Need a marketing news refresher after the pre-4th of July holiday weekend? Catch up on the biggest stories you may have missed in our Weekly Must Reads.

Pepsi Crafts New Sauce for the 4th of July

Ahead of the 4th of July holiday weekend, Pepsi introduced a new product to its lineup: Colachup, a.k.a. Pepsi mixed with ketchup. The brand describes the new sauce as “sweet and salty,” blending the distinctive flavor of Pepsi’s soda with classic, tangy ketchup to create a “new way to enjoy two American classics.” Pepsi is rolling out the product for a limited time at select baseball stadiums across the country on July 4.

The creative new sauce is part of the company’s ongoing “Better With Pepsi” campaign, which seeks to highlight how Pepsi’s many products make different aspects of life better. In the past, Pepsi has focused on other classic food items, including pizza and hamburgers, and their perfect pairing with a Pepsi soda. Find out more details about Colachup here: https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/pepsi-unveils-new-colachup-condiment/

Taco Bell Uses Nostalgia to Relaunch Volcano Menu

Taco Bell is bringing back yet another fan-favorite menu item. Last week, the fast-food brand reintroduced the Volcano Menu, which includes the spicy Volcano Burrito fans loved back in the 2000s. Taco Bell launched the returning items with a hotline, 1-844-THTS-HOT, which would play one of six pre-recorded messages from Paris Hilton.

For Taco Bell, Hilton was the perfect partner for the new promotion, as she’s most known for her 2000s fame and catchphrase, “that’s hot.” In addition to the hotline messages, Hilton also worked with the brand to create a TikTok campaign and new music to include in the ads. Learn more about Taco Bell’s nostalgic campaign and Volcano menu here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/taco-bell-volcano-menu-paris-hilton-y2k-nostalgia-campaign/653867/

Sprite Finds Success with Hip-Hop Tie-Ins

To celebrate the recent 50^th anniversary of hip-hop music, Sprite launched a new summer campaign featuring both legendary and up-and-coming rappers, including Nas, Rakim, Latto and GloRilla. The campaign features ads on TV and digital platforms, as well as QR codes on limited-edition product packaging, which gives customers a chance to win merchandise. In addition to the “Icon’s Delight” campaign, Sprite will also sponsor Drake’s “It Was All a Blur” tour throughout the summer, in a continuation of their 10+ year partnership with Drake.

Sprite has been enjoying a resurgence of success in recent years. The soda brand is now the second-most popular drink among Coca-Cola’s product mix, thanks in part to the success of its Sprite Zero Sugar offering. Check out more details on Sprite’s new campaign here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/sprite-50-years-hip-hop-new-flavor-qr-code-giveaway-drake-latto/651945/

“Barbie” Marketing Mania

If you’ve been in a retail store or opened social media lately, chances are you’ve seen a promotion for the new “Barbie” movie. The marketing lead-up to the film (out July 17) has been remarkable, with more collaborations than we’ve seen for any movie in recent years. So far, we’ve seen a Barbie Dreamhouse listing on Airbnb, branded X-box console, Aldo footwear line, Impala roller skates, and Ruggable home items, just to name a few of the many current Barbie promotions.

After years of declining ticket sales due to covid-era restrictions, it’s safe to say Warner Bros. has spared no expense to get moviegoers back to the theater for their summer blockbuster. According to marketing consultant Dan Ortiz, the studio has created a “Barbie” campaign that “feels fun, inclusive, and sells the film as a theatrical event.” Get all the updates on the film’s many partnerships and clever marketing strategy here: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/barbie-marketing-mania-warner-bros-130000674.html