Please analyze the following scenario by incorporating your learning from Chapters 9 & 10 of
your textbook and answer the question:
● Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are the leading competitors in the market for cola products. In
1960 Coca-Cola introduced Sprite, which today is among the worldwide leaders in the
lemon-lime soft drink market and ranks in the top 10 among all soft drinks worldwide.
Prior to 1999, PepsiCo did not have a product that competed directly against Sprite and
had to decide whether to introduce such a soft drink. By not introducing a lemon-lime
soft drink, PepsiCo would continue to earn a $200 million profit, and Coca-Cola would
continue to earn a $300 million profit.
● Suppose that by introducing a new lemon-lime soft drink, one of two possible strategies
could be pursued:
○ PepsiCo could trigger a price war with Coca-Cola in both the lemon-lime and cola
markets
o Coca-Cola could acquiesce and each firm maintains its current 50/50 split of the cola
market and split the lemon-lime market 30/70 (PepsiCo/Coca-Cola).