New marshmallow soda from Pepsi and Peeps is getting a mixed reaction

‘Pepsi x Peeps is the limited-edition marshmallow cola nobody asked for,’ one person tweeted

Pepsi teams up with Peeps to launch new soda (PepsiCo)

Pepsi has announced a new collaboration with Peeps to create a marshmallow-flavoured soda to the confusion and disgust of consumers.

On Thursday, with Easter just around the corner, the soda brand revealed that it had teamed up with the squishy candy manufacturers to create a limited-edition, “one-of-a-kind” new beverage aptly named Pepsi x Peeps.

According to Pepsi, the new drink will combine “the crisp, refreshing taste of Pepsi cola with the pillowy-soft and sweet Peeps Marshmallow flavour consumers love”.

While the flavour profile may seem weird, the companies have stuck with the spring and Easter theme when it comes to the design of the soda, which will be packaged in mini-cans in bright yellow, pink and blue, and which Pepsi said makes it the “ideal accessory and thirst quencher for springtime”.

Unfortunately, getting your hands on the 7.5oz cans won’t be as easy as going to the grocery store, as the beverage will only be available to fans through a sweepstakes.

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According to the companies, for a chance to win a “coveted” three-pack of the Pepsi x Peeps soda, fans are encouraged to share photos of themselves enjoying their “favourite springtime activities” while social distancing.

To enter the sweepstakes, which begins on 25 March, all you have to do is tag the photos with @Pepsi, #HangingWithMyPEEPS and #PepsiSweepstakes on Twitter and Instagram.

“After what has been a very difficult year, many consumers are looking for new things to smile about.  So, to celebrate the start of springtime, Pepsi collaborated with Peeps to develop a limited batch of its first-ever marshmallow cola,” said Todd Kaplan, vice president of Marketing at Pepsi. “We know our consumers love our limited product drops, and we believe that Pepsi x Peeps will deliver an iconic and delicious pairing that has the potential to become a fan favourite.”

While the companies have high hopes for the beverage becoming a fan favourite, the announcement of the collaboration was mostly met with confusion on social media, where people were quick to criticise the unique flavour pairing.

“This Peeps flavoured Pepsi needs to be outlawed,” one person tweeted. 

Another person wrote: “I lovePeeps, I love Pepsi, but I would NOT want to have them together, that sounds disgusting.”

“I got a cavity just reading this,” someone else said.

Hundreds of others found issue with the decision not to name the new beverage “Peepsi,” with the play on the two names trending on Twitter shortly after the collaboration was announced.

“Call it Peepsi you cowards,” one person tweeted, while another said: “A seasonal marshmallow treat and the second best soda brand combine and they don’t call the flavour Peepsi? Y’all messed up.”

“How they didn’t think to call it Peepsi is beyond me,” someone else questioned.