Brandwave

How popular isPepsi?

In September 2026, people searched for Pepsi by name about 6,760 times in New Zealand, a 38.8% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 16% of all New Zealand soft drink brand searches, placing Pepsi second out of seven brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about soft drink brands, Pepsi appeared in three of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Pepsi is the second most searched of 7 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Coca-ColaShare of searches 51.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. PepsiShare of searches 16%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. L&PShare of searches 14.6%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. BundabergShare of searches 9.2%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. SchweppesShare of searches 5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

+2 more

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Top soft drink brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Pepsi was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Pepsi is the fourth most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. L&P1st
  2. Coca-Cola2nd
  3. Schweppes3rd
  4. Pepsi4th
  5. Bundaberg5th
  6. Phoenix Organic6th
  7. Karma Drinks7th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Coca-Cola5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • L&P4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pepsi3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Schweppes3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Bundaberg2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Phoenix Organic2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Karma Drinks1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about soft drink brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which soft drink brands compete with Pepsi?

Pepsi against soft drink brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Coca-Cola, Pepsi, L&P, Bundaberg, Schweppes, Karma Drinks. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCoca-ColaPepsiL&PBundabergSchweppesKarma DrinksPhoenix Organic
Oct 202549.2%13%17.1%10.4%5.5%4.3%0.45%
Nov 202548.4%10.9%23.6%8.8%4.6%3.3%0.39%
Dec 202547.3%11.8%17.7%12.8%6.5%3.4%0.55%
Jan 202650.2%12.1%17.5%10.7%5.3%3.8%0.44%
Feb 202650.4%13.8%17.9%8.9%4.1%4.5%0.3%
Mar 202650.2%12.6%18.4%10.8%3.8%3.8%0.4%
Apr 202649.5%14.3%17.8%9%5.4%3.7%0.31%
May 202652%13.4%16.5%9.9%4.3%3.7%0.28%
Jun 202653.9%15.4%13.8%9.6%4%3.1%0.28%
Jul 202649.8%17%14.1%9.9%5.3%3.5%0.37%
Aug 202650.7%16.2%14.4%9.1%5%4.4%0.32%
Sep 202651.4%16%14.6%9.2%5%3.4%0.4%
  1. 1.Coca-Cola

    51.4%

    Held 1st. 21.7K estimated branded searches, -1.1% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  2. 2.Pepsi

    16%

    Held 2nd. 6.8K estimated branded searches, -3.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  3. 3.L&P

    14.6%

    Held 3rd. 6.2K estimated branded searches, -1.1% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  4. 4.Bundaberg

    9.2%

    Held 4th. 3.9K estimated branded searches, -0.51% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  5. Held 5th. 2.1K estimated branded searches, -2.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. Held 6th. 1.4K estimated branded searches, -23.3% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.

  7. Held 7th. 170 estimated branded searches, +21.4% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Pepsi and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Pepsi

6 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Pepsi changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Pepsi in New Zealand rose from 4.9K to 6.8K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pepsi’s share of searches among soft drink brands in New Zealand increased from 13% to 16%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pepsi’s share of searches among soft drink brands in New Zealand peaked at 17% in July 2026 and was lowest at 10.9% in November 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pepsi rose from 3rd to 2nd among soft drink brands in New Zealand.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand soft drink brands in September 2026?

4 changes
  1. In September 2026, Coca-Cola gained share of searches among soft drink brands in New Zealand, from 50.7% to 51.4%.

  2. In September 2026, Karma Drinks lost share of searches among soft drink brands in New Zealand, from 4.4% to 3.4%.

  3. L&P’s share of searches among soft drink brands in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 13.8% to 14.6% in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Pepsi in New Zealand rose 38.8% over 12 measured months, from 4.9K to 6.8K in September 2026.

How are Pepsi’s branded searches counted?

14 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pepsi’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • diet pepsi
  • pepsi
  • pepsi cans
  • pepsi drink
  • pepsi man
  • pepsi max
  • pepsi max can
  • pepsi max vanilla
  • pepsi nitrogen
  • pepsi soft drink
  • sodastream pepsi
  • sodastream pepsi max
  • vanilla pepsi
  • woolies pepsi max

Do you work for Pepsi? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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Is Pepsi your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.