Costco has officially completed a food court beverage shake-up, and depending on your soda loyalties, it’s either a sweet victory or a disappointing loss. After years of pouring Pepsi products, the retail giant has finished rolling out Coca-Cola across its food courts nationwide, according to The Street.
The move brings back classics like Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero and Sprite, beverages many longtime members remember fondly from before the Pepsi partnership began. Earlier this year, Costco announced it would be swapping soda brands by summer, and now the transition is complete.
Fans of Coke have been vocal in their excitement. “Coke just tastes better with the $1.50 hot dog,” one member posted. “It feels like Costco again.”
The hot dog-and-soda combo, long considered one of the best deals in retail food, remains untouched in price, an iconic part of Costco’s brand that hasn’t budged since the 1980s.
Related: Costco Hints at Checkout Shake-Up, Borrowing from Sam’s Club Playbook
But the return to Coke hasn’t landed well with everyone. Pepsi drinkers, and especially fans of Starry, Pepsi’s lemon-lime option, have voiced frustration.
“Sprite is no match for Starry,” one person wrote on Reddit. “I’ll bring my own drink next time.”
The backlash echoes reactions to other recent food court changes. In the fairly recent past, Costco replaced its beloved churro with a chocolate chip cookie, and swapped out the popular strawberry banana smoothie for a frozen strawberry lemonade. In each case, the company saw pushback from members used to the routine of their go-to orders.
And while the Coca-Cola switch may seem minor, it’s a reminder of how deeply attached many shoppers are to even the smallest aspects of the Costco experience. For loyal members, the food court isn’t just a place to grab a bite. It’s part of the ritual.
Costco hasn’t commented further on whether additional menu changes are coming, but one thing is clear: even subtle updates can stir passionate responses from the warehouse faithful.
Related: Costco Just Challenged Amazon With a Delivery Move No One Saw Coming
Source:: Life – Fitness – mensjournal
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