Steve’s breakdown: I’ve gotten into Pepsi a number of times using a new product development approach. And with this announcement, it seems nothing has changed so go for it.

SOMERS, NY: PepsiCo is reaching beyond craft sodas with new products such as protein drinks and low calorie sparkling beverages to counter the slow growth of the U.S. carbonated beverage industry.

“Expect to see from us an interesting number of mid- to low-calorie sparkling beverage platforms,” in 2015 said Simon Lowden, Pepsi’s chief marketing officer of Pepsi Beverages North America, in an interview with TheStreet. Lowden said that “Tropicana will see news around sparkling juices and waters,” while “you will see protein as an ingredient come in across more and more beverages.”

Gatorade is one beverage in which protein could be added. The brand also will come out with more energy chews and bars. As part of its G Series, the Gatorade brand currently offers the athletically inclined a variety of energy chew flavors, protein recovery shakes, and a whey protein bar. Year-to-date volume for Gatorade sports drinks have increased by a mid-single digit percentage.

Even coconut water, an industry that ballooned to $400 million in U.S. sales last year, according to research firm Euromonitor, is being targeted in a larger way by Pepsi aside from it leveraging its majority stake in O.N.E brand coconut water. O.N.E was third in terms of 2013 annual sales in the coconut water category, behind the privately held Vita Coco and Zico, which is owned by Coca-Cola.

“You will see more news from us on coconut water next year as an ingredient across brands like Mountain Dew,” said Lowden.

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