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The Battle Wages On Between Coke and Pepsi

When two of the biggest names in the beverage industry collide, one wonders who will come out the winner, and more importantly, who`s business will be effected most by the battle. Sure, both companies are targeting the same consumers, but in general, it`s a personal preference that most have made years ago. The wars between Pepsi and Coke have been going on for years, but until recently they have all been in good fun.

PepsiCo`s Gatorade beverage business has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Coca-Cola`s Powerade unit to stop an ad campaign that it claims is false and deceptive. The new television ad for Coke`s Powerade Option sports drink features a "drag race" between two farmers in Amish dress, riding horse-drawn carts loaded with hay bales - one with ten bales and one with 50. The ad shows the cart with fewer bales easily cruising to victory, and touts that Powerade Option has 10 calories compared to Gatorade`s 50 calories.

The court filing claims, Powerade Option, which contains "negligible calories, cannot refuel athletes in a similar manner" as Gatorade. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to bar Coke from running the ads, which were launched last week during the start of the NCAA men`s basketball tournament.