ACU has renewed its contract with Pepsi Co. for another five years.

Anthony Williams, chief business services officer, said ACU allowed presentations from different beverage companies and it came down to Pepsi and Coca Cola.

“Ultimately we looked at both proposals and our evaluation was that Pepsi was more financially advantageous,” Williams said.

Pepsi offers scholarships and contributes to athletics as well as providing a better financial deal, which tipped the scales in their favor.

Previously ACU had a ten-year contract with Abtex, a company that was bought by Pepsi in 2009.

The current contract is a five-year exclusive deal with Pepsi.

“Students are always very important. You have both sides: very loyal Coke and very loyal Pepsi drinkers,” Williams said. “Our decision was really made on an evaluation of what would be best for the university.”

Laine Foith, sophomore family studies major from Plano said, “I hate Pepsi, it tastes like gasoline, and there’s no variety.”

Chistow Langston, junior family studies major from Colorado Springs, Colorado disagrees, “Coke is abrasive to my mouth,” he said.

With the five year contract ACU has more flexibility to change in the future depending on student preferences.

“We feel really good about the new contract with Pepsi Co.,” Williams said.  “We think that when we went through and evaluated all the variables it was an easy decision.”

Pepsi also owns the rights to Gatorade, Sierra Mist and Mountain Dew and is affiliated with Dr. Pepper, one of the most popular drinks at ACU.

Although many students prefer Coke to Pepsi, for the most part they are not upset about the lack of Coke at ACU because Dr. Pepper is available.

“I prefer Coke,” Courtney Rennell, sophomore nursing major from Oleatha, Kansas said, “but getting Dr. Pepper is worth the trade.”