{"id":1827900,"date":"2026-10-16T11:24:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T09:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/news\/kfc-drops-pepsico-coca-cola-us-beverage-contract\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T11:05:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T09:05:20","slug":"kfc-drops-pepsico-coca-cola-us-beverage-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en-us\/news\/kfc-drops-pepsico-coca-cola-us-beverage-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"KFC Ends Its 40-Year PepsiCo Partnership, Switches to Coca-Cola Across Its US Network"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After four decades as KFC’s exclusive US beverage supplier, PepsiCo<\/em> is being replaced by Coca-Cola<\/em> across the chain’s American franchise network<\/a>. The transition, announced October 15, affects all KFC franchise operators in the United States and ends a partnership that dates to the era when PepsiCo directly owned the fried chicken brand. It also extends Coca-Cola’s dominance in the quick-service restaurant sector.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PepsiCo acquired KFC’s parent company in 1986 and held the brand until 1997, when it spun off its restaurant holdings into what eventually became Yum! Brands<\/strong>. The beverage supply agreement that took shape during the ownership years proved durable well beyond the corporate separation, remaining in place for nearly three decades after PepsiCo exited the restaurant business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The October 15 announcement marks the formal end of that arrangement. The timing places KFC alongside McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Popeyes, and Wendy’s as a Coca-Cola account, a shift that significantly alters the competitive map between the two beverage giants<\/strong> in US food service.<\/p>\n\n\n

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KFC<\/p>\n <\/a>\n

It\u2019s Finger Lickin\u2019 Good<\/p>\n <\/div>\n