# PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Keurig Dr Pepper add QR codes to packaging to drive loyalty sign-ups

*The three soda giants are using two-inch squares to turn billions of retail touchpoints into digital enrollment funnels.*

By **Jenny Huang Goodman MPA MSc MHSA, Principal** — The Stash Edge, Hako Shikin LLC.
Published 2026-08-24.

Canonical: https://www.pops4.com/stash/articles/major-soda-brands-pepsico-coca-cola-keurig-dr-pepper-2026-08-24t21-5
Subject: Major Soda Brands (PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Keurig Dr Pepper)
Tags: qr codes, packaging, loyalty programs, mobile commerce, customer acquisition, beverages

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PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Keurig Dr Pepper are rolling out QR codes on soft drink packaging across their product lines, according to NBC News. The codes link to brand apps, loyalty programs, and promotional offers, converting each can and bottle into a scannable bridge between shelf and smartphone.

The packaging update spans major brands including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Dr Pepper, and Canada Dry. Each QR code sits on the label or cap, directing consumers to download a brand app, join a rewards program, or unlock a limited-time offer. The codes are context-aware: a scan during a sporting event might surface different content than a scan at home, using location data and time of day to tailor the experience.

The mechanism works because it eliminates friction at the moment of highest intent. A consumer holding the product has already made the purchase decision. The QR code captures that engagement window before the drink is consumed and the package discarded. Traditional packaging drove awareness but required the consumer to remember a URL or search a brand later. The scannable code collapses that gap to two seconds and three taps. For the brands, each scan becomes a known customer with an email, app install, or loyalty account, shifting the relationship from transactional to addressable.

The soda category has struggled with direct consumer relationships because most volume moves through retail and foodservice. Distributors, retailers, and restaurants own the transaction data. A QR code on packaging creates a owned-media touchpoint that travels with the product, giving the brand a data stream independent of the retailer's point-of-sale system. Once a consumer is enrolled, the brand can push personalized offers, test new SKUs with targeted audiences, and measure redemption without waiting for syndicated panel data.

For a small physical-product brand, the same play runs on a tighter budget. Print a QR code on your packaging that links to a mobile-optimized landing page, not a clunky homepage. Offer a single, clear incentive: **15% off** the next order, early access to a new variant, or entry into a monthly giveaway. Use a free tool like Bitly or a Shopify QR generator to create the code. Track scans in Google Analytics with UTM parameters to measure how many people engage and how many convert. If your packaging is already printed, add a QR sticker to each unit for under **$0.03** per piece using a roll label printer. The landing page should load in under two seconds on mobile, collect an email or phone number, and deliver the incentive immediately via SMS or email. Test different offers across batches to see what drives the highest opt-in rate, then bake the winning code into your next print run.

The broader pattern is that physical product is no longer the end of the marketing funnel. It's the beginning of the retention loop. Every package that leaves your facility is a media placement you already paid for. The QR code turns it into a performance channel.

## The takeaway

A QR code on packaging converts each product into a scannable enrollment point, capturing customer data at the moment of purchase.

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## Publisher

**Hako Shikin LLC** — Virginia Beach, Virginia. Founded 1997. ASI 217876 · DUNS 18-204-6339.
Principal and author: **Jenny Huang Goodman MPA MSc MHSA**.

- Author: https://www.huanggoodman.com/about
- LLM context: https://www.pops4.com/stash/llms.txt
- MCP endpoint, for AI agents: https://mcp.pops4.com/mcp
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- Catalogue: 70,000+ products, 200+ brands