KFC to Replace Pepsi With Coca-Cola in U.S. Restaurants

KFC will replace Pepsi with Coca-Cola at its U.S. restaurants, ending a beverage partnership that has lasted about 40 years. The company said the transition will begin in January 2027, with Coca-Cola products expected to be available nationwide by spring 2027. The announcement covers KFC’s U.S. restaurants only. The rollout is planned, not yet completed, and KFC has not stated a final location count. Reports put the chain’s U.S. footprint at about 3,700 restaurants, with one count listing 3,718. KFC President Catherine Tan-Gillespie described the deal as part of the chain’s effort to evolve its restaurants and customer experience. Coca-Cola’s Dagmar Boggs, president of foodservice and on-premise for North America, said the companies could pair KFC’s food with Coca-Cola’s beverage portfolio and create new consumer experiences and growth opportunities. Those benefits are the companies’ stated expectations; no resulting sales or customer gains have been reported. The partnership dates to PepsiCo’s acquisition of KFC in 1986. PepsiCo spun off its restaurant businesses in 1997, forming the company now known as Yum! Brands, but continued supplying beverages to KFC in the United...