Pepsi challenges fans to show off football skills in interactive vending gaming experience

Press release

Published June 30th, 2014 - 08:33 GMT

Al Bawaba

Football fans in the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will be given the exclusive opportunity to show off their football skills this month as three of only a selected number of markets globally to launch the Pepsi interactive vending machine.

With a limited-edition quantity of nearly 20 interactive vending machines appearing around the globe, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are one of the first – and only countries in the world – to receive and experience the Pepsi interactive vending machine. The machines will be located at high traffic football venues in each of three countries. In addition to the interactive vending machines, fans in Saudi Arabia will be able to watch football throughout June and July on mobile trucks that will be roaming the streets of Jeddah and Riyadh.

Using innovative motion-sensor technology, fans are challenged by the 2014 Pepsi all-star football squad – Robin van Persie, David Luiz, Sergio Ramos, Sergio Agüero, Jack Wilshere and four-time player of the year, Leo Messi – to move like the pros and show off their sport style to be rewarded with a free Pepsi or Diet Pepsi.

Throughout the interactive experience, fans are encouraged to keep the virtual football in the air for 30-seconds as they move through a series of skills challenges. Advanced players can earn bonus time and vie for “Hall of Fame” recognition at each location.

Commenting on this initiative, Carla Hassan, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Middle East & Africa, said: “Consumers across the GCC are extremely passionate about football and we are extremely pleased to be able to offer fans in the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia the exclusive opportunity to be able to show off their football skills and compete against each other. Pepsi is strongly committed in offering its consumers across the region the chance to engage in exclusive experiences that bring them closer than ever to the spirit and atmosphere of the game.”

The limited-edition interactive vending machine is the latest piece of exciting and engaging content to be released from Pepsi as part of its 2014 football campaign, which kicked off in January with the unveiling of its largest-ever, international football squad. The yearlong campaign continues to bring fans unique experiences off the pitch that get them closer to the game they love.

Background Information

Pepsi Cola International

In 1965, Donald Kendall, the CEO of Pepsi-Cola, and Herman Lay, the CEO of Frito-Lay, recognized what they called “a marriage made in heaven,” a single company delivering perfectly-salty snacks served alongside the best cola on earth. Their vision led to what quickly became one of the world's leading food and beverage companies: PepsiCo.

For more than 50 years, as tastes, trends and lifestyles have changed, PepsiCo has evolved with them. Our willingness to adapt and grow has transformed our snack and soda company into a collection of global brands including Pepsi and Quaker, Gatorade and Tropicana, Frito-Lay and beyond. Today, PepsiCo is one of the world’s most-respected companies with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories and 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.