Case | HBS Case Collection | December 2010 (Revised May 2011)

Cola Wars Continue: Coke and Pepsi in 2010

by David B. Yoffie and Renee Kim

Abstract

Examines the industry structure and competitive strategy of Coca-Cola and Pepsi over 100 years of rivalry. The most intense battles of the cola wars were fought over the $74 billion CSD industry in the United States, where the average American consumes 46 gallons of CSD per year. In a "carefully waged competitive struggle," from 1975 to the mid-1990s, both Coke and Pepsi had achieved average annual growth of around 10%, as both U.S. and worldwide CSD consumption consistently rose. However, starting in the late 1990s, U.S. CSD consumption started to decline and new non-sparkling beverages become popular, threatening to alter the companies' brand, bottling, and pricing strategies. The case considers what has to be done for Coke and Pepsi to ensure sustainable growth and profitability. A rewritten version of an earlier case.

Keywords: Profit; Growth and Development Strategy; Industry Structures; Competitive Strategy; Food and Beverage Industry; United States;

Format: Print 22 pages EducatorsPurchase

Citation:

Yoffie, David B., and Renee Kim. "Cola Wars Continue: Coke and Pepsi in 2010." Harvard Business School Case 711-462, December 2010. (Revised May 2011.)

About the Author

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David B. Yoffie
Max and Doris Starr Professor of International Business Administration
Strategy

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