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Pepsi Advertising

Pepsi Cola was introduced in 1893 in New Bern, North Carolina. Formulated by Caleb Bradham, it was first called Brad’s Drink and was sold at Bradham's drugstore. Bradham included pepsin, a digestive enzyme, as well as kola nuts in the recipe. Thus, in 1898, the drink was renamed Pepsi Cola.

The first Pepsi advertisements appeared in the New Bern Weekly Journal in 1902. Bradham moved the company out of the drugstore in 1904 and the first bottling franchises were opened in 1905. The popularity of Pepsi grew, but the company eventually ran into trouble and declared bankruptcy in 1923 and again in 1931. The company struggled until 1934, when the introduction of the 12-ounce bottle caused sales to skyrocket. In 1965, Pepsi Cola merged with the Frito Lay Company to create PepsiCo.

Pepsi Cola is known for its innovative advertising. The company used a celebrity race car driver to promote its product in 1909, produced a comic strip called Pepsi & Pete, and was the first to use an advertising jingle, "Nickel, Nickel," on the radio. Pepsi promotional items are popular with collectors, including Pepsi clocks and vintage Pepsi coolers.


Quick Facts

  • Pepsi used bottles with paper labels before 1945. In 1945, the company began using Applied Color Labels (ACL). From 1945 to 1948, Pepsi used a colon to separate the two words Pepsi and Cola. This type of bottle is known as a "double dot"
  • The 1993 Pepsi cans promoting Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" Tour were pulled from the shelves after one week because the tour was canceled. A United Arab Emirates version of this can sold for $5,000
  • The most famous Pepsi advertising campaign was the "Pepsi Challenge," which ran from 1975 to 2010. Started in shopping malls, customers of the mall were recruited as taste testers. They were blindfolded and asked to taste cups of Pepsi and Coke to see which soda they preferred

Recommended Items at Auction

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TIN THERMOMETER SAY PEPSI PLEASE
Jan 15, 6:00 PM CST
TIN THERMOMETER SAY PEPSI PLEASE
by Millers Auction Co.
Est: $0- $0
$804 Bids
TIN FLANGE SIGN BUY PEPSI COLA HERE DOUBLE DOT
Feb 10, 9:00 AM CST
TIN FLANGE SIGN BUY PEPSI COLA HERE DOUBLE DOT
by Millers Auction Co.
Est: $0- $0
$2254 Bids
EMBOSSED TIN SIGN PEPSI COLA BOTTLE CAP
Feb 09, 9:00 AM CST
EMBOSSED TIN SIGN PEPSI COLA BOTTLE CAP
by Millers Auction Co.
Est: $0- $0
$303 Bids
Pepsi Cola button sign
Dec 16, 9:30 AM EST
Pepsi Cola button sign
by Chupp Auctions & Real Estate, LLC
Est: $50- $200
$1503 Bids
NOS EMBOSSED TIN SIGN SAY PEPSI COLA PLEASE
Jan 05, 9:00 AM CST
NOS EMBOSSED TIN SIGN SAY PEPSI COLA PLEASE
by Millers Auction Co.
Est: $0- $0
$1503 Bids
1955 PEPSI COLA MILEAGE SIGN FROM SHERIDAN WYOMING
Feb 09, 9:00 AM CST
1955 PEPSI COLA MILEAGE SIGN FROM SHERIDAN WYOMING
by Millers Auction Co.
Est: $0- $0
$402 Bids
Vintage Group Pepsi Character Drinking Glasses
Dec 05, 12:00 PM EST
Vintage Group Pepsi Character Drinking Glasses
by Old Kinderhook Auction Company
Est: $50- $100
$302 Bids
Pepsi Cola metal tray, oval, measurements: 10 1/2" wide x 12 1/2"
Dec 07, 6:00 PM EST
Pepsi Cola metal tray, oval, measurements: 10 1/2" wide x 12 1/2"
by Dinkys Auction Center
Est: $0- $0
$11 Bid
Have A Pepsi sign
Dec 16, 9:30 AM EST
Have A Pepsi sign
by Chupp Auctions & Real Estate, LLC
Est: $50- $200
$501 Bid
Drink Pepsi Cola sign
Dec 16, 9:30 AM EST
Drink Pepsi Cola sign
by Chupp Auctions & Real Estate, LLC
Est: $50- $200
$501 Bid
TIN SIGN SAY PEPSI COLA PLEASE DOUBLE SIDED
Jan 16, 6:00 PM CST
TIN SIGN SAY PEPSI COLA PLEASE DOUBLE SIDED
by Millers Auction Co.
Est: $0- $0
$101 Bid
Andy Warhol-(1928-1987) "Pepsi Cola" Numbered Lithograph
Dec 08, 7:00 PM GMT
Andy Warhol-(1928-1987) "Pepsi Cola" Numbered Lithograph
by James Auctioneers London
Est: £500- £600
£5000 Bids
Pepsi Cola delicatessen retro style advertising sign
Dec 07, 11:30 PM EST
Pepsi Cola delicatessen retro style advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $200- $225
$1250 Bids
Pepsi Cola "Counter Spy" radio thriller retro style advertising sign
Dec 07, 11:30 PM EST
Pepsi Cola "Counter Spy" radio thriller retro style advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $200- $225
$1250 Bids
Antique style Pepsi Cola delicatessen retro style advertising sign
Dec 07, 11:30 PM EST
Antique style Pepsi Cola delicatessen retro style advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $200- $250
$1250 Bids
Antique style retro Pepsi Cola delicatessen framed advertising sign
Dec 07, 11:30 PM EST
Antique style retro Pepsi Cola delicatessen framed advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $200- $300
$1750 Bids
Pepsi Cola Delicatessen framed retro style advertising sign
Dec 07, 11:30 PM EST
Pepsi Cola Delicatessen framed retro style advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $225- $250
$2000 Bids
Antique style retro Pepsi Cola delicatessen framed advertising sign
Dec 08, 11:30 PM EST
Antique style retro Pepsi Cola delicatessen framed advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $200- $300
$1750 Bids
Pepsi Cola Delicatessen framed retro style advertising sign
Dec 08, 11:30 PM EST
Pepsi Cola Delicatessen framed retro style advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $225- $250
$2000 Bids
Pepsi Cola delicatessen retro style advertising sign
Dec 09, 11:30 PM EST
Pepsi Cola delicatessen retro style advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $200- $225
$1250 Bids
Pepsi Cola "Counter Spy" radio thriller retro style advertising sign
Dec 09, 11:30 PM EST
Pepsi Cola "Counter Spy" radio thriller retro style advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $200- $225
$1250 Bids
Antique style Pepsi Cola delicatessen retro style advertising sign
Dec 09, 11:30 PM EST
Antique style Pepsi Cola delicatessen retro style advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $200- $250
$1250 Bids
Pepsi Cola radio thriller show retro style advertising sign
Dec 10, 11:30 PM EST
Pepsi Cola radio thriller show retro style advertising sign
by Baker's Antiques and Auctions
Est: $40- $50
$350 Bids
1968 DATED DIET PEPSI CLOCK SIGN
Dec 20, 9:00 AM EST
1968 DATED DIET PEPSI CLOCK SIGN
by Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC
Est: $10- $80
$100 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Pepsi Advertising


Millers Auction Co.

Millers Auction Co.

McCurley Auction Company

McCurley Auction Company

Chupp Auctions & Real Estate, LLC

Chupp Auctions & Real Estate, LLC