MINNEAPOLIS — Buffalo Wild Wings has closed its tab with the Coca-Cola Co. PepsiCo, Inc. has become the beverage provider at the sports bar and grill.
Beginning in early 2014, the chain will serve PepsiCo's soft drinks and non-carbonated beverages in its more than 975 locations in the United States. The roll-out is expected to be completed system-wide by the spring. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“What attracted us to PepsiCo is their extensive beverage and food portfolio,” said Sally Smith, chief executive officer of Buffalo Wild Wings. “We see this as a very powerful partnership in several ways. For starters, we’ll be bringing dynamic beverage brands to our restaurants, including options that our guests have been asking for, like Mountain Dew. We were also drawn to the marketing and promotional strength a partnership with PepsiCo creates, as it aligns well with our guests. Their NFL sponsorship and relationships with additional sports, entertainment and pop culture icons will enhance our guest experience in the future.”
The agreement includes Tropicana juices and lemonades and Lipton teas. Additionally, such PepsiCo snack brands as Doritos, Fritos, Tostitos and Ruffles may appear on the restaurant menu.
“This partnership between PepsiCo and Buffalo Wild Wings is a natural fit,” said Indra Nooyi, chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo. “We see tremendous opportunities to leverage PepsiCo’s diverse food and beverage portfolio in ways that benefit both companies through exciting new innovations, unique consumer engagement programs, and powerful brand activations tied to sports and entertainment. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to partner with Buffalo Wild Wings, an impressive and growing company that has a bright future ahead.”
