McDonald's ends test run with Pepsi, sticks with Coke

McDonald's Corp. stopped selling PepsiCo Inc.'s bottled Mountain Dew and Gatorade, ending a test that challenged Coca-Cola Co., the exclusive fountain-drink provider to the world's biggest restaurant chain.

McDonald's began testing bottled beverages in 2006 to see if they could boost soft-drink sales. The chain dropped PepsiCo products, including Lipton tea, from the test in July 2008, PepsiCo spokesman Larry Jabbonsky said today by telephone.

"It was a great opportunity and a great learning experience," Jabbonsky said.

Coca-Cola controls about 70 percent of the U.S. fountain-drink market, according to data from industry newsletter Beverage Digest. The Atlanta-based company has a division dedicated to McDonald's, its largest customer.

McDonald's, based in Oak brook, Illinois, was unable to provide immediate comment.