The rumor that Pepsi owns Starbucks has been around for years. I’ve heard that claim made more times than I can count, and it’s always left me wondering, is there any truth to this?
My own curiosity led me do some research and figure out the relationship between Pepsi and Starbucks. In this article, I will present the facts and dispel any misconceptions about the two companies.
So, if you’re ready to see the relationship between the two, let’s get started!
Is Starbucks Owned by Pepsi?
No, Pepsi does not own Starbucks. The two companies are not related in any way. They do compete in the beverage industry, with Pepsi dominating the carbonated soft drink (CSD) market, and Starbucks specializing in coffee-based products.
Pepsi and Starbucks have collaborated in the past and the next section will take a look at those partnerships.
What is the Starbucks & Pepsi Partnership?
In 1994, Starbucks and PepsiCo joined forces with the aim of combining Starbucks’ coffee expertise with PepsiCo’s extensive distribution network.
This collaboration, was eventually called the North American Coffee Partnership (NACP). The purpose was to create and market cold, ready-to-drink coffee products for grocery stores, convenience stores, and other outlets.
During the summer of 1996, Starbucks Frappuccino made its debut in grocery stores. The bottled blend of ice, milk, and coffee, available in several flavors, quickly became a sensation and a hit among consumers.
In 2015, the NACP expanded their reach beyond North America, entering 10 Latin American markets: Mexico, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, and select Caribbean markets. The expansion allows the companies to bring Starbucks’ high-quality coffee to customers in a convenient, ready-to-drink format.
To get a better idea of the relationship between Pepsi and Starbucks throughout the years, let’s take a look at this infographic to see how their partnership has evolved.
What Drinks Does Pepsi Make for Starbucks?
Now that we’ve established that Starbucks is not owned by Pepsi, let us take a look at the different drinks that Pepsi makes for Starbucks. The current list of drinks includes the popular bottled Frappuccino, Doubleshot Espresso, Doubleshot Energy, and Starbucks Refreshers drinks.
These are available in a variety of flavors at grocery stores and convenience stores all around the world.
| Type of Starbucks Drink | Starbucks Drink Flavor | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Frappuccino | Plain | 9.5 fl oz, 13.7 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Vanilla | 9.5 fl oz, 13.7 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Mocha | 9.5 fl oz, 13.7 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Mocha light | 9.5 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Almondmilk Mocha | 9.5 fl oz, 13.7 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Almondmilk Vanilla | 13.7 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Caramel | 9.5 fl oz, 13.7 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Caramelized Vanilla Honey | 9.5 fl oz, 13.7 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Brown Butter Caramel with Splay of Cold Brew | 13.7 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Salted Dark Chocolate | 13.7 fl oz |
| Frappuccino | Toasted White Chocolate | 13.7 fl oz |
| Blonde Roast | Unsweetened Iced Coffee | 48 fl oz |
| Dark Roast | Unsweetened Iced Coffee | 48 fl oz |
| Cold Brew | Black Sweet | 11 fl oz |
| Cold Brew | Black Unsweet | 11 fl oz |
| Cold Brew | Cocoa & Honey with Cream | 11 fl oz |
| Cold Brew | Nitro Chilled | 11 fl oz |
| Iced Espresso Classics | Almondmink Caffee Latte | 40 fl oz |
| Iced Espresso Classics | Almondmilk Caffee Mocha | 40 fl oz |
| Iced Espresso Classics | Caramel Macchiato | 40 fl oz |
| Iced Espresso Classics | Molten Chocolate Latte | 40 fl oz |
| Iced Latte | Caffe Latte | 14 fl oz |
| Iced Latte | Caramel Macchiato | 14 fl oz |
| Iced Latte | Molten Chocolate Latte | 14 fl oz |
| Iced Latte | Salted Caramel Mocha | 14 fl oz |
| Iced Latte | Smoked Butterscotch Latte | 14 fl oz |
| Medium Roast | Subtly Sweet Iced Coffee | 48 fl oz |
| Medium Roast | Unsweetened Iced Coffee | 48 fl oz |
| Doubleshot Energy | Coffee | 15 fl oz |
| Doubleshot Energy | Hazelnut | 15 fl oz |
| Doubleshot Energy | Mocha | 15 fl oz |
| Doubleshot Energy | Vanilla | 15 fl oz |
| Doubleshot Energy | White Chocolate | 15 fl oz |
| Tripleshot Energy | Caffe Mocha | 16 fl oz |
| Tripleshot Energy | Caramel | 17 fl oz |
| Tripleshot Energy | Dark Chocolate | 18 fl oz |
| Tripleshot Energy | Dark Roast | 19 fl oz |
Wrapping it Up:
It’s clear that despite the popular misconception, Pepsi does not own Starbucks.
However, their partnership has proven to be a successful, as over the past 25+ years, the NACP has grown to generate over $2 billion in retail sales.
Starbucks has also solidified its position as the leader in the ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee category, holding an impressive 82% share.
This partnership is a prime example of how two companies can join forces and achieve great success in the marketplace.
If you found this article informative, you may be interested in exploring other articles about Pepsi and what they own and do not own.
- Is Dr. Pepper a Pepsi or Coke Product?
- Is 7up a Pepsi or Coke Product?
- Is Canada Dry a Pepsi or Coke Product?