Mukesh Ambani faces big challenge from Coca-Cola and PepsiCo due to…., who will emerge winner this summer?

As Mukesh Ambani led Reliance's Campa Cola entering the market with aggressive pricing, the competition will intensify in the sugar-free beverage segment.

Written by: Anirudha Yerunkar Edited by: Anirudha Yerunkar

Published: March 24, 2025, 11:36 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/business/mukesh-ambani-faces-big-challenge-from-coca-cola-and-pepsico-due-to-low-cost-no-sugar-prducts-launch-who-will-emerge-winner-this-summer-7704879/ Copy

The Indian cola market is heating up as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Reliance Consumer’s Campa Cola go are competing in the sugar-free beverage segment. There is an increasing demand for healthier drink options, these companies have launched small, affordable packs of diet and light drinks priced at just Rs 10 to attract health-conscious consumers.

New Sugar-Free Options 

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have launched sugar-free versions of their popular drinks, including Thums Up X Force, Coke Zero, Sprite Zero, and Pepsi No-Sugar. These beverages are now available in compact 200 ml bottles priced at Rs 10. After which healthier drink will be available to a wider audience. This is the first time that such low prices have been offered for diet drinks in India.

Campa Cola’s Competitive Entry

Reliance’s Campa Cola has entered the fray with its own sugar-free 200 ml bottles, also priced at Rs 10. The brand also wants to create a position for itself in the competitive market by focusing on high-demand regions like Andhra Pradesh. It is one of India’s largest coal-consuming states. In response to this PepsiCo has also introduced its sugar-free Pepsi in to compete directly with Campa Cola.

Cold-Drink Pricing War

Although the Rs 10 price has made these drinks popular, industry experts point out that such pricing is not profitable for companies. To manage costs, major cola brands are not reducing the prices of their core drinks. Instead, they rely on promotions, bundled offers, and festive discounts to maintain sales without incurring losses.

Sugar-Free Market Growth

The sugar-free beverage market in India has been growing at a faster rate. In 2024, sales of sugar-free and low-sugar drinks doubled, reaching Rs 700-750 crore. According to Varun Beverages, a PepsiCo bottling partner, low-sugar and sugar-free drinks now account for 44.4% of PepsiCo’s sales in India, which is a rise from 40.2% in the previous year. This trend is primarily in urban areas, where consumers are becoming more health-conscious.