Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Feud Heats Up
Dublin Dr. Pepper is facing a fierce court battle with its parent company Dr. Pepper Snapple and the small town rival is not giving up without a fight.
The Dublin, Texas-based Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. was founded in 1891 and is the smallest and oldest distributor of the soda.
The small-town company is being sued for allegedly violating its licensing agreement with its parent company and argues that the corporation is trying to drive it out of business.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. is being sued due to an agreement in which the Dublin-based company can only sell their product to six-county territories within Comanche County.
The parent Dr. Pepper Snapple company is arguing that the Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. is selling their own version of the Dr. Pepper product, made of pure sugar cane, beyond its six county limit through phone and online orders.
Furthermore, the Dublin company is also being sued by its parent company for using the name “Dublin Dr. Pepper,” as opposed to simply Dr. Pepper, and also for changing the labeling to not look like the mass produced version of the drink.
The small distributor argued in court on Wednesday, “Dr. Pepper-Snapple has turned its back on Dublin and the goodwill among the thousands of people who love this true Texas treasure that comes in an 8-ounce bottle.”
The small company is garnering a large following from fans with a music video and a Facebook page dedicated to it.
Dr. Pepper was originally created by Charles Alderton of Waco, Texas around 1885. The drink was originally called “Waco.”
Former CEO and president of the Dr. Pepper Snapple Company, W.W. Clements has said of the product, “I’ve always maintained you cannot tell anyone what Dr. Pepper tastes like because it’s so different. It’s not an apple, it’s not a strawberry, it’s not a root beer, it’s not even a cola. It’s a different kind of drink with a unique taste all its own.“
