Reviewed by Gotrade Internal Analyst
Gotrade News - Costco is bringing Coca-Cola back to its food-court fountain lineup, ending a long stretch where Pepsi was the default since 2013. The change matters because the food court is one of Costco’s most visible, high-traffic touchpoints for members.
Key Takeaways:
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Costco is said to have completed its shift from Pepsi to Coca-Cola by early 2026 after rolling it out in late 2025.
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CEO Ron Vachris confirmed the plan to convert the food-court fountain business back to Coca-Cola.
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The move highlights how customer preference and brand loyalty can influence retail partnerships.
The Street reported Costco has switched its food-court soda lineup from PepsiCo products back to Coca-Cola, with the rollout starting in late 2025 and wrapping up in early 2026. CEO Ron Vachris was cited as confirming the conversion plan during the Q&A portion of the retailer’s annual meeting.
Costco had been under an exclusive arrangement with Pepsi since 2013. The report describes that earlier switch as a cost-focused decision aimed at keeping the famous $1.50 hot dog and soda combo price in place.
Why Costco is moving back to Coke
Costco has not laid out a detailed public explanation for the switch. The report suggests the return may be tied to customer preference and a refreshed partnership stance from Coca-Cola.
The bigger context is that soda loyalty can be surprisingly emotional. When a brand “picks a side,” some customers take it personally, which is why a fountain swap can generate more noise than it should on paper.
What this could mean for Coke and Pepsi
The report also cited market-share and preference data showing Coca-Cola’s stronger position in US soda. If that preference gap is real in Costco’s membership base, a Coke-heavy fountain lineup could reduce friction at checkout-adjacent moments.
For Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, the story isn’t just incremental fountain volume, but brand exposure in a setting where traffic is baked in. For Costco, it’s a reminder that small operational choices can carry outsized perception risk when they sit at a core member experience.
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Reference:
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The Street, Costco quietly reverses a decade-old food court decision. Diakses pada 20 Januari 2026
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