Dr Pepper is a carbonated soft drink created in the 1880s by American pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas. It was first marketed nationally in the United States in 1904. The beverage is manufactured and distributed by different companies depending on the country: Keurig Dr Pepper produces it in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; The Coca-Cola Company in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Japan; and Suntory in most European territories. Variants include a diet version and, beginning in the 2000s, a range of additional flavors.
Although it shares some similarities with cola, in 1966, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that Dr Pepper is not classified as a cola, root beer, or fruit-flavored soft drink. Instead, it is generally described as belonging to a distinct category often referred to as "pepper soda", named after the brand itself. Other beverages in this category, such as Dublin Original and Mr. Pibb, have a comparable flavor profile.
As of 2024, Dr Pepper is the second best-selling carbonated soft drink in the US.Jennifer Maloney. "Dr Pepper Ties Pepsi as America's No. 2 Soda." Wall Street Journal. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.Danielle Bronner. "Dr Pepper just passed Pepsi as the second biggest soda brand." CNN Business. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
History
The name "Dr. Pepper" was first used commercially in 1885. It preceded the introduction of Coca-Cola by one year. Dr Pepper was introduced nationally at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
It was formulated by Brooklyn-born pharmacist Charles Alderton in Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas. To test his new drink, he first offered it to store owner Wade Morrison, who also found it to his liking. Patrons at Morrison's soda fountain soon learned of Alderton's new drink and began ordering a "Waco". Alderton gave the formula to Morrison, who named it Dr. Pepper's Iron Phosphate (later "Dr. Pepper's Phos-Ferrates", and even later simply "Dr Pepper").
Early advertisements for this soft drink made medical claims, stating that it "aids digestion and restores vim, vigor, and vitality."
As with the formula for Coca-Cola, the formula for Dr Pepper is a trade secret; the recipe is allegedly kept as two halves in safe deposit boxes in two separate Dallas banks. A persistent rumor since the 1930s is that the drink contains prune juice. However, the official Dr Pepper FAQ refutes this with "Dr Pepper is a unique blend of natural and artificial flavors; it does not contain prune juice." The origin of the rumor is unknown, and some believe it was started by a deliveryman for a competitor trying to cast aspersions based on prune juice's laxative effects.
In 2009, an old ledger book filled with formulas and recipes was discovered by Bill Waters while shopping at antiques stores in the Texas Panhandle.Bill Waters finds Dr. Pepper original formula in notebook in antique store in Texas. New York Daily News May 4, 2009 Several sheets and letterheads hinted it had come from the W.B. Morrison & Co. Old Corner Drug Store (the same store where Dr Pepper was first served in 1885) and faded letters on the book's cover spelled out "Castles Formulas". John Castles was a partner of Morrison's for a time and worked at that location as early as 1880. One recipe in the book titled "Dr Peppers Pepsin Bitters" was of particular interest, and some speculated it could be an early recipe for Dr Pepper. However, Keurig Dr Pepper insists it is not the formula for Dr Pepper, but is instead a medicinal recipe for a digestive aid. The book was put up for auction in May 2009, but no one purchased it.
Name Theories about the origins of the soft drink's name abound. One possible reason that the name was chosen was the practice, common at the time of the drink's creation, of including Dr. in the names of products to convey the impression that they were healthful.
A theory often cited is that the drink was named after an actual doctor, one Charles T. Pepper of Rural Retreat, Virginia. Morrison may have named the drink after the doctor in gratitude for Pepper having given Morrison his first job. However, Milly Walker, Collections Manager / Curator for the Dublin (Texas) Dr Pepper Bottling Co. Museum, has stated that US Census records show that a young Morrison lived in Christiansburg, Virginia, away from Rural Retreat, and that "there is not one piece of evidence that Morrison ever worked for Charles T. Pepper in Rural Retreat". A romanticized origin story posits that Morrison named the soft drink after Charles T. Pepper to win approval to marry his daughter. Historians and archivists, however, have dismissed this claim, noting that the girl was just eight years old when Morrison settled in Waco.
The period (full stop) after Dr was used intermittently in Dr Pepper logos until 1950, when, after some debate, it was discarded permanently, for stylistic and legibility reasons.
Legal and trade history In 1951, Dr Pepper sued the Coca-Cola company for , asserting that 6.5-oz. Cokes were sold below cost and were a restraint of trade.
"In 1966, the Food and Drug Administration formally declared Dr. Pepper not to be a cola, allowing Dr. Pepper to use cola bottling franchises off limits to other colas, because of licensing arrangements which provide for exclusive cola territorial assignments." (February 1973) Texas Monthly
In 1969, owing to Dr Pepper's legal success as being determined a "non-cola" soft drink, then President & CEO W. W. "Foots" Clements was successful in persuading the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York, the largest bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola in the world, to bottle and distribute Dr Pepper in the New York metropolitan area.
In 1972, Dr Pepper sued the Coca-Cola company for trademark infringement based on a soft drink marketed by Coca-Cola called "Peppo". Coca-Cola renamed their beverage Mr. Pibb.
Dr Pepper became insolvent in the early 1980s, prompting an investment group to take the company private. Several years later, Coca-Cola attempted to acquire Dr Pepper, but was blocked from doing so by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Around the same time, Seven Up was acquired from Phillip Morris by Hicks & Haas, the same investment company that had purchased Dr Pepper. Upon the failure of the Coca-Cola merger, Dr Pepper and Seven Up merged (creating Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., or DPSU), giving up international branding rights in the process. After the DPSU merger, Coca-Cola obtained most non-US rights to the Dr Pepper name (with PepsiCo taking the Seven Up rights).
Dr Pepper was a frequent player in the 1990s antitrust history of the United States. As part of these activities, economists and the courts have weighed in with the opinion that Dr Pepper is a "pepper" flavored drink and not a "cola". In 1995, the FTC blocked a merger between The Coca-Cola Company and Dr Pepper on grounds that included concerns about a monopoly of the "pepper" flavor category of soft drinks. In 1996, Dr Pepper was involved in an antitrust case involving Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Properties, Nike, and other commercial interests active at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. Jones had made deals with Dr Pepper and the other companies that, the league said, violated their exclusive marketing contracts with Coca-Cola and other businesses. The NFL agreed to allow Jones and other teams to pursue their own agreements.
In 1995, Cadbury Schweppes acquired Dr Pepper/Seven Up. In May 2008, Cadbury Schweppes spun off Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages into an independent company called the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, and renamed itself to Cadbury plc.Cadbury plc Demerger. Retrieved on December 29, 2009. On July 9, 2018, Keurig acquired the Dr Pepper Snapple Group in an $18.7 billion deal. The combined company was renamed "Keurig Dr Pepper".
Varieties North America Regular Name Yearlaunched Notes Sources Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper 1983 Uncaffeinated version of Dr. Pepper. It was introduced following the success of Pepper Free, its Diet counterpart. According to press release, Jim Ball of Dr Pepper, PR Newswire April 15, 1983. "A caffeine-free Dr Pepper, utilizing nutritive sweeteners, and plans for the expansion of Pepper Free products to markets representing 75% of the soft drink maker's domestic volume, today were presented at a special bottlers' meeting in Dallas." Dr Pepper Red Fusion 2002 A cherry-flavored, red-colored variety. It was the first new flavor added to the Dr. Pepper family of beverages in the company's 122-year history. It was released as part of a trend of "variety expansions", which included rival Pepsi Blue and Cadbury-Schweppes' own DnL. Much like with these drinks, Red Fusion was a commercial flop and was discontinued in 2004. Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla 2004 A cherry vanilla-flavored variety. It was originally released in some areas on October 15, 2004, and was the first in the planned "Soda Fountain Classics" line of beverages from Dr Pepper, a range of drinks designed to taste similar to popular soda fountain drinks from the 1950s.
When Dr Pepper Cherry was introduced, Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla became region-specific and is now only found in select areas. It can also be found in Coca-Cola Freestyle machines that offer Dr Pepper in place of Pibb Xtra. Dr Pepper Berries and Cream 2006, 2022 A berry cream-flavored variety. It was released in most US locations in April 2006 as the second beverage in Dr Pepper's "Soda Fountain Classics" lineup. It was eventually discontinued due to poor sales. but was reintroduced as part of a sweepstakes event in 2022.