Sprite has long been a top-three carbonated beverage in Mainland China. However, the brand had consistently lost market share to Genki Forest, a fast-growing direct competitor, in recent years. This deep-pocketed local newcomer outspends Sprite 2:1 and invests heavily in multiple youth passion points to appeal to Chinese Gen Z – the category’s biggest source of growth. As the crucial summer battleground approached, Sprite needed to deepen its cultural relevance and win back the young generation by increasing brand affinity, engagement, and sales