Goodbye Pepsi: Costco makes a major decision that completely changes its strategy with sugary drinks
The world’s third-largest retailer, Costco, has set in motion a major transition in the soft drinks it serves at its food courts.
One of the wold’s largest retailers is shaking up the assortment of soft drinks on offer at its food courts.
Costco, a membership-only hypermarket with over 600 warehouse stores in the U.S., is replacing Pepsi with Coca-Cola in all drinks fountains at its food courts. The shift is also taking place across the chain’s nearly 300 locations outside America.
The change from Pepsi to its beverage-industry arch rival “began rolling out across all Costco warehouses” at the start of July, the Seattle-based company told Fox Business in a statement this weekend.
“Coca-Cola fans are buzzing about the transition”
“Costco insiders and Coca-Cola fans are buzzing about the transition, which will span warehouses in 14 countries, allowing Costco members everywhere to once again enjoy their favorite Coca-Cola beverages alongside Costco’s beloved food court offerings,” the chain said.
Costco’s CEO, Ron Vachris, had confirmed plans to switch to Coca-Cola in an annual shareholder meeting in January. “This summer, we will be converting our food court fountain business back over to Coca-Cola,” Vachris said.
The move comes more than a decade after the hypermarket chain, which is currently the globe’s third-largest retailer by revenue, opted to replace Coca-Cola with Pepsi at its food courts in 2013.
As noted by Costco Insider, the transition back to Coca-Cola means Costco customers will not only be able to order regular Coke at the retail’s food courts, but also other Coca-Cola Company beverages such as Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite and Minute Maid Lemonade.
Is Coca-Cola changing its recipe?
Costco’s roll-out of Coca-Cola products has coincided with claims by the U.S. president, Donald Trump, that the soft-drink giant has agreed to change the recipe of the beverages it sells in the States.
In a post on his social-media platform Truth Social last Wednesday, Trump said he has persuaded the manufacturer to sweeten its soft drinks with cane sugar, rather than high-fructose corn syrup.
“I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,” the president alleged. “I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them - You’ll see. It’s just better!”
"I have been speaking to @CocaCola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!" –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/9L27oxlYUj
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2025
However, Coca-Cola has not confirmed the change. “We appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand,” a spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News. “More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.”
Speaking to NBC, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, the director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, said there are minimal health benefits to be gained from such a switch.
“Both high-fructose corn syrup and cane sugar are about 50% fructose, 50% glucose, and have identical metabolic effects,” Dr. Mozaffarian said.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment