Coca-Cola loses court case to distribute Dr. Pepper

[thewayne]

BLEH!

In case you were unaware, Dr. Pepper was not a Coke product. They were their own brand, and in the last year or two became the #2 cola, bumping Pepsi out of that slot.

Coke had a contract for their distribution, which is why you usually saw it on the menu at Coke restaurants. But now, as of Monday the 27th, many restaurants will be starting to serve Mr. Pibb, a vastly inferior product (IMO). Presumably Keurig, Dr. Pepper's owner, will have its own distribution deals in place, but it may be a bit chaotic until things settle down.

Usually I drink iced tea (unsweet) when dining out, but on rare occasion I'll get a Dr. Pepper. I don't like disruptions like this! Grrr....

I am a little perplexed and amused that it took the legal system to resolve whether or not Dr. Pepper were allowed to distribute their own product. I guess big business just can't give up that last penny of profit, even if they don't make the product that they're distributing.

https://www.silive.com/business/2025/10/coca-cola-to-pull-popular-soda-flavor-from-restaurants-and-venues.html

Comments

[silveradept]

Ha, and here I'd thought that Mr. Pibb was a PepsiCo product, instead, such that it might leave Coca-Cola without a pepper soda product at all. (Or possibly associated with the 7-Up company.) The thought of reintroducing Mr. Pibb as a high-caffeine product, though, seems like a terrible idea. For one, they already have Mountain Dew: Code Red, and that's probably a better-tasting product for that environment. Guess they're trying to find some way of clawing into the energy drink market, maybe for people who don't like the taste of most energy drinks?

[thewayne]

I was disappointed that the article didn't go into details about the law suit.  I expect Coke wanted an extension on distributing DP and Keurig didn't want that.  There's no doubt DP is more popular than Pibb, which is a very pale substitute.  No, Pepsi doesn't really have a soda to compete with DP/Pibb.