KFC to switch to Coca-Cola beverages in U.S. restaurants for the first time in decades
KFC is ending its nearly four-decade beverage partnership with PepsiCo to switch to The Coca-Cola Company as its U.S. soda supplier. The transition begins in January 2027, with a full rollout across the domestic restaurant system scheduled for completion by spring 2027. The shift affects thousands of locations nationwide, bringing Coca-Cola products to more than 3,600 restaurants, with different reports citing counts of 3,600 and 3,700 locations. This major foodservice change replaces long-standing Pepsi beverages at all domestic KFC restaurants.
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- ✓ KFC is switching its U.S. beverage supplier from PepsiCo to The Coca-Cola Company.
- ✓ The transition begins in January 2027 with a full rollout expected by spring 2027.
- ✓ The switch ends a beverage partnership with PepsiCo that lasted nearly four decades.
- ✓ The change affects more than 3,600 to 3,700 KFC restaurants across the United States.
What changed
KFC formally announced it will replace PepsiCo with Coca-Cola across its U.S. restaurants starting in January 2027.
Live updates
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KFC Replaces Pepsi with Coca-Cola in U.S. Restaurants
KFC is ending its nearly four-decade beverage partnership with PepsiCo to switch to The Coca-Cola Company as its U.S. soda supplier. The transition begins in January 2027, with a full rollout across the domestic restaurant system scheduled for completion by spring 2027. The shift affects thousands of locations nationwide, bringing Coca-Cola products to more than 3,600 restaurants, with different reports citing counts of 3,600 and 3,700 locations. This major foodservice change replaces long-standing Pepsi beverages at all domestic KFC restaurants.
Why it matters
The transition marks a monumental shift in the fast-food industry, breaking a supplier relationship that lasted nearly 40 years. PepsiCo's loss of the domestic KFC business represents a major blow to its foodservice division. The move brings one of the country's largest chicken chains into the Coca-Cola portfolio as part of a broad brand strategy.
What is confirmed
- KFC is switching its U.S. beverage supplier from PepsiCo to The Coca-Cola Company.
- The transition begins in January 2027 with a full rollout expected by spring 2027.
- The switch ends a beverage partnership with PepsiCo that lasted nearly four decades.
- The change affects more than 3,600 to 3,700 KFC restaurants across the United States.
What to watch next
- The official start of the transition in January 2027
- The completion of the full system rollout by spring 2027
- Any financial disclosures or statements from PepsiCo regarding the impact of losing the contract
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (14)
- WSJ — Exclusive | KFC Is Moving to Ditch Pepsi for Coke in Thousands of Restaurants
- Reuters — KFC picks Coca-Cola as US soda supplier, ditches longtime partner PepsiCo
- PR Newswire — TWO SECRET RECIPES, ONE ICONIC PARTNERSHIP: KFC® U.S. ANNOUNCES NEW BEVERAGE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
- Bloomberg.com — KFC’s US Locations to Replace PepsiCo Beverages With Coca-Cola
- CNBC — KFC to switch to Coca-Cola beverages in U.S. restaurants for the first time in decades
- Nation’s Restaurant News — KFC U.S. switches from Pepsi to Coke
- Fox Business — KFC replacing Pepsi with Coca-Cola at 3,700 US restaurants after nearly four decades
- Yahoo — KFC Switches From Pepsi to Coca-Cola After Four-Decade Partnership
- Yahoo Finance — PepsiCo just lost the KFC US business—here's how much it could sting financially
- www.nrn.com — KFC U.S. switches from Pepsi to Coke
- www.cnbc.com — KFC to switch from Pepsi to Coca-Cola in 2027 - CNBC
- www.coca-colacompany.com — The Coca-Cola Company and KFC Announce New U.S. Beverage ...
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