(March 13, 2007)--McDonald's has exclusively sold Coca-Cola products since its founding more than 50 years ago.

The restaurant giant is now quietly offering non-carbonated Pepsi products at some outlets.

That's especially as weight-conscious consumers are moving away from carbonated soft drinks.

The pilot program began last May in the Bryan-College Station area of Central Texas and later spread to the Kansas City, Missouri area.

The outlets sell bottles, cartons and cans of several Pepsi products, including Gatorade, Propel Fitness Water, Lipton Iced Tea, Tropicana orange juice and Mountain Dew.

The outlets aren't selling Pepsi or Diet Pepsi.

Industry watchers say the move to expand its offerings is a smart one for McDonald's executives, who likely realized that a lack of variety in their beverage choices could drive consumers elsewhere.

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