Signed contracts matter, and we’re disappointed that Dr Pepper Bottling Co of Dublin, Texas, refuses to keep its promises and honour its agreement. We’re not seeking money or to prevent Dublin from selling Dr Pepper made with cane sugar. We simply want them to sell only within their six-county territory and stop marketing and packaging Dr Pepper as ‘Dublin Dr Pepper’.
Dublin’s conduct dilutes our trademark and creates confusion in the marketplace, because their product is no different than any other Dr Pepper made with cane sugar and sold by several other bottlers. In fact, Dublin’s filing ignores the reality that almost all of the product they sell isn’t even made in Dublin. It’s made by Temple Bottling Co of Temple, Texas, and is the same cane sugar-sweetened Dr Pepper that DPS sells in distinctive 8oz glass packaging throughout Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and Waco.
We tried to resolve these issues with Dublin without turning to the courts. We even offered alternative packaging that promotes their heritage and their use of cane sugar, but in a way that stays true to the famous Dr Pepper trademark. They not only refused this compromise but actually demanded money to honour their agreement, which left us no choice but to file suit.
Whether you’re the oldest bottler or the newest, the largest or the smallest, no bottler is bigger than the Dr Pepper brand or above the agreement it signed. Unfortunately, unlike the other 170-plus Dr Pepper bottlers, Dublin steadfastly refuses to live up to the contract they signed in 2009.
Source: Dr Pepper Snapple Group
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024