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Case Details

Case Code: MKTG367
Case Length: 14 Pages 
Period: 2017   
Pub Date: 2017
Teaching Note: Available
Price:Rs.400
Organization : PepsiCo. Inc. (PepsiCo)
Industry : Beverages and Food Processing
Countries : US 
Themes:   
Case Studies  
Business Strategy
Marketing
Finance
Human Resource Management
IT and Systems
Operations
Economics
Leadership & Entrepreneurship

Pepsi's Kendall Jenner AD: Communication Gone Wrong

 

ABSTRACT

 
This case study discusses US-based multinational food and beverage company PepsiCo’s protest themed advertisement for its carbonated soft drink Pepsi and its subsequent withdrawal. Pepsi’s campaign titled ‘Live for now – Moments’ was launched on April 4, 2017 (Tuesday), in an attempt to portray Pepsi as a millennial friendly brand. The protest themed ad showed 21-year-old super model Kendall Jenner participating in a photo shoot and then joining up with protestors and approaching a cop with a can of Pepsi soda. But, Pepsi had to pull this advertisement in less than 48 hours, following withering criticism stating that it was co-opting protest movements, such as Black Lives Matter (BLM), for commercial gain. The case analyzes several loopholes in Pepsi’s communication process and explains how the company failed in designing an effective communication strategy to promote the brand, not giving due importance to the changing market scenario. The case explores the steps taken by Pepsi post the ad crisis and facilitates a critical discussion on Pepsi’s decision to pull the new heavy-budget ad campaign. The campaign placed Pepsi in a tight spot. Will the company manage to extricate itself from this controversy or will the Kendall Jenner ad fiasco dampen its sales for years to come?. .
 
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Issues

The case is structured to achieve the following teaching objectives:
  • Appraise the changing ‘marketing communications environment’.
  • Analyze the process of developing effective communications, especially ‘Designing the communications’.
  • Debate the merits and demerits of celebrity endorsements.
  • Devise how to develop and manage an advertising program/campaign
  • Assess how to manage a crisis situation
Contents
INTRODUCTION
ABOUT PEPSICO
LIVE FOR NOW
MOMENTS
THE RESPONSE
WHAT WENT WRONG?
THE IMPACT
EXHIBITS

Keywords

Integrated Marketing Communications,Celebrity endorsements,Advertising,Pepsi,Sales Promotion,Crisis Management,Ad Campaign,Kendall Jenner Ad,Marketing Communications Environment,Celebrity Endorsement,Brand Crisis,Effective Communications,Designing the Communication

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