PepsiCo Trades Holiday Snacks for Courtroom Dates as KFC Map Redraws
Published on 11/08/2026 at 18:31 | Editorial boerse-global.de
PepsiCo has asked the US Supreme Court to turn away Rise Brewing's appeal in a trademark dispute, arguing that the strength of a brand is a question of law reserved for judges. The filing, reported on Friday, sets the stage for oral argument on 12 January 2027 — the next hard date on the company's legal calendar.
The holiday season, meanwhile, has already arrived on supermarket shelves. PepsiCo Foods unveiled limited-time offerings for the 2026 festive period on 2 November, spanning four brands: Lay's, Tostitos, Smartfood and Quaker. Five Holi-LAY'S flavors headline the Lay's lineup, alongside cinnamon, sugar and cocoa variants. Tostitos gets a cinnamon-churro twist, Smartfood contributes cinnamon-and-sugar popcorn, and Quaker rounds out the range with a hot-chocolate-flavored oat product. Chips, popcorn and oats alike are all flagged as available only for a limited window.
KFC Stays Abroad, Coca-Cola Moves In at Home
On the restaurant side, PepsiCo has extended its beverage partnership with KFC across eight markets: Australia, India, the UK, Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium. The two companies also pointed to locally tailored menu items, citing Doritos Loaded as an example available in selected markets — not across the entire footprint of the renewed deal.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying PepsiCo?
Press coverage framed the extension against a notable split: KFC has switched to Coca-Cola in the United States, a market that falls outside the international agreement. The renewal thus preserves PepsiCo's pouring rights at KFC abroad while its rival takes the US counter.
Hydration Powders and a Mixed Tape
PepsiCo also used Monday to flag growth in its drink-powder business, saying US sales of Gatorade and Propel hydration powders climbed in 2026. Wider distribution of those products across the US accompanied the update, which also covered product and packaging changes.
The stock told a more muted story. PepsiCo shares slipped 0.4% on Friday to close at €126.80, even as the 30-day view shows a 15% advance. One soft session, in other words, against a stronger month — with the trademark argument now circled for January 2027.
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