No Coke, Pepsi for IL

By Margaret Lyons in News on Mar 24, 2008 4:29PM

Last summer, the state of Illinois awarded an exclusive contract to Pepsi for the sale of soft drinks on state property. But now Coca-Cola's crying foul, saying the state impeded their ability to put together a full proposal, and state legislators agree. They voted 104-0 to have the auditor general take a look at the contract. The Revenue Department says the deal is completely un-shady.

The contract, which includes 2,300 vending machines and four state universities, is worth around $130 million over its 10-year span. Coke says they bid $42 million, and that the state wouldn't answer their questions about the contract. Pepsi bid $62.8 million.

We're trying to imagine getting through college without Diet Coke in the vending machines. It's not pretty.[S-T]