Jeffrey Salazar
Diet Pepsi, a no-calorie carbonated soft drink, was originally created in the US under the name Patio in 1963. It was rebranded as Diet Pepsi in 1964, becoming the first diet cola to be distributed on a national scale in the US. The drink was launched amid the 1960s craze for skinny bodies and calorie-counting, and it competed with Coca-Cola's Tab and Diet Rite Cola in the 1960s and 1970s. Over the years, Diet Pepsi has undergone several formula changes and flavour innovations, such as Wild Cherry, Vanilla, and Lime, to adapt to shifting consumer preferences and maintain its market presence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original name | Patio |
| Year created | 1963 |
| Year rebranded as Diet Pepsi | 1964 |
| Year of expansion to the UK | 1983 |
| Current ingredients in the US | Carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, caffeine, citric acid, natural flavor, acesulfame potassium, phenylketonurics, and phenylalanine |
| Current ingredients in Canada | Carbonated water, caramel color, phosphoric acid, aspartame, sodium benzoate, caffeine, flavor, acesulfame potassium, citric acid, dimethylpolysiloxane, and phenylalanine |
| Current ingredients in the UK | Carbonated water, caramel (E150d), flavorings (including caffeine), phosphoric acid, sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K), acidity regulator (sodium citrate), preservative (sodium benzoate), citric acid, and phenylalanine |
| Flavour variations | Wild Cherry, Vanilla, Lemon, and Lime |
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What You'll Learn
Diet Pepsi was originally called 'Patio'
Diet Pepsi, the first mass-distributed diet soda pop in the modern United States, was originally called Patio. PepsiCo test-released this proto-diet Pepsi in select markets in 1963, making it the first low-calorie soda produced by a major American company.
The name "Patio" was not well-received, with some commenting that it was one of the worst names for a soda ever. The writers of the TV show Mad Men even had their characters make fun of the name. In the show, one of Sterling-Cooper's big new clients is Pepsi-Cola and a "new" soft drink called Patio.
Patio was Pepsi's response to the first "diet cola" on the market, Diet Rite Cola. In the 1960s, housewives were becoming more health and diet-conscious, so these diet sodas were gaining popularity. Pepsi did not have enough capital to market Patio correctly, so it was discontinued within a year.
In 1964, Patio was rebranded as Diet Pepsi and launched countrywide, becoming the first diet cola to be distributed on a national scale in the United States. The drink's sweetness came from the artificial sweetener saccharin, the choice ingredient of diet soda creators at the time. However, in the 1970s, controversy erupted as animal studies linked saccharin with bladder cancer, sparking a public panic.
Since its launch, Diet Pepsi has undergone various flavour innovations and formula changes, responding to competition and shifting consumer tastes. The logo and packaging have also been redesigned multiple times to keep the brand aesthetically current.
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'Patio' was released in 1963
In 1963, Pepsi released a new drink called Patio. It was the company's first attempt at creating a low-calorie soda, and it was test-marketed in the United States under this name. The drink was originally called "Patio Diet Cola", and it was Pepsi's response to the first-ever "diet cola" on the market, Diet Rite Cola.
The 1960s saw a craze for skinny bodies and calorie-counting, and housewives were becoming increasingly health and diet-conscious, so Pepsi wanted to tap into this growth market. The drink was launched as Pepsi sought to re-energize the 'Cola Wars' in an age of healthy lifestyles and to compete with rival Coca-Cola.
Patio was an innovative product that changed the trajectory of diet beverages. It was the first low-calorie soda produced by a major American company and the first diet cola to be distributed on a national scale in the United States. The drink derived its sweetness from the artificial sweetener saccharin, which was the choice ingredient of diet soda creators at the time.
The name "Patio", however, was not well-received and was even mocked in an episode of the TV show Mad Men. The drink was short-lived, as Pepsi did not have the capital to market it effectively, and it was discontinued within a year. In 1964, the drink was rebranded and launched nationally as Diet Pepsi, breaking ground as the first mass-distributed diet soda in the modern United States.
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The name 'Patio' was mocked in Mad Men
The name Patio was mocked in the season 3 premiere of Mad Men, where one of Sterling-Cooper's big new clients is shown to be Pepsi Cola and a "new" soft drink called Patio. The show's writers even have the characters make fun of the name in the episode.
In the 1960s, housewives were becoming increasingly health and diet-conscious, so diet sodas were gaining popularity. Pepsi released Patio in 1963 as a response to Diet Rite Cola, which was the first "diet cola" on the market. Patio was Pepsi's entry into this growth market. The drink was initially test-marketed in the United States under the name Patio Diet Cola in 1963 and was positively received due to shifting dietary habits and preferences among Baby Boomers. However, Pepsi did not have enough capital to market this soda correctly, and it was discontinued within a year. The drink was then rebranded and launched nationally as Diet Pepsi in 1964, becoming the first diet cola to be distributed on a national scale in the United States.
The name Patio for a soft drink has been described as "one of the worst names for a soda ever". Some have suggested that names like “Pepsi Chair” or “Pepsi Closet” would have been better. The name has been described as "dumb" and "a dumb name for a pop". The episode of Mad Men featuring the Patio name and the association with Diet Pepsi has been described as educational, with some viewers believing that the name Patio was made up for the show.
The show's portrayal of the name Patio aligns with the historical context of the time, as it captures the diet-conscious mindset of consumers in the 1960s and Pepsi's attempt to enter the growing market for diet sodas.
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'Patio' was Pepsi's response to Diet Rite Cola
In the early 1960s, awareness regarding the health impacts of high sugar intake was increasing. Seeking to capitalise on the growing diet-conscious consumer base, Royal Crown, a cola maker, introduced Diet Rite Cola in 1962. Marketed as a dietetic product, it was a huge success, with sales of diet drinks increasing fivefold in three years. Pepsi was forced to act, and in 1963, PepsiCo introduced Patio Diet Cola, its first diet soda offering.
Patio was Pepsi's response to Diet Rite Cola, which was the first "diet cola" on the market. Pepsi's new product was created to appeal to the growing number of health-conscious housewives in the '60s. Patio was marketed as a soda alternative for diabetics, with fitness promoter Debbie Drake as its spokesperson. It came in a variety of flavours, including grape, orange, root beer, strawberry, and tonic water. However, Pepsi lacked the capital to market Patio correctly, and it was discontinued within a year.
In 1964, Patio was rebranded as Diet Pepsi, and the extra flavours were dropped, with only the cola flavour being retained. The newly branded diet soda was advertised alongside Pepsi, with the tagline "Pepsi either way". Diet Pepsi was the first mass-distributed diet soda pop in the modern United States, and it broke new ground by changing the trajectory of diet beverages.
Over the years, Diet Pepsi has undergone several formula and packaging changes to keep up with shifting consumer tastes and trends. The logo has been redesigned multiple times, and additional variations, such as Wild Cherry, Vanilla, and Lime, have been introduced. Diet Pepsi has faced competition from rival Coca-Cola's Tab and Diet Coke, and in 2012, it changed its sweetener to sucralose ahead of a major rebranding.
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'Patio' was discontinued within a year of its release
Pepsi's first foray into the diet soda market was in 1963 with the release of Patio. The drink was Pepsi's response to the first-ever "diet cola", Diet Rite Cola, which had been released by RC Cola. Patio was test-marketed in select markets under the name Patio Diet Cola, with flavours like grape, root beer, strawberry, and orange. However, Pepsi lacked the capital to market Patio successfully, and it was discontinued within a year of its release.
The failure of Patio was not the end of Pepsi's diet soda ambitions. The company re-branded Patio as Diet Pepsi and launched it countrywide in 1964, becoming the first diet cola to be mass-distributed in the United States. This launch was part of PepsiCo's strategy to re-energize the Cola Wars in the age of healthy lifestyles and rising health consciousness.
The early 1960s saw a growing awareness of the health impacts of high sugar intake, and Pepsi sought to capitalize on this by developing a lower-calorie cola option. Diet Pepsi was sweetened with the artificial sweetener saccharin, which was the choice ingredient for diet soda creators at the time. However, in the 1970s, animal studies linked saccharin to bladder cancer, causing a public panic. Despite this setback, Diet Pepsi persevered and went on to compete primarily with The Coca-Cola Company's Tab in the 1960s and 1970s.
The name "Patio" for a soft drink has been ridiculed and criticized, even featuring in an episode of the TV show Mad Men, where the characters make fun of it. Despite its short-lived existence, Patio holds a unique place in the history of Pepsi and the evolution of diet soda in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The original name of Diet Pepsi was Patio.
Patio was released in 1963.
Pepsi rebranded Patio as Diet Pepsi in 1964. The name Patio is considered to be one of the worst names for a soda ever.
The competition for Diet Pepsi in the 1960s and 1970s was Tab by The Coca-Cola Company and Diet Rite Cola by RC Cola.
Diet Pepsi is sold as Pepsi Light in Italy, Czechia, Poland, Argentina, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, and Brazil.
