PepsiCo Will Launch a Sleep Aid Drink Amid Coronavirus

Many people would agree that 2020 being a stressful year is an understatement. One of the unfortunate symptoms of stress for many is insomnia and not being able to sleep well.

Beverage giant PepsiCo has decided to launch a drink that will help people fall asleep.

Dubbed Driftwell, the enhanced water drink is meant to help consumers relax and unwind before bed. It contains 200 grams of L-theanine and 10% of the daily value of magnesium.

The drink will be available nationwide starting in December on e-commerce sites and at grocery stores.

It was last year that CEO Ramon Laguarta and Pepsi employees had come up with the idea for the beverage to help consumers destress. According to Emily Silver, vice president of innovation and capabilities at Pepsi’s North American beverages unit, the beverage is the fastest new product to ever come out of the company.

“I think we’re launching this at a time when there’s more consumer interest than there previously was, given everything that’s going on from a macro perspective,” Silver said.

“From a scientific and regulatory perspective, we feel really good about making that claim around L-theanine. Specifically, we have safety in clinical data to prove that it works,” Silver added.

Driftwell comes in 7.5-ounce mini cans and just one flavor: blackberry lavender. Silver says this is the perfect size for hydrating before bedtime without requiring another trip to the bathroom.

“It’s a nascent category, and it’s one frankly that we think we can build from a [liquid refreshment beverage] perspective,” Silver said of the relaxation beverage category.

Shares of Pepsi are down less than 1% so far this year.

Disclaimer: We have no position in PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) and have not been compensated for this article.