Dr Pepper Snapple Group Takes Minority Stake in Big Red, Inc.

Posted August 25, 2008 9:52 am by BevNET.com Staff

PLANO, Texas, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., (NYSE: DPS) has reached an agreement to acquire a minority interest in Big Red, Inc., the company today announced.

A privately-held company based in Waco, Texas, Big Red markets its namesake red carbonated soft drink as well as Big Peach, Big Pineapple, Big Punch and other flavored soft drink brands. DPS is the largest distributor of Big Red products in the country, accounting for approximately 80 percent of the brand’s overall case volume.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Allied brands are an important part of our overall route to market strategy, enabling us to enhance our own brand portfolio with strong regional players like Big Red whose consumer base overlaps well with our bottling and distribution footprint,” said
Rodger Collins, president of Dr Pepper Snapple Bottling Group. “Taking an equity stake in allied brands gives us a greater opportunity to participate in their marketing, growth and long-term success.”

“Dr Pepper Snapple’s bottling operations have been a key part of Big Red’s success for more than 20 years, and we are very pleased to be taking our partnership with them to a new level through this agreement,” said
Gary Smith, chairman and CEO of Big Red, Inc. “DPS is the leading flavored CSD company in the industry, which is why it makes perfect sense for them to have an equity stake in our business. We’re looking forward to working with them to unleash the full potential of Big Red.”

In July 2008, DPS entered into a similar agreement with HYDRIVE Energy, LLC, manufacturer and marketer of HYDRIVE energy drinks. That agreement provides DPS with equity in the HYDRIVE business in exchange for meeting various distribution targets.

About Dr Pepper Snapple Group

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., (NYSE: DPS) is an integrated refreshment beverage business marketing more than 50 beverage brands to consumers throughout North America. In addition to its flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, the company’s portfolio includes 7UP, Mott’s, A&W, Sunkist Soda, Hawaiian Punch, Canada Dry, Schweppes, Squirt, RC Cola, Diet Rite, Penafiel, Rose’s, Yoo-hoo, Clamato, Mr & Mrs T and other well-known consumer favorites. Based in Plano, Texas, Dr Pepper Snapple Group employs approximately 20,000 people and operates 24 bottling and manufacturing facilities and more than 200 distribution centers across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. For more information, please visit http://www.drpeppersnapple.com/

About Big Red, Inc.

Big Red, Inc. is one of the top 10 beverage companies in North America with a history dating back to 1937. Along with Big Red, recognized as the number-one selling red soda, Big Red, Inc. also markets beverage brands Diet Big Red, Big Red Vanilla Float, Big Peach, Big Pineapple, Big Punch, NuGrape, and Nesbitt’s products. Distributed widely throughout the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Coca-Cola Enterprises, and Pepsi Bottling Group, consumers across the country enjoy Big Red, Inc.’s beverages.