Dr Pepper Soft Drink

Dr Pepper is the oldest major soft drink in the United States, created in 1885 by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas. Its complex 23-flavor recipe was first served at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store and predates Coca-Cola by one year. The brand was officially introduced to a national audience at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, alongside other now-famous food items like the ice cream cone.

Today, the ownership and manufacturing of Dr Pepper are unique compared to its rivals. In the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the brand is owned and manufactured by Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., a company formed by the 2018 merger of Keurig Green Mountain and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Outside of North America, the manufacturing and distribution rights are often licensed to other beverage giants; for instance, The Coca-Cola Company distributes the brand in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, while Suntory and PepsiCo handle other global territories. Despite these third-party distribution deals, the brand remains an independent entity from Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.

As of 2026, Dr Pepper has maintained its position as one of the top-selling carbonated soft drinks globally. Its parent company, Keurig Dr Pepper, is a publicly traded corporation with a large portion of its shares held by JAB Holding Company, a Luxembourg-based investment firm. The product is manufactured in numerous local bottling facilities worldwide through this network of owned plants and licensed partners.