KFC’s U.S. restaurant locations will transition to serving Coca-Cola beverages beginning next year, marking a significant shift in the chain’s operations. The move represents the first time in several decades that the Yum Brands-owned restaurant company has changed its primary beverage supplier domestically, though some of KFC’s international markets already serve Coke products.
The decision comes as KFC seeks to revitalize its U.S. customer base and compete with rivals such as Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. Company leadership framed the partnership switch as part of a broader strategy to innovate its beverage offerings and respond to evolving consumer preferences. KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie described the move as “a critical step in the Kentucky Fried Comeback” in communications to franchisees and employees, noting that the new partnership with Coca-Cola would provide opportunities to expand the chain’s drink menu and give consumers additional reasons to patronize KFC locations.
The transition reflects the broader importance of beverages in the competitive fast-food industry. Many restaurant chains have increasingly relied on innovative drink options—including refreshers and specialty sodas—to differentiate themselves and attract customers. KFC has already begun testing new beverage concepts, including iced coffees and shakes, at its innovation restaurant location in McKinney, Texas. Coca-Cola has indicated it works with restaurant partners to develop customized drink offerings that appeal to target demographics.
The beverage supplier shift represents an unusual but not unprecedented occurrence in the restaurant industry. The switch marks a reversal in the longstanding partnership between KFC and PepsiCo, which dates back to the 1986 acquisition when KFC was Coke’s second-largest fountain account. Although PepsiCo subsequently spun off KFC as part of what became Yum Brands, the chain maintained its loyalty to Pepsi beverages. The transition to Coca-Cola is expected to complete across all U.S. KFC restaurants by the end of the first quarter of 2027, with company leadership noting that PepsiCo remains an important partner for KFC’s parent company and international operations.
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