Popeyes picks Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper as approved beverages

Atlanta-based Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is now firmly in Coca-Cola's camp.

Popeyes has signed multi-year agreements with Coca-Cola and Dr Pepper Snapple Group to carry the two companies' beverages at 1,500 restaurants in the U.S. Previously, Popeyes was a split system, with some franchisees pouring Coke and the others pouring Pepsi as the primary soft drinks. The chicken and seafood chain said it picked Coke and Dr Pepper as its approved beverages after a committee of franchise and corporate representatives reviewed the options.

"Popeyes has been working for quite some time on a common beverage strategy that will deliver results for our system," said Cheryl Bachelder, chief executive of Popeyes. She predicted the unified strategy for soda fountains would please guests and boost profits for restaurant operators.