QSR.pro Weekly: Taco Bell keeps Pepsi, KFC plans Coke

Taco Bell renewed its U.S. beverage partnership with PepsiCo for 11 years, through 2036. The October 22 agreement covers participating Taco Bell, Taco Bell Cantina and Live Más Café restaurants. It came a week after fellow Yum! Brands chain KFC said it would begin switching its U.S. restaurants to Coca-Cola in January 2027.

Pepsi, Mountain Dew Baja Blast and other PepsiCo drinks remain in Taco Bell’s participating U.S. portfolio. The partners plan to develop crafted, functional and energy beverages, without announced launch dates. PepsiCo also renewed its Taco Bell partnership in Canada, the U.K., Ireland and Thailand. KFC expects Coca-Cola products across its U.S. restaurants by spring 2027.

Teriyaki Madness reported 5.5% same-store guest traffic growth and 10.3% same-store sales growth in the third quarter. The chain also opened nine restaurants, bringing its reported total to 229. More visits contributed to the sales gain; the company’s second-quarter report put traffic growth at 3.27% and sales growth at 7.42%.

The National Restaurant Association cut its 2026 restaurant and foodservice sales projection from $1.55 trillion to $1.36 trillion after the Census Bureau revised historical sales data using a newer annual survey. The $190 billion difference is a change in the estimate, not a sudden loss of restaurant receipts.

The Association still forecasts 4.3% sales growth this year, or 0.8% after inflation. Its revised 2021 estimate is $940 billion, down from the previous $1.06 trillion.

Bojangles renewed its multiyear agreement with Hi Auto and plans to add its Bo-Linda voice order taker at 100 more restaurants by mid-2027. The system already runs at nearly 500 locations.

The companies are developing a feature that changes add-on suggestions with the drive-thru line. When cars stack up, it would favor items that take less time to prepare. They have not announced a launch date for the feature.

USDA reported the lowest September placements and marketings at U.S. feedlots with capacity for at least 1,000 head since its series began in 1996. October 1 inventory was just 0.4% below a year earlier: fewer cattle entered feedlots, but fewer left for slaughter, too.

In separate price data, the September wholesale beef index rose 2.6% from August but was 3.6% below September 2025. USDA forecasts the 2026 annual average 8.8% above last year. The figures cover different periods and do not establish a restaurant’s price for a particular beef product.