Pepsi does not own Starbucks. Both companies are publicly owned by shareholders. Pepsi trades under the stock symbol PEP and Starbucks trades under the symbol SBUX as a different entity. Furthermore, the Pepsi Corporation is headquartered in Purchase, New York whereas the home base of Starbucks is in Seattle, Washington. These are undoubtedly two separate companies, but they do have a relationship with each other. This relationship is likely why some people believe that Pepsi is owned by Starbucks. Let us explain.
The Pepsi and Starbucks Relationship
The relationship between Pepsi and Starbucks revolves around Starbucks ready-to-drinks coffee. These are the bottled coffee products you might find at places like 7-11 or your local grocery store that are designed to drink cold. Pepsi and Starbucks have a joint venture for these ready-to-drink beverages that dates back to 1994. Starbucks provides its strong company name on the labeling while Pepsi uses its powerful manufacturing and distribution network to broadly reach customers for sales.
The Starbucks ready-to-drink coffee beverages include the following:
- Frappuccino – Almondmilk Mocha (9.5 fl oz & 13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino – Caramel (9.5 fl oz & 13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino – Caramelized Vanilla Honey (13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino – Salted Dark Chocolate (13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino – Toasted White Chocolate (13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino – Brown Butter Caramel with Splay of Cold Brew (13.7 fl oz)
- Frappiccino – Mocha (9.5 fl oz & 13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino – Vanilla (9.5 fl oz & 13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino – Almondmilk Vanilla (13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino – Almondmilk Mocha (9.5 fl oz & 13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino (9.5 fl oz & 13.7 fl oz)
- Frappuccino Mocha Light (9.5 fl oz)
- Blonde Roast Unsweetened Iced Coffee (48 fl oz)
- Cold Brew – Black Sweet (11 fl oz)
- Cold Brew – Black Unsweet (11 fl oz & 40 fl oz)
- Cold Brew – Cocoa & Honey with Cream (11 fl oz)
- Cold Brew – Nitro Chilled (11 fl oz)
- Dark Roast Unsweetened Iced Coffee (48 fl oz)
- Doubleshot Energy – Coffee (15 fl oz)
- Doubleshot Energy – Hazelnut (15 fl oz)
- Doubleshot Engery – Mocha (15 fl oz)
- Doubleshot Energy – Vanilla (15 fl oz)
- Doubleshot Energy – White Chocolate (15 fl oz)
- Iced Espresso Classics – Almondmilk Caffe Latte (40 fl oz)
- Iced Espresso Classics – Almondmilk Caffe Mocha (40 fl oz)
- Iced Espresso Classics – Caramel Macchiato (40 fl oz)
- Iced Espresso Classic – 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)
- Tripleshot Energy – Caffe Mocha (15 fl oz)
- Tripleshot Energy – Caramel (15 fl oz)
- Tripleshot Energy – Dark Chocolate (15 fl oz)
- Tripleshot Energy – Dark Roast (15 fl oz)
Starbucks and Pepsi also have a joint venture for the production of Starbucks Refreshers. The flavors include the following:
- Black Cherry Limeade with Coconut Water (12 fl oz)
- Peach Passion Fruit with Coconut Water (12 fl oz)
- Strawberry Lemonade with Coconut Water (12 fl oz)
The Coca-Cola and Dunkin’ Relationship
Similar to the Starbucks and Pepsi joint venture, Coca-Cola and Dunkin’ also collaborate to produce bottled ready-to-drink coffee beverages. The Coca-Cola and Dunkin’ relationship began around 2016 with an agreement for Coca-Cola to make, distribute, and sell the ready-to-drink products with the Dunkin’ brand name. At the time of this article, there were thirteen bottled ready-to-drink beverages listed on the Coca-Cola website.
*Note that the products listed above may not be available when readers read this article. Visit the Pepsi and Coco-Cola websites for the the latest ready-to-drink products.
References:
The Seattle Times – Starbucks, Pepsi Join To Create Drinks (August 11, 1994).
