Launches·October 15, 2026 at 3:16 PM EDT·5 sources
KFC Is Moving to Ditch Pepsi for Coke in Thousands of Restaurants
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News
U.S. rollout deadlineend of the first quarter of 2027
Pepsi acquisition of KFC1986
What happened
- KFC will switch its U.S. beverage supplier from PepsiCo to Coca-Cola next year, ending a decades-long relationship.
- KFC expects to serve Coca-Cola beverages in all U.S. restaurants by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
- The move is part of KFC’s broader effort to win back U.S. diners and overhaul its menu and operations.
U.S. rollout deadline
end of the first quarter of 2027
Pepsi acquisition of KFC
1986
Why it matters
The change removes a longstanding restaurant account from PepsiCo and gives Coca-Cola a major U.S. foodservice partner. It may affect beverage visibility, restaurant-channel strategy and competitive positioning in the consumer sector.
What to watch. KFC’s rollout of Coca-Cola beverages across all U.S. restaurants by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
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Timeline
- EarlierOct 14Why Yum! Brands is deepening supplier relationships
- First reported by The Wall Street JournalOct 15KFC Is Moving to Ditch Pepsi for Coke in Thousands of Restaurants
- Bloomberg reportsOct 15KFC’s US Locations to Replace PepsiCo Beverages With Coca-Cola
- CNBC reportsOct 15KFC to switch to Coca-Cola beverages in U.S. restaurants for the first time in decades
- MarketWatch reportsOct 15Pepsi loses more ground in the soda wars, as KFC switches to Coke
- Restaurant Dive reportsOct 16KFC ditches Pepsi for Coke in latest turnaround move
Who is involved
KFC Is Moving to Ditch Pepsi for Coke in Thousands of Restaur…KFCPepsiCoPEPCoca-Cola Co.KOYum BrandsYUMCatherine Tan-Gillespie
CompanyPerson
Sources (5)
- The Wall Street JournalOct 15KFC Is Moving to Ditch Pepsi for Coke in Thousands of Restaurants
- BloombergOct 15KFC’s US Locations to Replace PepsiCo Beverages With Coca-Cola
- CNBCOct 15KFC to switch to Coca-Cola beverages in U.S. restaurants for the first time in decades
- MarketWatchOct 15Pepsi loses more ground in the soda wars, as KFC switches to Coke
- Restaurant DiveOct 16KFC ditches Pepsi for Coke in latest turnaround move
Related
- Oct 22 · Pepsi renews contract with Taco Bell days after KFC switches to Coke in the U.S.
- Oct 21 · How Coca-Cola’s $5 Billion Costa Coffee Deal Went Wrong
- Oct 19 · Jamie Dimon’s View on the U.S. Economy: Booming, but War and Inflation Pose Risks
- Oct 14 · Why Yum! Brands is deepening supplier relationships
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