The Decline of 7Up...What Happened?

7Up used to rank among the most popular soda brands but has since gotten lost in the crowd. This video talks about the declining popularity of the classic soda.

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Company Declines:
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[Westlander]

My grandpa, who lived to 94, loved 7-UP. It was the soda of his childhood and he enjoyed it all throughout his life, until the very end. There was never not a 2 liter bottle of it in his fridge, and we always enjoyed it together at lunch or dinner. It’ll always remind me of him. Good times.

[paranoidrodent]

This was trippy to watch as a Canadian. I was like "what do you mean 7UP is struggling? It’s a Pepsi product in every grocery and convenience store. It’s way bigger than Dr. Pepper or Mountain Dew." Strange to see it’s struggling in the States. Clearly the brand did prosper in countries where Pepsi took it over. I vaguely remember seeing Slice around a few decades ago but honestly, it’s pretty much Sprite, 7UP and generic store brand lemon-lime soda here. Fresca is around but that’s grapefruit flavoured.

[OhRaez]

I remember 7up even being "big" in the 2000s. They had brand placements in video games, and they had soda fountains with 7up in many fast-food places instead of Sprite.

[TacoTuesday]

The whole “Make 7, Up Yours” was an absolute genius marketing move. Loved those commercials.

[Oldirtycrza]

Makes me feel for my elderly parents. We used to love to shop at Sears, Circuit City and Kmart and drink 7UP. Now all of those are gone or almost all gone. My parents still refer to any lemon-lime soda as “7UP”

[prettypic]

Anyone ever had your parents INSIST that you drink 7up when you were sick to help settle your stomach? I think it's interesting that aspect of soda's medical history stills survives

[jasonromage]

My dad was a salesman for 7UP back in the 70s thru to his retirement in the 90s in Beckley, West Virginia. He was proud of the products that put food on his family's table. So much so, that it wasn't until after his passing in 2005, that I would openly finally drink Coke. That's the sense of loyalty that resonated even with his kids.

I fondly remember my dad bringing lime sherbet home and making a treat for the kids. Lime sherbet and 7UP, you really can't beat it!

[macneoh]

I remember in the early 2000s, 7up had a popular ad campaign. It was "make 7 up yours." They had t-shirts that said "make 7" on the front, and on the back it said "up yours". I was in college at the time and seen a lot of college kids wearing them. It was supposed to be edgy. It was short-lived though.

[AztecMoogle]

Growing up in a Hispanic household we only ever bought 7-Up when someone was sick or feeling like they had gas. 7-Up could help burp out what ailled us and helped us feel better.
Not sure if this was just a placebo effect or if it helps but now as a 36 year old I only buy 7-Up during flu season or on the rare occasion I feel under the weather.

[sarahm]

I honestly have always preferred 7-up over their competitors. It’s my go to when I’m in the mood for something that flavor or when I don’t feel well. Cherry 7-up is pretty good too.

[alihejjo]

Interestingly enough, growing up in Dubai 7Up was and still is a leading soda brand there. Not on the level of Pepsi or Coke but a solid 3rd. It wasn't until I moved back to Canada that I noticed how prevalent Sprite was and the disinterest people had for 7Up. Sprite was always seen as the off brand 7Up in Dubai, and this still rings true to me personally. It's funny how childhood memories can invoke so many different emotions. Anyway, great presentation as always!

[Dustin_Studios]

I used to enjoy Sprite and Starry/Sierra Mist but one day I decided to try 7 Up because I had not purchased it in a few years. I literally have no idea why I stopped drinking 7 Up but I drink it regularly now. I think honestly its the shared perception that "no one drinks 7 Up" that is what kept me away from it. I also find that whenever I feel nauseous if I drink a 7 Up it settles my stomach so I swear by them now.

[lucky-belindaniko]

Here in Tanzania, 7-Up is produced under Pepsi and it's doing quite well. I always thought it was under the Pepsi brand (a direct competitor of Coca-Cola's Sprite).
This video surprised me a bit because I had no idea that that's not the case for the US market. You learn something new everyday!

[JesamyPorter]

I was really looking forward to a section on how the “make 7 up yours” campaign affected the company. It’s probably my favorite marketing campaign ever and something I always think of when I have 7 Up.

[Sicksikmans]

Here in the Netherlands 7-Up is quite huge. Most people when they want a lemon flavored soda don't ask for a Sprite, they ask for a 7-Up. It like 7-Up is the Coca Cola here vs Sprite the Pepsi. Also, the 7-Up cartoon mascot Fidel Didel was really big here during the early '90's. He appeared in tons of merchandise from that era.

[TopGuardDawg]

As a mexican this soda was the medicine to cure you whenever you were sick along with VapoRub

[RobertSimmonsAirship]

Company Man really dropped the ball on this one not mentioning the "Make 7 Up yours" ad campaign, it was everywhere in the 90s.

[Mr.OCanada]

I remember "Vodka 7" to be a regular request at bars in the early 2000s. I didn't know it had this much turmoil history. Which is why this Channel is so great.

[Futuredynamo]

I've always perceived 7-Up as being a relativley successful brand. I never had any real concept of where they ranked in sales duirng my lifetime, other than Coke and Pepsi clearly being more popular than most anything else.

But they were always around, being advertised, etc. I think the fact that they even made the Cool Spot video game (I was in my very early teens when that came out - I never really played it, but remember the ads for it on TV and in gaming magazines), helped my perception. They were at least popular enough to make a video game from their mascot.

While being around 9th place is not as good as being in 3rd place as they once were decades ago, being within or even near the top 10 of all soft drinks doesn't seem to be too mad IMO, especially when you consider that in many instances, with some of the drinks that outrank 7-Up, both the regular and diet varities (counted separately) are ahead of them. Considering how many varities and options for soft drinks are available these days, it it not in THAT bad of a position.

That said, it is clear that they've seen better days. Especially with how relatively little space it occupies in stores today. I recently bought some because it was on sale, but that is the first time I've had it in quite a while. I tend to prefer Sprite my comparison. I actually liked Lemon-Lime Slice even more than either of them, and I was disapointed when that was discontinued.

But I don't see 7-Up as some huge failure either.

[SandyDiVa]

10:39 yes but only because im in my late 40’s. Cherry 7up is AMAZING i miss it. The 90’s was the last time i saw anything significant from them with a big Cherry 7up push and the red dot campaign with the red dot dudes with sunglasses. After that, i can think of zero advertising. I didn’t even know they still sold 7up.