Dr. Pepper Feud Gets Boost From Facebook Supporters
The use of Facebook to advance or promote a cause- derisively dubbed “slacktivism” in the larger sense of just talking about problems instead of doing something concrete- sometimes helps an issue go viral and gather it mainstream attention.
This is no Arab Spring, of course, but Facebook is one of the tools being used to defend a small company in what has been termed the “Dr. Pepper feud.” (Something I would have guessed was what happens when you wake up at noon and discover someone drank your last can, a situation which heartily sucks.) You may not have realized that soda (or pop, if you’re from a flyover state) has some strange licensing and bottling quirks inherent to distribution, which makes it so small companies can get quite a foothold in regional markets while being virtually unheard of in other areas.
What you are probably unaware of is the massive shift in the food supply during the 80′s from cane sugar to high fructose corn syrup (HFCS.) While neither is a health food, the latter has been blamed for skyrocketing American obesity rates- if not for its chemical makeup, which is in dispute, definitely for its cheap and easy availability (America is apparently covered in corn.) If you’ve sampled kosher or Mexican Coke, you know that real sugar colas are way tastier than HFCS-sweetened mass stuff.
Which could be how the Dr. Pepper feud started. Texas-based Dublin Dr. Pepper- despite selling less than 1/100th of what nationally distributed Dr. Pepper sells- has been locked in a trademark dilution lawsuit with the company that owns Dr. Pepper and Snapple. Actually, even the president of the big Dr. Pepper admits that the cane sugar variant tastes “amazing”:
“The amazing thing with Dublin is they still have the pure cane sugar. It’s the original formula with Imperial sugar, and their following is unbelievable. Nothing tastes better when it’s ice-cold.”
The following so far has translated to a Facebook group of 5,000 fighting for Dublin Dr. Pepper‘s right to keep on bottling- and using the “Dublin Dr. Pepper” name and label. Which side do you favor in the Dr. Pepper feud? Should Dr. Pepper allow the regional variant, or does it stand to damage their trademark?
Tags : dr pepper, dr pepper feud, dr pepper feud texas, dublin dr pepper
Posted: August 11, 2011
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Aug 11, 2011
I'm for the texas plant…real sugar right? I remember the old coke, pepsi and dr. pepper. many a conversations about how pop just isn't pop anymore….this is one time it would benefit them to go back in time and do it the old fashioned way:)
Aug 11, 2011
Your sarcastic, smarmy writing does you no favors, you really come off as an asshole assuming your readers are ignorant, therefore displaying your own.
Aug 11, 2011
Long live Dublin Dr. Pepper!
Aug 11, 2011
please let the dublin Dr. Pepper flow it is essential.
Aug 11, 2011
Where can I buy it?
Aug 11, 2011
america needs more dublin less washington…………..
Aug 11, 2011
The Dublin Dr Pepper is the only true Dr pepper left in the world. Leave it ALONE!
Aug 12, 2011
It's not just a "Regional Variant", it's the oldest Dr. Pepper bottling plant in the world. The entire town of Dublin is Dr. Pepper themed, and there is a great museum. As they say…" Dublin Dr Pepper is Dr Pepper, but Dr Pepper is NOT Dublin Dr Pepper." If you haven't tried it you should. Internet orders are on hold during the Dr. Pepper/Snapple Corporate Greed lawsuit. For now, Cases of 8 oz. bottles and 12 oz. cans of Dublin Dr Pepper are available by calling 888-398-1024 and in Old Doc's Soda Shop. The site is: http://www.dublindrpepper.com/.
Aug 12, 2011
Thank you, Michael. As a lifelong Dr. Pepper fan I will take a look.
As soon as I read about it wanted to try it!
Aug 12, 2011
You are welcome. This suit just makes me mad. It would be devistating to the entire town.
Aug 12, 2011
They sell it here in the square and pick some up whenever i can
Aug 13, 2011
Dublin is the real Dr. Pepper. Snapple can not handle a superior product competing with its corn syrup (high fructose) sweetened beverage.Corn sweeteners contribute to obesity. A bootlegger goes to Dublin to sell here it in DFW. It is free enterprise.What does Snapple fear? People will buy a better product. Dr. Pepper last summer attempted to sell a cane sugared Dr. Pepper in Dallas. It tasted indescribably bad ( I will be polite on the taste). Also I go periodically to Dublin so to buy 10 cases at a time.
Aug 13, 2011
Less Washington is not what this is about. Corporate greed is what it's about….
Aug 13, 2011
Since the suit started, I switched to Mexican CocaCola! Easier to acquire in my area than Dublin DrPepper.
Aug 13, 2011
I'm a lifelong Dr Pepper fan. I have a few shares of DPS stock so I am happy with them but I would like to see them drop the silly suit and leave the folks at the Dublin plant alone. OLD SCHOOL RULES! I would really like to get caffiene free Dr Pepper in CA! I buy it when I visit TX.
Aug 13, 2011
Being from Dublin, and raised on Dublin DP, I do have a vested interest in this story. However, Snapple is stupid for not taking a superb product and making it a national sensation, they would rather get into a pissing contest with Dublin DP. Also, Dublin DP has been around for almost 120 years, how did they let the trademark and licensing get away from them?
Aug 13, 2011
i'll bootleg this stuff to you
Aug 13, 2011
I wrote the big DP and told them I would not buy any
more of their product until they drop this ridiculous lawsuit. Since I have been a major DPaholic for many years, it was a sacrifice for me. The company won't miss my dollars but I can't finance their stupidity. I've been buying Mexican drinks also. I think Dublin DP in a glass bottle is 10 times better than regular DP.
Aug 13, 2011
They sold that nasty sugar DP here in Colorado. It was horrid! I try to stock up any time I get back to Texas to visit.
Aug 13, 2011
I miss drinking dublin dr peppers =0(
Aug 13, 2011
There is no competition. Dublin Dr. Pepper is by far the best tasting soda on the market. It doesn't have that gross aftertaste that regular Dr. Pepper has. Long Live Dublin DP!
Aug 15, 2011
Boy, that is the truth. I can get the Mexican Coke at both HEB and Kroger, but the "good" cane sugar Dr. Pepper is dang near impossible. I have started buying HEB's Dr. B with cane sugar… since I can't find the good Dr. Pepper. To the Dr. Pepper bottlers: I DO NOT DRINK CORN SYRUP SWEETENER….. I will buy the throwback Pepsi and Mountain Dew, or the Mexican Cokes before I ever buy a corn syrup Dr. Pepper. And I prefer my soda in a bottle instead of that aluminum can that causes Alzheimers!!
Jan 13, 2012
This has to be one of the more boneheaded decisions corporate Dr. Pepper has made in a while. Really makes them look good, picking on the little Dublin town. Jeeze! Corporate greed alive and well.