Pepsi and PepsiCo: Corporate Expansion

During the 1970s PepsiCo acquired several fast food chains, including Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, A&W Root Beer, and Long John Silver’s. These were important outlets for Pepsi products, which they served exclusively. However, other large fast food chains refused to handle PepsiCo beverages. In 1997, PepsiCo divested itself of its restaurant subsidiaries, creating a separate corporate entity now called Yum! Brands. PepsiCo maintains the largest ownership in Yum! Brands and all of these establishments continue to sell Pepsi beverages. Yum! Brands subsequently spun off its A&W Root Beer and Long John Silver’s chains.