The Mystery Behind Why This Fast Food Chain Sells 7Up Over Sprite

Ah, In-N-Out — the world's favorite fast-food hamburger (and by world, I do mean myself, Alton Brown, Ina Garten, and even Julia Child — close enough, right?). From when it first opened in 1948 to when it switched from bottled drinks to fountain beverages in 1958, In-N-Out has been consistent in prioritizing quality. And while it first offered Pepsi-Cola products, the company switched to Coca-Cola in the early '90s out of a sense of spurned loyalty.

When In-N-Out initially partnered with Pepsi, the agreement barred the soda giant from ever entering the burger business. Seems easy enough for a cola company — and it was, until PepsiCo bought a rival burger chain and tried to open in California, In-N-Out's home turf. Since that dreaded betrayal, every In-N-Out carries Coke over Pepsi. Because of that, you'd expect it to offer Sprite, Coke's lemon-lime soda, but instead, you'll find 7Up, which is owned by Keurig Dr Pepper.

So what gives? Unfortunately, there are no definitive answers. None of the Snyders, who own the company, has ever commented on this odd lineup. It truly is a mystery — but it's a mystery that the internet has commented on with wild abandon — on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and even on Reddit. One theory is simply that 7Up was one of the most popular sodas when In-N-Out was just starting, so the burger joint brought it on and, as there was no unceremonious fallout between the two, there was no reason to discontinue it.

In-N-Out may not use microwaves or freezers, but it's fiercely loyal to its soda fountains. We may never get a definitive reason as to why the company carries 7Up, but with how many people are out there repeating one particular theory, we imagine it's got a grain or two of truth to it. Let's start with some background information: Most out-of-staters talk about the earthquakes when visiting, but there's something we Californians take a bit more seriously — namely, wildfires. Every year, sometimes multiple times, wildfires tear through the state, leading to devastating consequences.

The story goes that one such fire threatened an In-N-Out warehouse, and 7Up stepped in, agreeing to house the product that In-N-Out would otherwise lose, saving the brand ample money (and maybe even saving In-N-Out itself, as this tale takes place decades ago, when the burger joint was still very much a local phenomenon). An entire warehouse of product going up in flames might very well have spelled financial ruin. One self-identified employee wrote on Reddit that, because the soda company stepped up when In-N-Out needed it, "we promised [7Up] that we will serve [7Up] in every single store, no matter where we open it as long as we stay in business." Even now, decades later, you'll still find 7Up over Sprite in the lineup. Pepsi might learn a thing or two that loyalty pays off.