Ingredient Science Manager - Ingredient Science

KFC ends nearly 40-year PepsiCo partnership, switches to Coca-Cola in 2027. By Rajwa Quasim October 16, 2026 3 Mins Read KFC is ending its nearly four-decade partnership with PepsiCo and switching to Coca-Cola as its beverage supplier across its more than 3,700 U.S. restaurants. The fried chicken chain announced that the transition will begin in January 2027, with Coca-Cola products expected to be available at all U.S. locations by spring. KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie described the partnership as part of the company's broader effort to modernize its brand and give customers more reasons to visit its restaurants. "These are two originals, with deep consumer love," Tan-Gillespie said. "This partnership is about more than what's in the cup. It is another step in our work to evolve KFC, strengthen our restaurants, menu offerings and create a more relevant experience for today's customers." The move ends a partnership that began in 1986, when PepsiCo acquired KFC as part of its expansion into the restaurant business. PepsiCo spun off its restaurant operations in 1997, creating Yum! Brands, KFC's current parent company. Despite the separation, PepsiCo continued supplying beverages to KFC's U.S. restaurants for nearly four more decades. Earlier this month, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company's efforts to improve sales growth and profit margins were taking longer than expected. Its snacks business has also faced pressure from consumers who have become more sensitive to prices and are reconsidering their spending. Although PepsiCo will lose KFC's U.S. business, the company will retain other major restaurant partnerships. Its beverage agreements with Taco Bell in the United States and KFC in international markets will continue. PepsiCo has a 10-year agreement with Taco Bell, according to Reuters. The company also supplies beverages to restaurant chains including Subway and Jersey Mike's. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has secured beverage partnerships with several restaurant chains that previously served PepsiCo products, including Culver's, Arby's and Panda Express. The company also has longstanding partnerships with McDonald's and Wendy's. Coca-Cola's President of Foodservice and On-Premise, North America, Dagmar Boggs, said the partnership would combine KFC's food offerings with Coca-Cola's beverage portfolio and innovation capabilities to create new customer experiences and growth opportunities. Fast-food chains are increasingly looking to beverages to attract customers amid intense competition. Many have expanded their menus to include iced coffees, shakes, coolers, refreshers and customized drinks sometimes known as "dirty sodas." Jay Woods, chief market strategist at Freedom Capital Markets, said losing a major restaurant partner such as KFC could hurt PepsiCo's image and add to the challenges facing the company.

PepsiCo just lost KFC to Coca-Cola. Here's how much it could sting financially. This has shaped up to be a year of big losses for beverage and snack giant PepsiCo (PEP). A double-digit percentage drop in the stock so far this year. Lost sales in the core soda business to rival Coca-Cola (KO). Lost profits because of execution missteps and inflation (see the recent full-year earnings guidance cut). And the losses look to keep piling up, with the latest one being a really tough one to swallow for longtime PepsiCo and Yum! Brands (YUM) followers - and probably a legion of former execs, such as former legendary PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi and her equally legendary former counterpart at Yum! Brands, David Novak. The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday that Yum! Brands-owned KFC struck a deal with Coca-Cola to be its beverage provider for thousands of US restaurants. The deal will reportedly begin in January. PepsiCo will reportedly still supply KFC internationally. Note that in April, Coca-Cola won the Marriott (MAR) business from PepsiCo. But the fast food loss stings more. Yum! Brands spun off from PepsiCo in 1997 under the original name of Tricon Global Restaurants. It changed its name to Yum! Brands in 2002. The spin-off included PepsiCo's fast food restaurant division: KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. The business relationship between the two companies has long been seen as a sacred bond, apparently until now. "Overall, the move underscores Coca-Cola's strong brand equity as well as a relative brand equity gap vs. PepsiCo," Evercore ISI analyst Robert Ottenstein said. "We believe that this announcement, in some ways, is more notable as QSRs, more so than hotel chains, use beverages as a key driver of traffic." Ottenstein's analysis shows the lost revenue to PepsiCo could be about $50 million, "which suggests that the retail revenue is closer to ~$350-400 million." PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP). 128.38 -0.89 (-0.69%) At close: October 15 at 4:00:00 PM EDT 129.18 +0.80 (+0.62%) Pre-Market: 8:46:28 AM EDT Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor, host of the Sozzi Unleashed morning show and the Power Players with Brian Sozzi podcast, and a member of Yahoo Finance's editorial leadership team. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Tips on stories? Email [email protected].

Mrinal kishore takes Bihar Expo to the next level with a mega event at gandhi maidan. By Report India Oct 16, 2026 Patna Expo is a platform designed to bring businesses, entrepreneurs, brands, and visitors together under one roof. By creating opportunities for networking, showcasing products, and building valuable connections, it contributes to the growing business and entrepreneurial landscape of Patna and Bihar. Whether you are a business owner looking to expand your reach, an entrepreneur seeking new opportunities, or a visitor eager to explore something new, Patna Expo offers an exciting space for discovery, collaboration, and growth. A Diverse Portfolio of Major Events BOBIS Entertainment has been associated with several notable events, including Aarogya Parv, Vanavar Mahotsav, Krishnotsav 2026, Su Mahotsav, and Vaishali Mahotsav. Its portfolio also includes the opening ceremony of The Coca-Cola Company's new bottling plant in Buxar, Bihar. The company has also worked with prominent artists from India's music and entertainment industry, including Sonu Nigam, Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi, Guru Randhawa, Monali Thakur, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, B Praak, Sona Mohapatra, Udit Narayan, Kailash Kher, Hansraj Raghuvanshi, and Ankit Tiwari. Through its diverse expertise, BOBIS Entertainment brings together artists, production teams, and event organisers to create engaging live experiences. The company also operates in the political events sector through BOBIS Political Events, handling large-scale rallies and public gatherings. Leadership and Vision Under the leadership of Mrinal Kishor, BOBIS Entertainment continues to work across cultural festivals, corporate ceremonies, live concerts, and public events. By combining creative planning with technical production and operational coordination, the company aims to deliver professional event experiences tailored to the requirements of each occasion. With its foundation in Patna and a diverse event portfolio, BOBIS Entertainment remains focused on bringing ideas to life through entertainment, innovation, and organised execution. Company Details * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobisGroup/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobisgroup/ * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bobisgroup/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bobisentertainment/ Founder: "Mrinal Kishor - Official Website" (https://www.mrinalkishor.com/)