American fast-food giant KFC has announced plans to replace PepsiCo beverages with Coca-Cola across its US restaurants, ending a nearly 40-year partnership and becoming the second major company to switch suppliers following Marriott International earlier this year.

While announcing it on October 15, 2026, the deal covers 3,600 restaurants, with the transition beginning in January 2027 and expected to conclude by spring.

The move marks another development in the rivalry between the two beverage giants, although KFC’s African operations remain unaffected.

KFC’s relationship with PepsiCo dates back to 1986, when the beverage company acquired the restaurant chain. Although PepsiCo separated its restaurant businesses in 1997, KFC retained Pepsi as its drinks supplier in the United States.

Catherine Tan-Gillespie, president of KFC US, described the switch as part of the company’s efforts to modernise its restaurants and strengthen customer engagement.

“I’m incredibly excited to bring KFC and Coca‑Cola together. These are two of the greatest originals, with deep consumer love and a shared belief that the best brands continue to evolve,” she said.

“This partnership is about more than what’s in the cup. It is another important step in our work to evolve KFC, strengthen our restaurants and create a more relevant experience for today’s customers. Coca‑Cola shares our ambition for the future of this brand, and I’m excited about what we can create together.”

The announcement follows Marriott International’s July 2026 decision to end its 34-year relationship with PepsiCo in favour of a global Coca-Cola agreement.

As previously reported by Business Insider Africa, the deal covers nearly 10,000 hotels worldwide, including properties in Nigeria, South Africa and other African markets.

Under the arrangement, Marriott is introducing Coca-Cola products across guestrooms, restaurants, lounges and event spaces, extending the switch beyond the United States.

According to travel blog View from the Wing, Marriott justified the decision by citing customer preferences, telling its hotels that “The Coca-Cola portfolio is favored by more than 70% of Marriott’s guests.”