chuckd21

http://www.fool.com/investing/genera...-baja-bla.aspx

PepsiCo is again mining its partnership with Taco Bell, with plans to start selling the Mexican chain's popular Mountain Dew Baja Blast drinks in bottles and cans for the first time next month.

The soda and snack food company says it's planning a national TV ad for the drink, which will be available for a limited time starting May 5. Reports of the bottled version of Baja Blast -- the second most popular drink at Taco Bell -- began circulating among Mountain Dew fans after a photo of it appeared online. The bottles, which contain a neon greenish liquid, bear a small Taco Bell logo above the name.

PepsiCo and Yum! Brands, which owns Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, didn't disclose terms of the agreement or how sales will be divided. PepsiCo is beverage supplier for Yum, which it spun off in 1997. That means PepsiCo benefits when Yum's restaurant chains sell more drinks. The companies are hoping the cans and bottles of Baja Blast at supermarkets and retail outlets will boost awareness of the drink's availability at Taco Bell among Mountain Dew fans.

The latest offering comes after the successful launch of Taco Bell's Doritos-flavored tacos in 2012, which were developed in partnership with PepsiCo's Frito-Lay unit. PepsiCo followed up by offering Doritos in a "Taco Bell" flavor for a limited time last spring. Since then, Taco Bell has been looking at other ways to team up with Frito-Lay, including a test of "Quesdilla Dippers" that people dip in nacho cheese then in crushed, spicy Fritos.

As for drinks, Taco Bell offers a variety of unique PepsiCo drinks at its more than 6,000 U.S. restaurants. The chain's chief marketing officer, Chris Brandt, said the exclusive drinks have helped increase the company's beverage sales, even as soda sales have declined in the broader market. He noted that people are more likely to buy drinks when they're available exclusively at the chain.

Baja Blast was developed exclusively for Taco Bell 10 years ago. Brandt said the drink's citrus flavor pairs well with the chain's food.

bluetoast

This is huge. I'm texting my friend right now.

VHS?

#MountainDewBajaBlastTacoBellZOMG!

davidh777

Baja Blast is awesome, best item on the menu.

Th0r S1mpson

Never heard of it. I'd try it.

Trevor

I would love to be able to survive on just Taco Bell, and I love all the other Mountain Dew speciality flavors; but I never liked this one. My daughter will love it though.

printerati

Mt. Dew just eliminated my only remaining reason for going to Taco Bell.

Kurt D

DaveyJoe

No! The world is not ready!

GoldenJCJ

Something that should have happened years ago. I've been trying to cut down on how much soda I drink but if I'm on a road trip or something I'll buy one.

DVD Polizei

Brisk Mango Fiesta!

funkyryno

My dentist applauds this move.

Tracer Bullet

I have no idea what this is.

superdeluxe

Love baja blast.

SuperJim88

Does it feel like blowjob blast?

Shannon Nutt

What does Baja Blast taste like? Can you compare it to something? I never go to Taco Bell, so this is the first I've heard of it. I am a regular diet Mt. Dew drinker, though.

davidh777

It's like a lime-y heavy-citrus soda.

Groucho

So, it's Fresca?

Shannon Nutt

Is it like Slice?

TheKing

For those who haven't had Baja Blast, you've missed out.

It's easily the smoothest Mountain Dew flavor, and the most citrus tasting of them all. It leans toward lime, which is why it went so well with Taco Bell food.

It's been so long since I've been to Taco Bell, I didn't even know they launched a second exclusive Mtn. Dew, Sangrita Blast, which I guess is more of a sangria or fruit punch flavor. From what I've read, that might be getting released as well.

I'll pick up a 12 pack of Baja Blast for sure, maybe some 2-Liters.

TheKing

No, Fresca is grapefruit. It's really hard to compare it to another soda as I don't think I've ever had anything close.

Maybe a sweeter lime margarita would be a fair comparison, but without a bite. Smooth, sweet, and lime-y, but it still has a Dew taste to it.

Canis Firebrand

Baja Blast is good.. My favorite flavor was the Distortion from a few years ago where they had the first dew fans pick the new flavor. I loved the lime flavor in it.. Sucked that the lame white, milk looking dew won. That is a nasty flavor.

TheKing

I forgot about that one! It was really good too, but that one was a hard lime flavor. That was like a limeade, which I think is why it lost.

VHS?

It tastes like shit. Go buy Squirt for the same flavor. Then take Prilosec OTC for the acid reflux.

Michael Corvin

Best Dew flavor out there. Keeping it at TB was a good marketing tactic. Half the time I'd go there would be for the Dew.

The Sangria one is way too sweet. At TB I go for a 50/40/10% split with Baja/Diet/Sangria.