COSCO members have been left fuming after spotting the retailer has begun a disappointing shakeup in its food court soda lineup.
The retailer was set to start swapping out its food court soda machines, ditching Pepsi beverages in favor of Coca-Cola products —sending some shoppers into a frenzy online.
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Reports of the controversial rollout have emerged on Reddit, with one shopper sharing a photo from Monterey Park, CA, showing an empty soda station.
They wrote: “The switch to Coca Cola products is on. Monterey Park, CA.
“All Pepsi dispensers are gone.”
The move is part of a nationwide change expected to fully take effect in early 2025, but the backlash has already begun as loyal Pepsi drinkers find their beloved sodas disappearing.
One user commented: “My local food court just got Mountain Dew back. It’s been ages.
“But both machines were out of whack last time and it was horrible. And I love Mountain Dew. So disappointing.”
Another chimed in: “No no no … The REAL! question is … Are they bringing Dr. Pepper back?! They aren’t a Coke product, but they ride with CocaCola.”
One critic summed up the mood, saying: “These jokers keep playing around with it.”
Costco has a long history of soda switch-ups tied to cost-cutting efforts.
After a 2009 pricing spat with Coca-Cola, the retailer ousted Coke products for a month before reaching a deal.
By 2013, Pepsi took over entirely when Costco failed to negotiate lower costs with Coke, a change that took years to implement across its 800-plus locations.
For Costco, keeping distribution costs low is vital to preserving its iconic $1.50 hot dog and soda combo — a food court staple that hasn’t budged in price for decades, even amid inflation.
This latest move is part of a larger battle in the soda wars.
Coca-Cola dominates the U.S. soda market with a commanding 19.18% market share, while Pepsi lags behind at 8.31%.
Dr Pepper, with an 8.34% share, recently overtook Pepsi to claim the No. 2 spot in overall sales.
Still, brand loyalty runs deep, and any shakeup is bound to bubble over.
Earlier this year, Subway announced it would drop Coca-Cola for Pepsi products in a new 10-year deal, igniting a similar wave of reactions.
As for Costco, whether the switch will win over shoppers or leave them with a sour taste remains to be seen.
But for now, the cola wars rage on — and customers aren’t holding back.
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