Starting this month, Ball State will make the switch from Coca-Cola products to Pepsi products after entering into a five-year agreement with Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers of Indiana Inc.
After a competitive bidding process, Pepsi came out on top and will supply all fountain drinks on campus along with 80 percent of bottled and canned beverages.
Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president of Marketing and Communications, said the initial request for proposals was sent out on March 1 as part of a "standard process by which the university asks vendors to provide proposals for products and services."
Randy Howard, vice president for Business Affairs and treasurer, said in a press release that the university will receive close to $2.5 million in benefits over the next five years including funding, product rebates and a guarantee of more than $335,000 annually. The money will help fund Ball State's strategic plan, as well as specific amounts that will be set aside for scholarships, athletics and student-covered activities and initiatives, he said.
According to the press release, Ball State is also eligible for more than $183,000 annually in rebates and free products or services that will directly benefit the university.
"Our agreement with Pepsi generates significant revenue for Ball State at a time when we need it most," Howard said. "This kind of creativity, of leaving no stone unturned in search of funding, helps us reach a high bar that we have set for the university and our students."
For students that have other beverage preferences, the agreement guarantees Pepsi 80 percent of all available space in vending machine slots, refrigerated coolers and shelf space on campus. The remaining 20 percent of the beverages on campus will be non-Pepsi.
Students' reactions to the change range from annoyance to approval, but many leaned toward indifference.
"Basically I think they're [Pepsi and Coke] both the same," freshman Vlade Nacovski said. "I don't really mind it at all."
Nacouski's sentiment was echoed by telecommunications senior Freddie Murphy.
"To be honest, it doesn't make any difference to me," he said.