Pepsi deal bumps vending prices

Campus consumers will give up a bit of choice and a little extra change when buying soda from campus vending machines after today.

The new vending contract, which makes PepsiCo Inc. the main campus vendor, took effect this morning and the price of a soda was slated to increase by five cents.

Memorial Student Union Assistant Director Bill Shiba confirmed the prices Monday.

The new contract will also eliminate brand choice for those people who purchase their soft drinks from vending machines.

"Convenience stores...and places with shelf space will have competing products," said Dan Adams, student union director, "[but there will be] only Pepsi in the buildings."

Under the new contract, 40 percent of vending locations will also offer bottled soda for one dollar.

Mary Dunkel, marketing director for Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. of Tucson, said the company hoped to have all the machines changed over by July 17.