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Dublin Dr. Pepper’s Demise Saddens Texas Town, Threatens Commerce

Posted: January 19, 2012

dublin dr pepper discontinued

As American culture becomes more homogenized and corporatized, one Texas town hoped its beloved Dublin Dr. Pepper wouldn’t become a casualty of the changing food landscape in the US.

Regional soft drinks are, indeed, often falling prey to changing market conditions like the saturation of chain restaurants in small American towns and cities, but Dublin Dr. Pepper was unique in both it’s super-strong regional following as well as cult cachet among people outside its distribution area. One notable reason is that unlike the fast majority of commercially-available sodas in the United States, Dublin Dr. Pepper was sweetened with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, or HCFS. (Dublin Dr. Pepper was also sweeter than regular Dr. Pepper, but not the sickly kind of sweet found in mass-market beverages that use the cheaper sweetener.)

Naturally, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, owner of regular Dr. Pepper, was displeased with the drink’s growing fanbase and accused the company of “trademark dilution.” Eventually a settlement was reached, and after 120 years of production, Dublin Dr. Pepper was discontinued on January 12th of this year. While locals are understandably displeased, they have another set of concerns- mainly surrounding commerce relating to Dublin Dr. Pepper.

Pantograph.com quotes a business owner in Dublin who’s sworn off Dr. Pepper beverages and even gave away her remaining stock free. She says that the decision will hurt businesses in Dublin that benefit from Dublin Dr. Pepper related tourism:

“I’m very concerned about my business in this economy, and now with this. What’s going to draw them to Dublin?” said Three Sisters gift shop owner Lisa Leatherwood, who gave away all her store’s Dr Pepper drinks on an outside table Thursday under a sign that read: “We no longer drink Dr Pepper products! Help yourself!”

Others liken the brand’s demise to the death in the family:

“You see somebody cutting your name out of something like it never happened, and that’s just gut-wrenching,” said Pat Leatherwood, vice president of First National Bank of Dublin. “You walk in stores all over town, and some people are mad. Some are upset. It’s like someone has died.”

An estimated 95,000 visitors flocked to the museum, soda shop and annual birthday celebration of the beverage. One bright spot for fans is that the company plans to regroup as Dublin Bottling Works, introducing a line of sugar-sweetened, HFCS-free beverages for soda purists. Did you get a chance to sample Dublin Dr. Pepper during its 120-year run?



Comments


15 Archived Responses to “ Dublin Dr. Pepper’s Demise Saddens Texas Town, Threatens Commerce ”

  1. Anonymous
    Jan 19, 2012

    Fast Majority? Really? Guess they've been drinking too much Dr. Pepper.

  2. John James
    Jan 20, 2012

    I have been a Dr. Pepper fan for most of my 49 years and I did drink pure cane sugar Dr. Pepper when I could get it, and regular Dr. Pepper when I cold not but, was not as fond of the latter as I was of the original. I drank quite a few Dr. Peppers a week but now I will not touch another Dr. Pepper again. I have gone to drinking Tea and I make sure it is not in any way affiliated with Dr. Pepper or Snapple or any of the other products they sell. I am hoping that they find that they cut there nose off to spite their faces in that a whole lot of people quit purchasing their products as well. Good by old friend and to blazes with Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.

  3. Randi Middleton
    Jan 20, 2012

    I live an hour or so from Dublin and I think what Dr Pepper did was nothing more than money grubbing jerks destroying history. I am a Coke drinker now. Screw you Dr Pepper!

  4. Brandon Finch
    Jan 20, 2012

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Dublin Dr. Pepper is gone!

  5. Kelly Ives Coffman
    Jan 20, 2012

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dublin Dr.Pepper! The Dr.Pepper Snapple group is so stupid! I am very saddened that it has come to this. I guess I'll have to find a new favorite. It sure isn't the corn syrup crap they put out!

  6. Anonymous
    Jan 20, 2012

    If the bottling plant was an independent plant, then they should make their own soda/soft drinks. Getting a flavor that taste like DP is widely sold. But, I would think the agreement that was reached most likely prohibits any production.

  7. David Dill
    Jan 20, 2012

    I told DP I can not believe they screwed with an American company and a American Town and Life's. They said you will not taste the difference and this drink with sugar will be made in Houston TX and surrounding city……I responded back that is like buying a salsa made in New York city. as of this morning they have not responed back to me. I guess they new I was pissed.

  8. David Dill
    Jan 20, 2012

    Oh yeah I don't think it helped when I told them that they didn't pool the wool over everybodys eyes coming out with DR Pepper 23 flavors. I told them all that is was the red fusion with the dp lable.

  9. Rhonda Benningfield
    Jan 21, 2012

    I'm with you John James. I hope this spreads like wild fire.

  10. Holly Hayes Hoyle
    Jan 21, 2012

    Maybe …. just MAYBE … POPs will still have some for a while!!!!

  11. Kelly Ives Coffman
    Jan 21, 2012

    Holly, I probably need to go and stock up. Chuck will be sad to see this happen, it was his favorite.

  12. Sara Gutierrez Patterson
    Jan 21, 2012

    Not drinking Dr Pepper again. I will not drink any Snapple product.

  13. John Tucker
    Jan 21, 2012

    FYI: There is no period in "Dr Pepper". Might want to edit the title.

  14. Jacy Clark
    Jan 22, 2012

    The Coca Cola family welcomes you…

  15. Jo Purifoy
    Jan 22, 2012

    Someone there in Dublin should contact CNN, Today Show, etc., to get this publicized.