Why Did Sierra Mist Change Its Name?

Sierra Mist, may you find eternal peace (1999-2023). This week marks the end of an era for one of the soda industry’s renowned names, yet also one of the least favored in terms of sales. After a successful 24-year journey, Sierra Mist, owned by PepsiCo Inc., has been discontinued as it bids farewell to its rivalry with Coca-Cola’s Sprite.

In 1999, Sierra Mist made its debut as a lemon-lime soda brand. However, it has now been succeeded by Starry, a new and exciting lemon-lime soda brand. Pepsi, known for introducing refreshing beverages, has launched their latest caffeine-free soda called Starry. The producer claims that this soda is a delightful blend of lemon-lime flavors that will truly tantalize your taste buds.

Starry’s marketing strategy, “Starry Hits Different,” specifically targets Gen Z consumers, offering both regular and sugar-free versions of their lemon-lime beverage. In a bid to gain a larger market share, Pepsi made a decision to discontinue Sierra Mist, a rival to Coca-Cola, due to its minuscule market presence of less than 1% and a notable decline in revenue since 2018, as reported by CNN.

In an attempt to reintroduce its lemon-lime drink, Pepsi had previously made an effort. The brand Sierra Mist, which had been renamed in 2016, was temporarily identified as “Mist Twist”.

PepsiCo recently unveiled Starry, a fresh lemon-lime beverage, which will now join the iconic Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Brisk in their lineup. However, true PepsiCo enthusiasts are well aware that the company has been offering a lemon-lime drink called Sierra Mist for nearly two decades.

PepsiCo has quietly discontinued Sierra Mist and replaced it with a new drink called Starry. The company decided to rename and reformulate its lemon-lime beverage, aiming to provide consumers with more options in a market that has long been controlled by a single brand. PepsiCo believes that the accelerated growth in this category since 2019 presents a great opportunity to diversify and cater to consumer preferences.

Sierra Mist Fizzled Out

PepsiCo aims to challenge Sprite’s dominance in the lemon-lime market, as Sprite currently holds a 7% share in the $82 billion US soda industry. Rather than discontinuing their lemon-lime soda, Sierra Mist, PepsiCo has decided to rebrand it as Starry. This new name and fresh style aim to bring PepsiCo closer to overthrowing Sprite, despite Starry lacking both caffeine and flavor.

In 1984, Slice, the original rival of Sprite, was introduced and eventually transformed into Sierra Mist. This soda history fact is well-known among enthusiasts. Greg Lyons, the Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo Beverages North America, explained that consumers naturally look for alternatives when one product dominates the market.

Bloomberg reported that Sierra Mist contributed merely 0.2 percent to PepsiCo’s profits, implying that discontinuing the long-standing product will not result in substantial losses for the company.

Sierra Mist, although possibly too sweet for a 7 & 7 and lacking the carbonation for a calzone, will forever remain cherished by children of the 2000s. Sierra Mist has now found its place in soda heaven, where it will be warmly received by Crystal Pepsi and Aspen. Start collecting liters of Sierra Mist today to potentially sell them on eBay for a significant profit in 2050.

According to a spokesperson from PepsiCo, Starry is said to have “elevated citrus notes that stay true to the fruit and offer a more aromatic experience, resulting in a well-balanced, cleaner, and refreshing finish compared to Sierra Mist.” PepsiCo asserts that Starry provides the desired crisp and refreshing taste that consumers have been searching for in the lemon-lime soda market, effectively outshining its competitors.

Is PepsiCo’s Starry Any Good?

According to a representative from PepsiCo, Starry is positioned as an improved and contemporary lemon-lime soda, replacing Sierra Mist. It promises enhanced citrus flavors that stay true to the fruit and offer a more aromatic experience. With a more balanced, cleaner, and crisp finish, Starry aims to elevate the soda-drinking experience compared to Sierra Mist.

To determine the definitive winner, conducting a blind taste test is essential. Unfortunately, this task proved to be more challenging than anticipated due to the unavailability of Sierra Mist in grocery stores. Nevertheless, by chance, I came across one of the last remaining Sierra Mist cans and proceeded to taste both options randomly. As a result, Starry emerged victorious.

Starry offers an enhanced citrus flavor and a noticeably refreshing finish. Its resemblance to Sprite, particularly the crispness, reminds me of the taste of a McDonald’s Sprite. On the other hand, Sierra Mist falls short in terms of citrus flavor. Its taste is rather dull and lacks the vibrancy of Starry.

Pepsi made a wise choice by introducing Starry as a means to rival Sprite in the market. However, let us take a moment to appreciate and acknowledge Sierra Mist, which has been a loyal companion for the past two decades. Although, it is advised not to waste any Sierra Mist as it might be the final opportunity to enjoy this beverage.

Check out the list of the top 59 Indian movies in 2023 that you must watch.