Pepsi is doubling down on its commitment to food and taste pairings with the launch of their 'PEPSI Chase Cars' stunt, a humorous take on the classic pizza delivery, with a twist – reminding all pizza lovers that your next pie should be chased with a Pepsi. The orchestrated stunt, from BBDO Worldwide, depicts dueling delivery drivers. It’s weird, crass and definitely not creepy.
The brand's humorous stunt videos show the lightning-fast 'PEPSI Chase Cars' in action, ensuring pizza deliveries aren't completed without an ice-cold Pepsi on the scene. Created in collaboration with BBDO Worldwide, the content depicts various deliveries, where hungry, everyday consumers are waiting for their piping hot pizza when a surprising twist occurs. Suddenly, a visibly marked 'PEPSI Chase Car' pulls up alongside a pizza delivery vehicle and an over-eager delivery driver jumps out just as the pizza is being handed to the customer – handing over a complimentary Pepsi to ensure flavor doesn't get away!
Pepsi's Pizza-Fueled Drive
Pepsi is taking advantage of a predicted spike in pizza orders in an effort to associate their drink with the favored take-out food of many. The campaign is meant to capitalize on the Friday-night popularity of the food, with nearly 43% of pizza orders being placed on Fridays. The soda giant will dole out “tens of thousands” of free pizzas to consumers who make qualifying purchases from any of the four major pizza chains that are part of the promotion from 4-10 p.m. ET, while supplies last. By partnering with Little Caesars, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut and Marco’s Pizza, Pepsi can maximize its reach across the U.S.
The Pepsi Chase Car: A Taste of Prankvertising
“Our legal team wasn’t keen on the idea of Pepsi drivers literally chasing people through the streets, so we opted for a more creative approach,” says Jenny Danzi, head of brand marketing for Pepsi. “The ‘Pepsi Chase Cars’ stunt conveys our message through a fun, entertaining lens. We cast a talented group of L.A.-based improv actors—and impressive stunt drivers—who did an amazing job bringing our vision to life, creating that ‘found footage’ vibe we were aiming for.”
Food Deserves Pepsi
“We want to celebrate the fact that Pepsi and its unique brown spice and citrus flavors really enhance the taste of your favorite foods,” Jenny Danzi, head of brand marketing at Pepsi, told Brand Innovators. “This is in many ways a continuation of our Better With Pepsi platform that we’ve been focused on for a few years. It’s also the first piece of creative in our updated campaign, Food Deserves Pepsi.”
A Pizza Chase With a Twist
On September 13, when pizza cravings reach their peak (over 40% of ALL pizza orders are on Fridays), Pepsi is upping the ante with a mouthwatering deal. Pizza lovers who purchase Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Diet Pepsi, or Pepsi Wild Cherry in 2L or 20 oz. bottles will have the chance to score a free pizza with minimum order amount from select eateries while supplies last from 4 – 10 p.m. ET.
Pepsi's Pizza Playbook
Taking this a step further, Pepsi partnered with DoorDash and on Sept. 13, consumers can score free pies from Little Caesars, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut and Marco’s Pizza (with a minimum order) when they order Pepsi products. The effort is timed to the launch of football season, a time when many consumers are tuning in to games and ordering pizza. “We wanted to do it at the start of football season,” explained Danzi. “We know that Friday nights are a great time to order pizza and we know a lot of people are ordering pizza to watch games. We know that drinking Pepsi is an integral, if not the best part of watching football with friends and family at home, so we do want to be top of mind, whether they’re ordering on DoorDash for their snacks or going to the grocery store to stock up before the weekend. That is part of why we wanted to get this out the door quickly so that we can get Pepsi in carts before people start watching the NFL games.”
From Pizza to Pepsi: A Case Study in Branding
“From the moment we saw the initial concept from BBDO, we knew it was a perfect way to kick off our new campaign,” Danzi tells Muse. “We’re committed to showcasing how Pepsi enhances the flavors of food, and this stunt delivers on that goal brilliantly. This is a prime example of our ability to take bold risks and deliver memorable results, and we can’t wait to do more.”
Pepsi's Pizza Passion: A 'Better With Pepsi' Story
“As we were discussing the fact that we hope everyone out there is chasing every bite of pizza with the sip of Pepsi, we decided to take that literally and put out some souped up race cars on the streets of LA to chase pizza delivery drivers through the streets and make sure that nobody has to eat their pizza alone,” she continued. The stunt campaign boosts the brand’s partnership with DoorDash that will dole out free pizza from Little Caesars, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut and Marco’s Pizza. Fans can view outtakes and bloopers across Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok.
The Pepsi Chase: A Delicious Conclusion
Pepsi's commitment to food and taste pairings takes center stage in their new 'PEPSI Chase Cars' campaign, a humorous stunt that highlights the 'better with Pepsi' philosophy. The campaign effectively utilizes the power of free giveaways and engaging content, solidifying Pepsi's position as a favored companion to pizza. The 'Pepsi Chase Cars' are more than just a gimmick, they're a clever reminder that the enjoyment of pizza is truly enhanced with a Pepsi. So next time you order pizza, remember to chase it with a Pepsi, and let the chase for flavor begin.
