Costco is officially switching back to Coke from Pepsi in its food court
Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
- Costco CEO Ron Vachris confirmed rumors that Coca-Cola products are coming back to the food court.
- The decision to switch to Pepsi in 2013 caused a stir among some members.
- It's another victory for Coke, which holds around double the market share of Pepsi.
Costco members will soon be able to have their $1.50 hot dog and soda combo the way it was enjoyed more than a decade ago: with an ice-cold Coke.
On Thursday a question-and-answer portion of the company's annual shareholder meeting, CEO Ron Vachris confirmed recent rumors that Coca-Cola products are returning to the food court.
"Is the food court truly switching back to Coke products?" a questioner asked.
"Yes, that is accurate," Vachris responded. "This summer, we will be converting our food court fountain business back over to Coca-Cola."
The change reverses a move from 2013 when the warehouse club pulled Coke products in favor of Pepsi — a move that caused a bit of a stir among some members at the time.
"You're not going to be able to please everybody," then-VP of food services Alan Bubitz told BevNET. "It's our job to preserve the integrity of the price point."
The key price point in this case being the all-important $1.50, which founder Jim Sinegal famously warned his successor Craig Jelinek not to raise under any circumstances.
The social media response to last month's rumors was mixed, but at least one Reddit user was thrilled: "If they put Cherry Coke in the mix, I'm stopping at the food court EVERY. SINGLE. TRIP."
It's yet another victory for long-dominant Coca-Cola, which holds more than double the market share of Pepsi, according to a ranking from Beverage Digest last year. Coke Classic garnered an estimated 19.2% share of the US carbonated soft drink market, while Pepsi notched 8.31%, down from its 1995 peak of 15%.
A Business Insider tally of major quick-serve brands in 2023 found that roughly half as many fast-food restaurants serve Pepsi as serve Coke.
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