Pepsi is keeping the carbonated pressure on archrival Coca-Cola with its latest soft-drink sortie, Stubborn Soda, which hit local stores in August. But this particular campaign teams the Purchase-based beverage giant with a rather unlikely partner. Sporting the tagline “It’s good to be Stubborn,” the brand has joined forces with none other than Mr. Zombie himself, Robert Kirkman, creator and executive producer of the AMC ratings-juggernaut The Walking Dead, and his company, Skybound Entertainment.
Much like Kirkman’s TV products—including Fear the Walking Dead and Outcast, which premiered in May—Stubborn Soda aspires to offer consumers “unexpected twists” on the traditional fare, with flavors like Black Cherry with Tarragon, Orange Hibiscus, Agave Vanilla Cream Soda, and Lemon Berry Acai leading the charge. PepsiCo representatives say that each 12-oz glass bottle of Stubborn Soda is made with natural flavors, Fair Trade-Certified Cane Sugar, and Stevia.
“It’s no surprise I am stubborn about my creative process, which is why I like what the [Stubborn Soda] brand is all about,” says Kirkman. “[It is] helping us tell the real, gritty stories of some of the best creators who aren’t afraid to go against conventional means.”
A content series featuring Kirkman is scheduled to accompany the brand’s distribution and marketing campaign. Whether Stubborn Soda will be able to raise the dead remains to be seen. Attempts to contact Walkers, Biters, and Rotters for comment were unsuccessful, and none returned our calls.
