Customers Outraged After Popular Fast-Food Chain Stops Serving Pepsi And Switches To Coke
Culver's, a popular midwest-based fast-food chain, left customers outraged after it announced that it would stop serving Pepsi and instead serve Coke.
Popular burger chain Culver’s is switching from Pepsi to Coca-Cola, and folks are not happy. The popular Midwest franchise broke the news last week, saying it would be a while for the change to take effect across its 900 restaurants in 26 states. In a statement, the eatery said its signature root beer, Dr. Pepper, and variety of teas remain unchanged.
Outraged customers took to social media to voice their displeasure. “Discovering that Culver’s switched from Pepsi to Coca-Cola just ruined my entire day,” one person wrote. Others shared their thoughts on the fast-food outlet’s Facebook page. “I am so upset they switched that I will go other places sometimes,” a restaurant regular wrote.
Some folks found ways to work around Culver’s switch. “I won’t be going there unless I stop and bring food home so I can have my Pepsi.” The disgruntled customer then encouraged others to do the same. “Everybody take a Pepsi in when they order food and say brought my own since you switched,” the person said via Today.
However, some folks celebrated the switch to Coca-Cola. “Culver’s just went from a 9.5/10 to a 10/10 because they switched from Pepsi to Coke,” one person wrote. “Unpopular Midwestern Opinion: I, for one, am stoked that Culver’s is switching from Pepsi to Coke products,” someone else said.
Founded in 1984, Culver’s is known for its Butter Burger. The meal contains a never-frozen beef burger, topped with cheese, tomato, lettuce, and red onion served on a toasted buttered bun. The Bacon Deluxe version comes with two strips of bacon, two burgers, and two slices of cheese. The eatery also offers frozen custard, cheese curds, chicken, fish, and salads.
In celebration of National Cheese Curd Day in October 2021, Culver’s sold a limited-time product called the Curder Burger. The meal consisted of a deep-fried cheese curd patty placed on top of a deluxe Butter Burger and was only available for one day. The burger began as a joke but the restaurant took it seriously after customers petitioned to bring the burger to life.
“Culver’s put it on their website as an April Fools’ joke, and all these customers were like that would be such a good idea,” Liz Taylor, General Manager of Culver’s in Merrill said via WSAW-TV. The burgers sold out quickly at several locations since each store only received ingredients for 192 orders. “We sold out within the first three hours. I hope the customers enjoyed the product while it lasted.”
Away from Culver’s, Pepsi and Coca-Cola continue to battle over market share. During the first nine months of 2022, Coca-Cola held about 40% of the United States retail market. PepsiCo followed with about 29%, according to data from Beverage Digest. As a result, the latter has been trying to boost sales by re-engineering some of its most popular drinks.
Pepsi Zero Sugar will be getting an updated recipe that uses a new sweetener system to give the drink a more refreshing and bolder taste. The soft drink giant also discontinued Sierra Mist. The popular beverage will be replaced with a new lemon-lime offering called Starry. Unfortunately, neither option will be available at Culver’s.
