Pepsi celebrates its centennial year with a birthday party that is attended by Pepsi-Cola bottlers from all over the world. Joining the festivities are Pepsi stars and friends including Ray Charles, Kool and the Gang and the Rolling Stones.

President and Mrs. George Bush, Lady Thatcher and Walter Cronkite also help to commemorate the occasion where the Pepsi legacy is honored and a new look for the millennium is unveiled. The three-dimensional globe against an ice blue background becomes the universal symbol for one Pepsi family – poised for innovation and world leadership as it enters the new century.

The new look replaces the current Pepsi pedestal logo with a new brand identity that also more prominently features the Pepsi Globe against a blue background.

Pepsi-Cola North America welcomes Gary Rodkin as President and CEO.

In a dramatic restructuring of the business, Pepsi announces one of the largest IPOs in history. On March 31, 1999, The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (PBG) becomes a publicly traded company and the largest Pepsi bottler. PBG is headed by President and CEO Craig Weatherup.

Pepsi and Lucasfilm team up again as Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace hits movie theaters. Consumer excitement surrounding the long-awaited return of the Star Wars series is heightened as special Pepsi bottles and cans offer 24 different Star Wars characters. The collection series includes a gold Yoda can.

Pepsi recruits its first "spokesalien" Marfalump to star in its commercials supporting the campaign. Marfalump, who was created by BBDO and George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic company, has two great passions: Pepsi and Star Wars. The spots, titled "Landing" and "Play Acting," illustrate the great lengths the young alien will go to in order to enjoy both of his passions.

“The Joy of Cola," a new advertising campaign for brand Pepsi, features the voices of actors Marlon Brando, Isaac Hayes and "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin. The spots also feature child actress Hallie Eisenberg as the "Little Girl."