Dublin Dr. Pepper Is No More – Production Stopped Due To Lawsuit

In a move that's unthinkable, the parent company of Dr. Pepper, Snapple Group, has stopped production of Dr. Pepper at the legendary and historic bottling plant in Dublin, Texas.  The whole story is unbelievable.  The reason for the stoppage is a lawsuit claiming that the Dublin plant was violating a distribution agreement by marketing outside of a six-county area.  Huh?

Are they really so blind to the fact that Dublin Dr. Pepper is a great ambassador and promoter of the brand?  The entire tourism industry in Dublin is tied to their Dr. Pepper bottling plant. Dublin Dr. Pepper is made with real cane sugar, and it's a taste that consumers will travel across states to enjoy.  The positive image and love of the brand across our entire region of the country can be arguably tied to the uniqueness of a Dr. Pepper from that Dublin plant.

The bottler in Dublin actually counter-sued Snapple, but after the lawyers hashed it all out, the end result is the stoppage of Dr. Pepper production at the plant.  They will still be able to bottle other Snapple brands.  Does any of this make any logical sense at all?  To anybody?

By the way, the change also results in a loss of jobs.  Due to the bottling plant no longer producing Dr. Pepper, 14 people are losing their jobs.

The Dublin Dr. Pepper plant has been producing the soft drink for 120 years, and their tours of the historic plant will continue.  The plant name has been changed to 'Dublin Bottling Works' as of this morning (January 12th) at 10 a.m.

As you might expect, the protests and petitions have already begun.  Let's hope that the Snapple Group will relent and somehow come to terms with Dublin's bottler to resume production of that delicious Dr. Pepper made nowhere else.  If you want to sign a petition circulating online, just click the link below.  The petition states:

Dr. Pepper was founded in Waco, Texas in 1885. The Dublin, Texas plant has been making Dr. Pepper for 120 years. It has prided itself on bottling Dr. Pepper using the original formula, made with sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. It has a limited distribution area but a very loyal following. Everyone knows and loves visiting the plant and museum, and finding a glass bottle with the oh-so-familiar 10-2-4 and "Dublin" on the label in a store is a joy for all who know how special it is. The Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group has clashed with the Dublin bottling plant on what they call a "trademark violation"--claiming that the Dublin plant is selling outside their territory. In what can only be seen as a greedy corporate takeover of the distribution area, Dr. Pepper/Snapple has singlehandedly shut down a town's livelihood and heritage. Dr. Pepper/Snapple, we refuse to buy any of your product until you REVERSE this decision and allow Dublin Dr. Pepper to make and distribute their bottles again. DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!

(story via reporternews.com)

Sign the petition here at change.org/petitions