Which side are you on?
All of Costco’s warehouses are switching from Pepsi to Coca-Cola drinks at its food courts, a transition that began on July 1 and is expected to be completed by fall, according to a July 21 statement from the Coca-Cola Company, as reported by USA TODAY.
The switch is already hitting California. An X user posted photos of new Coca-Cola fountains at Costco’s Chino Hills location. The picture shows a variety of Coca-Cola products, such as Diet Coke and Sprite, being offered. Costco Canada also shared a post about the move.
“Costco’s legendary hot dog combo just got an ice-cold Coca-Cola upgrade,” the Coca-Cola Company’s statement said. “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.”
Here’s more on the changeover and why the company is making the change.
Why is Costco switching from Pepsi to Coke?
The plan to switch from Pepsi to Coke has been months in the making. Costco CEO Ron Vachris announced in January that the food court fountains at the company’s warehouses would switch from Pepsi to Coca-Cola products. The announcement was made in response to a question at a shareholder meeting, USA TODAY reported.
“This summer we will be converting our food court fountain business back over to Coca-Cola,” Vachris said.
This isn’t the first time Costco has made this type of switch. CNN reported that the company switched from Coca-Cola to Pepsi products in 2013 to keep the price of its hot dogs steady at $1.50.
Where is Costco opening new stores?
Costco plans to open seven new warehouses in August, with four located in the United States and one in Washington state.
How many Costco Warehouses are in California?
According to a store directory, there are 143 Costco Warehouses across California, with locations in Bakersfield, Eureka, Fullerton, Irvine, Modesto, Sacramento, San Diego, and more. California has the most Costco locations of any state, followed by Texas, Washington, and Florida.
Where is Costco based?
Costco is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington.
Contributing: Saman Shafiq, James Powel, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Costco switches sides in cola wars. Food court changes roll out in California
Reporting by Andre Byik, Kitsap Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
