Just about 90 miles down the road from Waco, Texas, the Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Co. announced recently that it would no longer make or distribute any Dr Pepper products after settling a licensing lawsuit with DPSG. They’re also selling their franchise to the parent corporation. Dr Pepper, the soft drink known for it’s “one-of-a-kind” taste originated in Waco, which is now home to the Dr Pepper Museum. The soda is a brand within the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPSG).
DPSG had accused the Dublin bottler of selling outside the agreed sales area and confusing customers with its own unauthorized brand, known as “Dublin Dr Pepper.” What’s the difference between the real thing and Dublin Dr Pepper? The Dublin version was made with cane sugar (most companies have switched to corn syrup), which helped it attain a cult-like following.
Dr Pepper’s unique flavor has been the subject of its marketing campaigns over the years (Remember “I’m a pepper, he’s a pepper”?) A Waco pharmacist created the soda back in 1885; his name wasn’t Pepper. There are several theories about how the product actually got its name. Some say it comes from the word “pepsin” — an enzyme that helps with digestion. Since many early sodas were marketed as “pick-me-up” tonics, some say the name came from the “pep” that it gave its users. Then, there’s the school of thought that it’s named after a real “Doctor Pepper,” like a man named Dr. Charles T. Pepper of Virginia.
One last bit of Dr Pepper trivia for you punctuation aficionados: The period after “Dr” was discontinued in the 1950s. Check out the Dr Pepper FAQ for more info.
Have any of you ever tasted a Dublin Dr Pepper? What’s your favorite soft drink?
