Starbucks partnered with PepsiCo to create the first bottled Frappuccino in 1996.
The ready-to-drink bottled beverage extended the Frappuccino name beyond Starbucks cafés. PepsiCo handled the manufacturing and distribution partnership, while Starbucks supplied the brand and coffeehouse concept. The product became a major example of Starbucks using a consumer-packaged-goods partner to reach customers outside its stores.
The bottled drink was initially developed as a chilled coffee beverage and was different from the blended ice beverage served in cafés. That distinction causes frequent confusion: the café Frappuccino and the bottled Frappuccino share branding, but they are separate product formats.
The partnership also helped establish Starbucks’ presence in supermarket refrigerators and convenience channels. Later bottled Starbucks beverages included additional coffee and dairy-based variations, but PepsiCo’s 1996 partnership was the key launch arrangement for the original bottled Frappuccino.