Fast-food fans are used to seeing their favorite menu items disappear, whether it’s a limited-time sandwich, a popular side dish or a seasonal drink. But KFC customers are about to lose something they won’t be able to pick up at a grocery store instead. As the relationship between PepsiCo and KFC comes to an end, it will also mark the end of a Pepsi soda flavor exclusive to the fast-food giant. PepsiCo is discontinuing Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning, a peach-and-honey-flavored soda that has been exclusive to KFC restaurants since 2019. The beverage will remain available at KFC through December 31, 2026, PepsiCo confirmed on Oct. 20, giving fans just over two months to enjoy the drink before it disappears from the chain. The decision follows KFC’s announcement that it is ending its nearly 40-year relationship with PepsiCo and switching to Coca-Cola products in the United States. However, Sweet Lightning’s departure may not be permanent. PepsiCo confirms deadline for exclusive Mountain Dew flavor Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning debuted in 2019 as a permanent addition to KFC’s beverage lineup. Unlike regular Mountain Dew or Baja Blast, which are available in stores, Sweet Lightning was developed specifically for the fried chicken chain and has never been sold in retail bottles or cans. This exclusivity makes its removal particularly disappointing for customers who have made the drink part of their KFC orders. More Restaurants: Hooters closing more restaurants in bankruptcy comeback These are the True Food Kitchen locations closing in Chapter 11 Oprah-backed chain closes 12 restaurants for good after filing Chapter 11 In an Oct. 20 statement to Allrecipes, PepsiCo Chief Marketing Officer Scott Finlow confirmed that Sweet Lightning would remain at KFC through the end of December. He also indicated that PepsiCo is exploring ways to keep the flavor available after its restaurant partnership ends. “Beyond then, we intend to find new ways for fans to keep enjoying it,” Finlow said. PepsiCo has not announced whether Sweet Lightning could eventually appear in grocery stores, return through another restaurant partnership or be relaunched in a different format. When PepsiCo introduced Sweet Lightning in 2019, it described the drink as a permanent offering designed to complement KFC’s fried chicken. Its disappearance highlights how exclusive restaurant beverages, which often become customer favorites, disappear when chains change suppliers. Eamonn M. McCormack / Getty Images KFC’s switch to Coca-Cola ends decades-long Pepsi partnership On Oct. 15, KFC announced a new partnership with Coca-Cola, ending a relationship with PepsiCo that began in 1986. The transition will start in January 2027, with Coca-Cola products expected to reach all 3,600 U.S. KFC restaurants by spring. The move is part of KFC’s broader effort to modernize its menu, expand beverage offerings and attract more customers. For PepsiCo, the change means losing a major restaurant partner. But the company will continue supplying beverages to Taco Bell and international KFC restaurants under renewed agreements. Related: Bath & Body Works makes a big move for the holidays
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