have largely remained separate from that trend. Pepsi Prebiotic Cola attempts to bridge that gap by borrowing cues from the functional space without abandoning its identity.
The timing and strategy of the launch reflect that duality. Pepsi is not sending the new cola to stores until next year, but it is giving online shoppers an early chance to buy 8-packs through a range of digital storefronts. Beginning November 28, consumers can purchase it via Amazon, Walmart.com and TikTok, along with select availability on Kroger.com, DashMart and GoPuff. The limited drop model—usually associated with streetwear, tech gadgets or prestige collaborations—has increasingly crept into the beverage industry, and Pepsi is leaning into that momentum. By tying the release to scarcity, immediacy and convenience, the brand hopes to build excitement and early demand ahead of the national rollout.
Digital engagement is also central to the campaign. In a move that merges entertainment with commerce, Pepsi Prebiotic Cola will make its broadcast debut during Amazon Prime Video’s Black Friday Football game. The spot will introduce viewers to the product’s flavour, function and concept, but more significantly, it will feature a shoppable ad that allows consumers to add the drink directly to their Amazon carts with a single click. It’s a seamless expression of how people now shop—while watching live content, using connected devices and responding instantly to what they see on screen. For Pepsi, it’s a chance not just to advertise, but to convert curiosity into purchases in real time.
This media moment is part of a broader trend in which brands experiment with shoppable streaming experiences. With Prime Video’s football broadcasts drawing large, digitally engaged audiences, the Black Friday placement gives Pepsi a natural stage to showcase both the product and the technology behind its retail strategy. For viewers who associate holiday football with festive snacking, Pepsi hopes the new cola will feel like a natural extension of that ritual—only with a forward-looking twist.
The convenience of online ordering is another key element of the rollout. By partnering with Amazon, Pepsi is leveraging one of the most familiar shopping experiences for U.S. consumers, particularly during the holiday season when Prime-enabled households lean heavily into digital purchases. Walmart.com provides access to another massive customer base, while TikTok introduces a social commerce component that could appeal to younger drinkers who increasingly discover and purchase products directly within the platform. The involvement of DashMart and GoPuff gives the launch a rapid-delivery option in urban markets, extending the drink’s reach to customers who prefer or require near-instant access.
The product itself stands at the intersection of two currents: the lasting appeal of classic cola flavours and the booming interest in beverages with added functionality. Prebiotic ingredients have become increasingly visible in sparkling waters, juices and wellness drinks, but their arrival in the cola category marks a notable shift. Pepsi’s approach appears carefully calibrated—infuse the cola with functional benefits, but avoid straying too far from the taste that defines the brand. As a result, Pepsi Prebiotic Cola offers the look, feel and flavour range Pepsi drinkers expect, while offering a lightly enhanced nutritional profile that may broaden its audience.
This balancing act is also reflected in the two flavours offered at launch. Original Cola gives loyalists the comfort of familiarity. Cherry Vanilla speaks to Pepsi’s long tradition of playful flavour experimentation, but also nods to the segment of consumers who prefer fruit-driven, dessert-inspired profiles. Both varieties maintain the same calorie, sugar and fibre specifications, making the product line cohesive even as it caters to different taste preferences.
Pepsi’s promotional language underscores the “Unbelievably Pepsi” identity—a phrase meant to communicate both authenticity and surprise. The company is positioning this cola not as a departure from its heritage, but as an expansion of what Pepsi can be. In the highly competitive beverage market, where consumers swing between indulgent classics and wellness-forward innovations, Pepsi Prebiotic Cola is intended to straddle both impulses. The brand hopes this hybrid identity will resonate with shoppers seeking novelty without abandoning flavour.
Black Friday serves as an ideal launchpad because it compresses attention, urgency and desire into a single day. With millions of consumers scrolling, shopping and streaming, Pepsi gains instant visibility for a product that might otherwise risk getting lost amid the early-winter beverage chatter. The limited release format amplifies that visibility: once supplies run out, shoppers will have to wait until early 2025 to find it in stores. That scarcity could help fuel early word of mouth, shaping the narrative ahead of its wider retail debut.
As Pepsi looks toward an upcoming year where beverage brands will compete more intensely than ever for share of stomach, Pepsi Prebiotic Cola illustrates how legacy companies can evolve without erasing their foundations. It is a cola built for cola lovers, enhanced for a new generation and introduced in a way that mirrors how people experience entertainment, commerce and consumption today. Whether it becomes a long-term player in Pepsi’s portfolio or serves as a catalyst for future hybrids, its Black Friday debut is designed to capture the moment—and the curiosity—of a marketplace hungry for something both classic and new.
