One owner, two colas
KFC and Taco Bell have the same owner. From January, they'll pour rival colas.
Same parent company, two different soda deals 👇
Yum! Brands (YUM) owns KFC and Taco Bell. PepsiCo bought KFC in 1986, and Pepsi has been KFC's drink ever since. On 15 October KFC said its US restaurants switch to Coca-Cola, starting January 2027. Days later, PepsiCo said Taco Bell renewed with Pepsi for 10 years. KFC outside the US also stays with Pepsi.
PepsiCo once owned all of them. It spun KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut off in 1997 into what is now Yum. Yum sold Pizza Hut this year.
The caveat: no one disclosed the money. Bank of America estimates the loss at about $500 million a year of PepsiCo sales; that's an analyst's estimate.
Why it matters: for PepsiCo (PEP) and Coca-Cola (KO), one restaurant deal can move hundreds of millions in sales.
More on Yum! Brands, with sources: link in bio
