PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y., expanded its Sierra Mist carbonated soft drink brand with the addition of its newest flavor, Strawberry Kiwi Splash.  The new flavor is made with real sugar and does not contain artificial additives or preservatives, the company says.

 Double-Cola introduced new graphics and packaging designed to connect with a growing market of youthful consumers who expect something unique and refreshing from a soft drink, the company says.  

The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, reported its solid first quarter 2012 results with strong volume and revenue growth as well as volume and value share gains across every non-alcohol ready-to-drink beverage category in which it competes, the company said. All geographic operating groups delivered volume growth in the quarter, with global volume increasing 5 percent, North American volume rising 2 percent and international volume growing 6 percent in the first quarter of 2012.

PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y., announced a multi-year partnership with Family Dollar Stores Inc., Matthews, N.C., to sell PepsiCo’s beverages in 7,100 stores across 45 states. The multi-year partnership will provide Family Dollar shoppers with access to a variety of products from PepsiCo’s North American beverage portfolio, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Aquafina and Lipton teas.

In its first redesign in more than 20 years, Barq’s Root Beer, a brand of The Coca-Cola Co., unveiled a completely new look to pay homage to the brand’s Gulf Coast heritage and classically crisp, bold flavor. 

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Plano, Texas, collaborated with Marvel Entertainment for a limited-edition collectible can series, an online game and a new commercial organized around the upcoming feature film “Marvel’s The Avengers.”

Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo unveiled an “Internet Taste Test” for its new reduced-sugar Pepsi Next variety. Designed to be a digital incarnation of the product’s “Drink it to believe it” premise, the product’s marketing campaign encourages consumers to take their first sip of the cola at Walmart Supercenter sampling events, at similar events in 40 national cities or online via its Internet Taste Test.

PepsiCo, Purchase, N.Y., announced that Pepsi Next, a cola with 60 percent less sugar than Pepsi-Cola, will launch nationwide March 26. The cola’s launch is intended to meet the needs of a segment of consumers who are resistant to full-calorie and diet soft drink offerings, the company said.