KFC picks Coca-Cola over Pepsi. Here's when it starts
KFC U.S. will transition from Pepsi to Coca-Cola products starting in January 2027. The move aims to modernize the restaurant chain's menu and beverage offerings across its 3,700 locations.
Why it matters
This shift marks the end of a nearly 40-year partnership and represents a significant change in the competitive landscape of the fast-food beverage industry.
Hear this story KFC is replacing Pepsi with Coca-Cola at nearly 3,700 U.S. restaurants, ending a beverage partnership that dates back almost four decades.
KFC and Coca-Cola later announced the new partnership in a joint statement , saying the transition will begin in January 2027, with Coca-Cola products expected to be available at all U.S. locations by spring.
The partnership began after PepsiCo acquired KFC in 1986. PepsiCo separated its restaurant businesses from the company in 1997 but continued supplying beverages to KFC under its parent company, Yum Brands, Reuters reported .
In the announcement, KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie said the partnership would help modernize the chain and improve its restaurants and menu offerings.
"I'm incredibly excited to bring KFC and Coca-Cola together," Tan-Gillespie said in the statement.
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