r/LivingMas • u/Proud_Truck Cheesy G • 2d ago
Article Taco Bell re-signs with Pepsi for 10 year contract. KFC switching to Coke.
https://www.reuters.com/business/kfc-sign-coca-cola-beverage-partner-ditching-pepsico-wsj-reports-2026-10-15/KFC US is switching to Coke in the Spring but KFC international will remain Pepsi. Article mentions that Taco Bell has re-signed with Pepsi on a 10 year contract. Some other details sprinkled throughout the article.
May the Baja Blast floweth forever!
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u/RxBrad Team Beefy Crunch 2d ago
While I'm not generally a Pepsi fan, we need to protect the entire Baja Blast family with our lives.
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u/noelle-silva 2d ago
I can't imagine Taco Bell without baja blast
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u/matchafoxjpg 2d ago
i prefer diet coke over diet pepsi, but i have to admit, taco bell without mountain dew of any variety just sounds wrong. baja blast most of all.
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u/balloonerismthegreat Yo Quiero Taco Bell 2d ago
I can’t imagine Taco Bell exists without Baja Blast. If they ever part ways, I will also stop going there
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u/MarchMadnessisMe SODIUM WARNING 2d ago
That’s half the reason I go to Taco Bell. If they’re out and want me to actually drink a Pepsi I almost consider just leaving.
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u/Swordofsatan666 1d ago
I would never offer Pepsi as an alternative for Baja… maybe Starry or normal Mtn Dew, but never Pepsi. Those employees are weird
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u/Chidling 2d ago
pepsi zero is actually pretty good
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u/NJdevil202 Fourth Meal 2d ago
I've been a coke guy for years but Pepsi zero really is the best zero cola
Edit: who actually downvoted my opinion on zero sugar cola
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u/balloonerismthegreat Yo Quiero Taco Bell 2d ago
Coke Zero is the best sugar free drink besides a&w zero sugar. I’ll die on this hill
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u/therealtedbundy Belluminati 14h ago
Coke Zero is fucking disgusting. I just had one for the first time yesterday, all I could taste was the stevia. Took a few sips and chucked the rest
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u/theZacharyWebb 1d ago
Have you tried ZS Barq's?
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u/balloonerismthegreat Yo Quiero Taco Bell 1d ago
I have. I prefer a&w because it’s a little smoother. Barqs is great though, no hate from me there
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u/Classic-Big4393 2d ago
Yeah at first I said boo 👻 , then quickly phew 😮💨.
They should make that purple baja blast sugar free too!
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u/turtlelord 2d ago edited 2d ago
711 has Baja though
edit- not sure why I'm getting downvoted, maybe I'm wrong and it's only the 711s near me? I got no idea man, I just love the stuff though.
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u/ElvenAmerican 2d ago
Yeah, they do release to stores from time to time, and then it went permanent, but it originated at Taco Bell (always there year round). How it all began in 2004.
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u/mabus42 1d ago
Do we really?
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u/RxBrad Team Beefy Crunch 1d ago
...I have never been more enraged by a comment...
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u/mabus42 1d ago
Dying on the hill of protecting sugar water. That's wild man.
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u/MrEWhite 2d ago
RIP Mtn Dew Sweet Lightning
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u/Proud_Truck Cheesy G 2d ago
I wouldn't say it's dead, it could find a new home elsewhere
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u/cadp_ 1d ago
Probably canned/bottled at Little Caesars.
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u/Proud_Truck Cheesy G 1d ago
They get their own mountain dew every year, they probably don't want to switch it for something that's known to be from a competing brand. I would think it would be a store that's wanted an exclusive flavor but couldn't get a deal before. They'd be happy for those sloppy seconds
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u/NagolRellim 2d ago
Wish there was a zero sweet lightning
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_OPPAS 1d ago
Forreals. It's so good, but every time I have it, it's mostly syrup and I'm too old to be enjoying such a sweet drink.
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u/ichanplan 2d ago
So does that mean no more Mtn Dew Sweet Lightning?
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u/WorstAvenger 2d ago
Maybe they’ll lose the KFC exclusive and sell it in stores. We should be so lucky.
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u/Redditor120306 2d ago
Honestly I don't think Taco Bell would switch to coke anytime soon. Baja Blast is way to integrated into Taco Bell's identity.
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u/Ok_Net7773 1d ago
I’m confused by either even being able to? I thought both franchises were owned by Yum?
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u/Redditor120306 1d ago
Yum was spun off by Pepsi back in 1997 and I guess they had a 30 year contract and it expired. It's probably Yum treating it by a restaurant by restaurant basis.
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u/zimmeli 2d ago
I just wish they’d get any other flavor of Gatorade. That G2 fruit punch tastes like medicine
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u/ChillPalis 2d ago
G2 fruit punch and the Mango Brisk are the best beverage options outside of Baja Blast
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u/FelizNavinut 2d ago
I can't imagine TB without Baja Blast. I don't think I would go as often if they didn't have it.
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u/MirrorkatFeces Enchirito Tease 2022 2d ago
Unpopular for sure but I prefer Pepsi over Coke
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u/mgr86 2d ago edited 2d ago
I don’t like cola’s in general, but find starry a downgrade from sprite. It is definitely different from its predecessor, Sierra Mist. Wish they’d have an orange soda. I feel like given all the Mtn Dew flavors they could have fun with some of the Fanta flavors—do they still make grape?
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u/Illustrious-Top-9222 2d ago
Wish they’d have an orange soda
They do have it, it's called Crush Orange
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u/mgr86 2d ago
I’ve not seen that in any of the stores in my area. Is what I meant
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u/Illustrious-Top-9222 2d ago
Yeah not sure why Taco Bell doesn't have it. It is owned by Pepsi
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u/ral315 1d ago
Crush Orange is actually owned by Dr. Pepper, not Pepsi.
It's often offered by Pepsi bottlers, but isn't in their product line. My restaurant gets special pricing on Pepsi products through a trade association, but because Crush Orange isn't a Pepsi product, we don't get a discount on it the same way we do other flavors. Which is something that I didn't know until very recently, when I was trying to figure out why my rebate amount seemed a bit short.
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u/solarbeat 2d ago
Same here, but it seems like Coke machines are maintained better and more consistent. I'm far more likely to get watered down Pepsi than Coke.
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u/mythicalwolf00 1d ago
Tbh Pepsi knows it has Taco Bell in a stranglehold
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u/Based_Beauty 1d ago
I mean they're both under the same corporate umbrella
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u/TheLegendaryWizard 1d ago
Used to be. Yum Brands was spun off of PepsiCo nearly 30 years ago and it is its own publicly traded company
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u/AmishSlamdancer 1d ago
How many fast food chains does Pepsi even service these days? Yum had to be their biggest customer. I'm surprised they let that account get away. And surprised that they would split soft drink servicers between KFC and Taco Bell.
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u/xoxoahooves 1d ago
Pepsi got Subway last year for a 10 year agreement, that is probably bigger due to number of locations
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u/Proud_Truck Cheesy G 1d ago
I would imagine KFC sells a lot less drinks than a normal fast food place. If you're buying a KFC bowl or something that will come with it but people buying a bucket aren't adding drinks to the order, ya know?
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u/elmatador12 1d ago
Can we get Regal to do the same? After switching to Pepsi I stopped getting sodas at the theater. I despise Pepsi. 🤷🤦
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u/Proud_Truck Cheesy G 1d ago
Their contract with Pepsi is coming up soon from what I've been told. I think it's likely they stay with pepsi but switching to coke would absolutely provide a sales boost that they're desperate for so idk. If they stay with pepsi I just wish they'd upgrade the machines to offer more than 8 options. The variety was better 30 years ago
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u/numberthreepencil 1d ago
I just want Dr. Pepper. But, like, good Dr. Pepper. Whatever they're doing now ain't it
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u/zilch839 2d ago
How about Coke... but we keep Baja Blast?
Honesty I wish it was how my local Arbys (I think) was a decade ago. They had Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, and the rest.
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u/LockwoodE3 2d ago
Just give me good root beer 🍺
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u/Muted-Entrepreneur33 2d ago
If you have never been to Culver's, their root beer is excellent! (It's their proprietary root beer.)
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u/XThePlaysTheThingX 2d ago
Culver’s in general is great. A waaaay better burger than McD’s or BK at a comparable price and way cheaper than some $20 combo at Five Guys or Shake Shack. They also have the best fish sandwich in the ff game.
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u/therealtedbundy Belluminati 13h ago
Sometimes I go to Taco Bell specifically because it’s one of the only fast food places that still has Pepsi. This is good news.
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u/SpliTTMark 1d ago
Why does the Baja blast taste awful 1 out of 5 times. its like im about to crash with a serious headache taste
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u/glitzotrene 1d ago
How is this going to work at KFC/TB joint locations? Any employees here know? Are they going to offer both?
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u/sniffysippy 1d ago
Wish they would switch too. I've tried to like Baja Blast but it's awful. Pepsi, Mug, Starry all inferior to Coke, Barq's, and Sprite.
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u/PelluxNetwork 1d ago
What??? I thought they owned these brands specifically so they didn't have a choice
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u/Madhattr64 8h ago
So what about the stores that do both Taco Bell and KFC? Do they have both Pepsi and Coke?
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u/Illustrious_Show5872 2d ago
One of my favorite things about Taco Bell was that it exclusively had Baja Blast. Even now, when I get a box, I always get Baja Blast out of pure instinct. I typically go to Church’s Chicken or Popeyes, both of which already serve Coke products, so KFC switching to Coke is whatever to me. At least Wendy’s and Zaxby’s have the Coke Freestyle machines.
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u/Proud_Truck Cheesy G 2d ago
I keep seeing BB in the Mexican style bottles at my grocery store. I think they were $1.99 so I may bite the bullet because I think they were much more expensive in the past.
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u/Jupichan Make a Run for the Border 1d ago
It was never sold in either store, but if I had testicles, I'd give my left nut for zero sugar Berry Monsoon again. Good lord that was a delicious beverage.
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u/cloudy2t 2d ago
Prefer Pepsi over Coke. This is a win.
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u/aGirlySloth 2d ago
Me too!! Unless it’s mcd coke! I don’t drink soda at any other fast food places
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u/Aperson3334 2d ago
What about KFC/Taco Bell combo locations?