With its sweet yet tart profile, cherry offers something indulgently sweet and satisfying but with an added edge; while its deep, bold color stands out on shelf.
‘Dark, sweet and such a vibe’
Pinterest has just named ‘Cherry Coded’ as one of its top trends for 2025, with the vibrant color appealing to younger generations.
“Gen Z and Millennials will infuse cherries into their makeup, menus and mood boards in the coming year, with “cherry vibe,” “cherry car,” and “cherry martini” already soaring as search terms,” predicts Pinterest. “Tart is all heart in 2025.”
Cherry has already taken over the fashion world in 2024, thanks to its bold, deep and sophisticated aura. This cherry girl aesthetic is also trending in cosmetics: with lip products, blushes and nails embracing the color.
The fascination with the color is also seen when it comes to interior design (searches for cherry bedroom are up 100%), cars (cherry car searches are up 270%) and elsewhere (searches for cherry vibe are up 325%), according to Pinterest.
As a fruit, cherry also brings with it a connotation of health and wellness and a connection to nature – all valued by today’s consumers.
It’s also known as a highly indulgent flavor – one associated with cakes, desserts, chocolates and luxury treats.
And it pairs spectacularly with other luxury treats such as chocolate, coffee and cream.
Pepsi has unveiled Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream this month. The drink is described as an ‘indulgent offering that combines a delightful fusion of sweet wild cherry and creamy vanilla flavors with the refreshing taste of Pepsi’.
“Building on the enduring success of Pepsi Wild Cherry and Pepsi Zero Sugar Wild Cherry, we’re excited to unveil Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream,” says Jenny Danzi, Head of Marketing – Pepsi.
“Our Wild Cherry variants have been flavor favorites in the cola world, especially among millennial and Gen Z cola fans – we’ve seen 8% growth year over year on the regular cola – so we know we are delivering something special with our new cherry and cream offering. This permanent addition to our portfolio boasts a unique profile that’s both indulgent and refreshing.
“With 2025 trends bubbling up on all things cherry, we’re confident Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream will be a serious hit with fans this year!”
Cherry love
The flavor is expected to get a big boost at the start of the year thanks to an effortless connection to Valentine’s Day.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is launching Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush: a limited-edition twist on its popular zero sugar variant. The launch coincides with Valentine’s Day and will be supported by an integrated Valentine’s-themed marketing campaign.
Cherry variants have delivered 55% of the value sales growth across colas over the past year, according to Nielsen data quoted by CCEP.
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush has a playful can design featuring roses front and center for maximum shelf stand-out, especially over the Valentine’s Day period (In testing, more than 70% of consumers loved the concept and were interested to try it, reports CCEP).
This limited-edition flavor is available in 330ml, 500ml, 2L and 8x330ml packs. Priced-marked 300ml and 500ml single packs will also be available.
Cherry martini
Cherries have always been a favorite garnish on cocktails: and now they’re taking over the cocktail world.
Searches for ‘cherry martini’ are up 80%, according to Pinterest. Cherry Espresso Martinis, too, offer a perfect flavor combination of dark and bitter with sweet and tart.
Nostalgia with a twist
The flavor also leans into another trend for flavor inspiration: nostalgia.
Better-for-you energy drink CELSIUS has already launched Sparkling Cherry Cola: a ‘sweet and refreshing twist’ on its classic sparkling cola flavor. The new flavor, explains the marketing team, brings a ‘modern take on a vintage classic’.
“CELSIUS put the cherry on top of a timeless cola classic for the crisp, refreshing flavors of CELSIUS Sparkling Cherry Cola,” explains the team.
“Feel the rush of energy as the tangy sweetness of cherries meets the familiar, bubbly embrace of cola, creating an irresistible harmony that takes your taste buds on a mouthwatering journey. Complimenting CELSIUS Sparkling Cola, a staple, timeless flavor inspired by the pop classic, Sparkling Cherry Cola brings together the boldness of cola and the refreshing burst of cherry, leaving you revitalized and craving more.”
Let’s not forget that cherry is a perennial favorite in the beverage category - Coca-Cola Cherry has been around since 1985 - but 2025 will see the flavor benefit from a boost in popularity across food, drink and fashion.
