PepsiCo's Mountain Dew is back with a second consecutive Trolli co-branded limited-edition soda, this time swapping last year's Cherry Lemon profile for a tropical mango, pineapple, and hint-of-strawberry formulation designed to complement Trolli Spicy Crawlers gummi candy. Mountain Dew x Trolli Mango Pineapple Punch is available now through October at U.S. retailers in 12 oz. cans and 20 oz. bottles in both Regular and Zero Sugar, with Regular 20 oz. bottles also landing at participating Pizza Hut locations nationwide.
Why It Matters
The Pizza Hut channel placement is a notable operator signal: PepsiCo is using its foodservice distribution muscle to push a limited-edition SKU into a national QSR chain, giving the collaboration visibility well beyond the retail shelf. For Pizza Hut franchisees, the tie-in creates a seasonal beverage story that can drive incremental attach sales during a window when foot traffic typically competes with late-summer dining fatigue. The move aligns with a broader beverage industry trend of foodservice-exclusive LTOs that generate in-restaurant buzz while reinforcing the brand's value to chain operators.
The Flavor Trend Behind the Launch
Sweet-and-spicy is no longer a niche positioning — it has become one of the most durable flavor macro-trends across snacks, condiments, and now carbonated soft drinks. Michael Smith, VP of Marketing at Mountain Dew, PepsiCo Beverages U.S., said the first Mountain Dew x Trolli collaboration demonstrated significant consumer excitement when two recognized brands combined unexpectedly, and that this year's release deepens the concept with a spicy-tropical twist. The original Mountain Dew x Trolli Cherry Lemon became one of the fastest-selling products in the Mountain Dew lineup after its debut, creating a clear commercial rationale for a sequel. Chad Womack, Marketing Director at Trolli, framed the pairing as a way to show consumers new consumption occasions for Trolli Spicy Crawlers through a drinkable format.
Retail and Exclusive Kit Details
A limited-edition Mountain Dew x Trolli kit, sold exclusively on Walmart.com beginning August 24 while supplies last, bundles a 20 oz. Regular bottle, a 20 oz. Zero Sugar bottle, and a 12 oz. bag of Trolli Spicy Crawlers — delivering the intended pairing experience as a single retail unit. The Walmart-exclusive bundle strategy is consistent with how PepsiCo and major CPG players have used mass-retail digital channels to create perceived scarcity and collectibility around co-branded drops, a tactic gaining traction across restaurant and foodservice beverage programs as operators look to replicate the limited-drop urgency that drives social engagement. The full platform runs through October, giving operators and retailers roughly two months to capitalize on the seasonal placement before the SKU exits distribution.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
