The 2023 Cheat Sheet Guide To Which Chains Serve Coke Vs. Pepsi
Those of us who are old enough to remember the cola wars know just how contentious the debate between Coke and Pepsi can be. Both soda brands have a legion of dedicated fans behind them who are ready to go toe to toe with members of the opposite cola-flavored gang.
If you're a member of one soda camp or the other, you've probably found yourself disappointed when sitting down at a restaurant only to discover that your chosen eatery only serves products made by your preferred cola company's arch-nemesis. Seeing as this experience is pretty much a universal one (at least for soft drink fans), Business Insider has set out to help diners dispel the mystery of which fast food chains serve which cola.
According to the list, it seems that Coca-Cola fans are in luck, as most major fast food chains in the U.S. serve Coke products over its competitor company PepsiCo.
Restaurants choose with cola to serve based on a calculated business decision
While you may think restaurants stocking both brands of cola to please all potential customers would be a no-brainer, the decision of which soda to serve is actually a lot more complicated. It turns out that fast food and other restaurant chains actually choose which cola to serve at their locations based on which company can offer them the best bang for their buck.
Both companies bid for exclusive deals with restaurants who usually choose the winning soda based on whichever company can offer them the best deal. Because both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola usually stipulate that they are the only cola served in restaurants that they sign with, guests are left with only one choice of soda (per CBS Minnesota).
Being the biggest player in the Cola Wars game, Coca-Cola can be found in most major US fast food chains including Mcdonald's, Chipotle, and Burger King, per Business Insider. Even though Coca-Cola is the clear winner by the numbers, PepsiCo products seem to be found at more sit-down style restaurants including Applebee's, IHOP, and even Hooters.
Even though Coca-Cola and Pepsi could never compare to one another in the eyes of their fans, Business Insider's new list will hopefully help soda fans choose where to dine when they don't want to comprise on their favorite drink.