Forvever in our Hearts
120 years ago, the Dublin Dr. Pepper Bottling Plant opened its doors.The facility has served the rural North Central counties of Texas since. For those of you who have no idea what “Dublin Dr. Pepper” is and no clue how it differs from regular Dr. Pepper, let me fill you in with a history lesson…
Located in the small Texas town of Dublin, the Dublin Dr. Pepper Bottling company, until 16 hours ago (5pm yesterday)… was the world’s oldest and longest running Dr. Pepper bottler. In addition to being the world’s oldest, Dublin also insisted on using the ORIGINAL recipe for Dr. Pepper, with (Imperial) Pure Cane Sugar. Because “regular Dr. Pepper” switched to High Fructose Corn Syrup in the 70′s, Dublin Dr. Pepper’s are noticeably different in taste. They are a mellower, sweeter version of Dr. Pepper. All the familliar flavors, but infinately more delicious. Taste one and you’d be hooked forever.
Dublin was an independently family owned Dr. Pepper franchise, that had a special relationship with Dr. Pepper Corporate. Basically it was, ”You stick to your 44 mile radius of distribution, and we let you be.” Last year, in honor of Dr. Pepper’s 125th Anniversary, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. decided to go back to the “throwback” original recipe and packaged the “Heritage Series,” made exactly the same as Dublin Dr. Pepper (the original Dr. Recipe, complete with pure cane sugar.)
Wouldn’t you know, the packages were a roaring success. Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. Now makes the heritage recipe year-round, wraps the sweet revelation in nostalgic packaging and makes a killing off of them. But that wasn’t enough.
5 months ago, the conglomeration decided to go after the Kloster family (who owns Dublin Dr. Pepper,) and sued them for breaking the 44 mile distribution agreement (forget the fact the massive coorperation ok’d an ONLINE STORE years prior!)
It’s perfectly clear what happened, they wanted the entire piece of the Dr. Pepper with Pure Cane Sugar pie, and decided to strong arm the Family out of the 120 year old bottling Dr. Pepper business.<— mere speculation on my part. Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. cites wanting to make sure the Dr. Pepper brand didn’t get weakened by the detracting Dublin variety. Sad Fact: The measly 7 million Dublin Doc sold in a year was a tiny percentage of the 5 BILLION The Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. raked in.
After a 5 month court battle, the Kloster family was forced to sell their beloved since 1891, Dublin Dr. Pepper. In the end, a family is no financial match for a soulless money-sucking child obesity causing robot of destruction Soft Drink Conglomerate.
As of 5pm yesterday all Dublin Dr. Pepper is no more. And while there’s remaining stock out there to be fought over and paid way too much for on eBay, ”Dub Docs,” will never be made again.
Oh sure, the pigs at Dr. Pepper have already explained they will gladly sell all the people in the area the EXACT SAME beverage they’ve loved for the last 120 years, it’ll just no longer have the name of “Dublin Dr. Pepper.”
As I told a lady trying to console me with that very fact last night: “It might as well be whale whiz, because I’ll never buy it.”
Today I wanted to have a galvanizing call to arms, a mission to right this egregious error. Unfortunately, I’m not sure what it is I want. Honestly? I want tradition, family run success and small town idealism to prevail. I want a greedy conglomeration to take pause, realize Dublin Dr. Pepper sold less than 2% of the BILLIONS Dr. Pepper Snapple Inc. took home last year, and respectfully leave the Kloster family where they belong, as rightful keepers of the Original Dr. Pepper legacy. A very legacy Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. abandoned in the cash-grab switch to corn syrup.
Sigh, I doubt even the internets could make those miracles happen.
Big Business won yesterday, and even though it’s “just a soda,” I can’t help but have a lump in my throat and a heavy heart. The delightful nectar of Dublin Dr. Pepper in a perfectly frosted bottle, will never again provide respite from the white hot heat of a July afternoon for me, or any other Texan. And that is a travesty.
Timeless Classic, untimely tapped out.
There are a few bright points: 1. The Dublin Bottling Plant is STILL going to make its non-Dr. Pepper Pure Sugar sodas, AND 2. The Kloster family is allowed to Keep the Dublin based Dr. Pepper Museum and Doc’s fountain shop, both bringing in over 80,000 tourists to Dublin, a year. So that’s something. Sure, it’s cold comfort in a bitter world with no Dublin Dr. Pepper, but it’s better than total corporate annihilation. Oh and 3. I still have a case in my garage from my last trip to “stock up,” in the distrubution area. Some fool asked me if I was going to auction it off and I looked at her with a cold death stare and said, “no, it’s strictly going to be savored with my friends and family.” Afterall, money-grubbing opportunism, is what killed our beloved softdrink in the first place.
AVENGE MY MURDER!
I’ve taken the liberty of researching every product the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. vomits out, I ask that you join me in refusing to give the small family business slaying, greedy CONGLOMERATE another of your hard-earned dimes.
I know it will be difficult for some of you, but nothing worth fighting for was ever easy.
First Up: SIGN THIS PETITION!
Now on to the boycott…
Here’s the COMPLETE List! AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Commit to NON-Buying!!!
A few things I’m bummed I’ll never drink again…as they are owned by the “evil empire.”
1. IBC Root beer (Goodbye old friend.)
2. Stewart’s Root Beer
3. Orangina (Both hipsters and snobbish types will mourn.)
4. Clamato (Don’t look at me like that, I love it with BEER!)
5. Et tu Yoo-Hoo? Unfortunately, Yoo Hoo is on the no-buy list as well.
Will you join in our crusade who will be strong and not drink with me?
