Texas Icon Celebrates 119th Birthday

Dublin Dr Pepper – the oldest Dr Pepper bottling plant in the world – is celebrating 119 years of manufacturing the No. 1 non-cola known as the “Texas Original.”

Week-long festivities officially began June 7 when the Dublin city limits signs were temporarily changed to Dr Pepper, Texas.

According to Bob Fleenor, regional sales manager for Imperial Sugar Company’s industrial division, ISC has a relationship with The Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Company that goes back generations. He says Dublin Dr. Pepper continues the longstanding tradition of using Imperial’s pure can sugar as a primary ingredient, leading the way for other bottlers that are returning to sugar as their beverage sweetener of choice.

On June 12, the main day of the celebration, Imperial Sugar will be hosting a tent where visitors can decorate sugar cookies with the company’s new line of Baker’s Supreme Premium Frosting Mixes.

Dr Pepper was first concocted by a pharmacist working at Wade Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, around 1885. The drink was named after the father of a girl Morrison had loved back in his home state of Virginia. A bottling company was formed later in 1891, and the soft drink was picked up by an existing bottler in Dublin, Texas, located 80 miles to the west. Dr Pepper made its global debut at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

More information on the celebration, which is open to the public, can be found at the company’s website.