Dublin Dr Pepper Done; Suit Settlement Saves Sugar

Jeffrey Klineman|January 12, 2012 1:00 pm

A trademark infringement lawsuit filed in June by Dr Pepper Snapple Group against Dublin Dr Pepper, the soda’s oldest distributor, has been settled, with the larger company regaining control of the brand in Dublin Dr Pepper’s six-county area.

Dublin Dr Pepper — founded in 1891 — had a cult following for its use of unique glass bottles featuring the Dublin name and a recipe that used cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its version of Dr Pepper; in addition to its beverage sales the company had made something of a cottage industry of selling memorabilia featuring the Dublin Dr Pepper name.

Capped Off: Dublin Dr Pepper

The Dublin Dr Pepper name is gone now — it will be called Dublin Bottling Works, Inc., as part of the settlement. According to the Wall Street Journal, 14 of the company’s 37 employees have been laid off. DPS will continue to distribute a cane sugar version of Dr Pepper in Dublin’s former territory, and will also supply other parts of Texas with that formulation.

DPS filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the company last year.

“Our main focus has always been on protecting the strength and integrity of the Dr Pepper trademark,” said Rodger Collins, president of packaged beverages at DPS. “We’re pleased to reach an agreement that accomplishes that while also preserving the history and the special relationship Dr Pepper has with the Dublin community.”

Dublin Bottling Works will continue to bottle products like NuGrape, Triple XXX Root Beer and Suncrest. Under the terms of their agreement, DPS purchased all of the Dublin bottler’s sales and distribution operations and related assets, as well as the rights to distribute Dr Pepper and other DPS brands in the six-county territory previously served by Dublin, according to a statement released by both companies. The former Dr Pepper bottler will also continue to operate its museum and Old Doc’s Soda Shop, offering tours and selling soft drinks, food and officially licensed Dr Pepper merchandise.

Brymz

I like Snapple Ice Tea and my wife enjoys Diet Cherry Dr Pepper. Our kids enjoy the Dr Pepper/Snapple products too but from now on their products will no longer be purchased by or allowed in my household.
Gegefair

I was reading Dr. Peppers thru the years Time Line. I can only imagine what they will post for 2012. I wonder if they will post the truth (regarding board of directors on both sides) about closing Dublin Dr. Pepper – the end of an Era and take responsibility for the History created with their decisions.
http://twitter.com/erinjeanc Erin Connolly

I hate this news! I truly love the idea of Dublin Dr Pepper – the retro/vintage/old school branding… the cane sugar formulation… the packaging. This is sad news indeed
http://twitter.com/erinjeanc Erin Connolly

I hate this news! I truly love the idea of Dublin Dr Pepper – the retro/vintage/old school branding… the cane sugar formulation… the packaging. This is sad news indeed
Joe Derr

If you are looking for more bottling so you don’t have to lay off anymore of your employees we have a pure cane sugar sodas sold in glass bottles and are looking for distribution in Texas
Pingback: Dublin Bottling Works Loses The Battle, Still In Business | Rollerfeet Soda
Pingback: “Dublin Dr Pepper” Squashed by Dr Pepper | Uncle John's Bathroom Reader
Catahoularanch

Another example of CORPORATE GREED. I will never purchase another bottle of any Snapple product, and Dr Pepper with HFCS or pure cane sugar is off my shopping list.

For years I have travelled through Dublin just to stop and purchase Dublin Dr. Pepper by the case. Sad, sad day in small town America when big city corporate greed has to bully a local bottling company that supplies a small cult-following product.

10….2…..and 4, never no more…
Byrdmom

CORPORATE A$$HOLES!!!!!�
SAVES THE SUGAR?? TOOK AWAY DUBLIN DR PEPPER, ONE OF THE BEST AMBASSADORS OF YOUR
PRODUCTS, WHY? THE ARTICLE SPELLS IT OUT – CONTROL. SO YOU COULD HAVE ALL THE
CONTROL AND MERCHANDISING PROFITS AND OVER WHAT- 6 COUNTIES IN TEXAS! OR MAYBE IT IS ALSO BECAUSE
DUBLIN DR PEPPER DEMONSTRATED JUST HOW GOOD ORIGINAL DR PEPPER WAS VERSUS THE
BLAND PRODUCT YOU PRODUCE NOW. I GREW UP DRINKING DR PEPPER (AND UP UNTIL TODAY
KEPT DR PEPPER IN MY FRIDGE) AND REMEMBER HOW IT TASTED BEFORE THE SWITCH TO
HFCS. I FOUND IT FUN TO OCCASIONALLY MAKE THE TRIP WITH MY FAMILY TO DUBLIN TO
PICK UP SOME OLD TIME DR PEPPER. NOW EVEN THAT IS GONE! I AM SURE IT WILL NOT
BE LONG BEFORE YOUR CORPORATE BUREAUCRACY FINDS SOME EXCUSE TO CEASE PRODUCTION
OF CANE SUGAR DR PEPPER, FOREVER ELIMINATING ANY REMINDERS OF JUST HOW GOOD
YOUR PRODUCT USED TO BE. GUESS I NEED TO FIND ANOTHER SODA TO DRINK, WILL BE
CAREFUL THAT IT IS NOT PART OF THE DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP!
Byrdmom

CORPORATE A$$HOLES!!!!!�
SAVES THE SUGAR?? TOOK AWAY DUBLIN DR PEPPER, ONE OF THE BEST AMBASSADORS OF YOUR
PRODUCTS, WHY? THE ARTICLE SPELLS IT OUT – CONTROL. SO YOU COULD HAVE ALL THE
CONTROL AND MERCHANDISING PROFITS AND OVER WHAT- 6 COUNTIES IN TEXAS! OR MAYBE IT IS ALSO BECAUSE
DUBLIN DR PEPPER DEMONSTRATED JUST HOW GOOD ORIGINAL DR PEPPER WAS VERSUS THE
BLAND PRODUCT YOU PRODUCE NOW. I GREW UP DRINKING DR PEPPER (AND UP UNTIL TODAY
KEPT DR PEPPER IN MY FRIDGE) AND REMEMBER HOW IT TASTED BEFORE THE SWITCH TO
HFCS. I FOUND IT FUN TO OCCASIONALLY MAKE THE TRIP WITH MY FAMILY TO DUBLIN TO
PICK UP SOME OLD TIME DR PEPPER. NOW EVEN THAT IS GONE! I AM SURE IT WILL NOT
BE LONG BEFORE YOUR CORPORATE BUREAUCRACY FINDS SOME EXCUSE TO CEASE PRODUCTION
OF CANE SUGAR DR PEPPER, FOREVER ELIMINATING ANY REMINDERS OF JUST HOW GOOD
YOUR PRODUCT USED TO BE. GUESS I NEED TO FIND ANOTHER SODA TO DRINK, WILL BE
CAREFUL THAT IT IS NOT PART OF THE DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Trent-Taylor/100001445467811 Trent Taylor

Show support for Dublin here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/plano-tx-allow-dublin-dr-pepper-bottling-co-to-continue-operations#
http://www.facebook.com/people/Trent-Taylor/100001445467811 Trent Taylor

Show support for Dublin here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/plano-tx-allow-dublin-dr-pepper-bottling-co-to-continue-operations#
Brand Must Be Protected

I’m confused…. how is DPSG in the wrong? Had Dublin Dr. Pepper not violated its agreement by distributing outside its designated territory and respected the trademark, DPSG would not have pursued legal action, resulting in the dissolution/acquiring of the company’s oldest bottler.

Everyone can still get Dr. Pepper with pure cane sugar and sans HFCS…. it’s simply not called Dublin Dr. Pepper, even though the formula is the same. Coming from the brand side, DPSG had to protect the integrity of its mark. I’m sure the bottler was paid quite well for its distribution rights…. the sad part is simply the jobs that were lost…. Hopefully there’s severance in place for the employees or another opportunity directly with DPSG.

I believe this was a case where DPSG had no choice but to pursue legal action…. Did they really want to dissolve their oldest bottler? Lose relationships in a territory close to their hometown? No…. but they couldn’t ignore a bottler violating its agreement. Imagine the consequences…. It would be mayhem if every bottler across the country followed suit and ignored their respective agreements. I have to side with DPSG on this one…. am I missing something?

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