The end of an era...

     My husband was raised in a small Texas town called Dublin... most well known for it's Dr Pepper bottling company.  It's the oldest remaining bottling company and the town revolves around it, but what makes "Dublin" Dr Pepper so special is its use of real cane sugar (making Dr Pepper the "old" way) instead of high fructose corn syrup.  Everyone I know LOVES this Dr Pepper... and I'm not exaggerating.  People everywhere are ecstatic when they can get there hands on a can or bottle with the ever-so-sweet taste of Dublin Dr Pepper.  You can go to the bottler and tour the process of bottling, go in a soda shop and have a Dr Pepper float along side a piece of Dr Pepper cake... and then tour the Dr Pepper museum.  Every year the town has a "birthday party" ... changes the city limits signs to read Dr Pepper, Texas... and literally has a party.  It's a tradition that not only Dublin... but tons of surrounding towns look forward to every year... until yesterday.

For months we have heard about a lawsuit in which the parent company, Dr Pepper Snapple Inc, has sued the over 100 yr old bottling company in Dublin accusing them of selling outside of a 44-mile designated radius and "trademark dilution."

Apparently they think that the use of the word "Dublin" on their bottles and cans is a problem... so they want the name gone off of the label. Interestingly enough... it was approximately 1 1/2 years ago that the parent company started selling their own version of the popular drink called "Heritage Dr Pepper" ... made with real cane sugar.

It's a sad day for the people in Dublin, Texas.

:(

With all that said, I understand that there was probably fault on both companies parts... it just seems like it was an unnecessary move by the Dr Pepper Snapple Company.  Either way... I also find it sad that the Dublin soda shop won't ever be the same.