Dr Pepper, recognized as one of the oldest major mass-market soft drink brands in the U.S., was invented by Charles Alderton in 1885 after he became fascinated by the sweet, fruity aroma of a drugstore and wanted to create a drink that captured its familiar scent.
Working as a pharmacist at a local drugstore in Waco, Texas, he spent most of his time preparing medicines for customers.
In his spare time, he enjoyed serving carbonated drinks at the drugstore’s soda fountain and was drawn to the fruity aroma of the syrups.
His fascination with the fruity smell inspired him to experiment with different formulas and recipes that captured the scent’s distinctive flavor, eventually leading him to create Dr Pepper after numerous trials.
One of the first people to taste his concoction was the drugstore owner, Morrison, who also found it to his liking.
Cases of Dr Pepper are displayed at a Costco Wholesale store on July 19, 2025 in San Diego, California.Kevin Carter/Getty Images
After trying samples several times and refining the drink, Alderton felt confident enough to serve it to customers at the soda fountain.
The soft drink featured a secret blend of 23 flavors, which included vanilla, cherry, blackberry, licorice and spices. Customers loved the drink and initially referred to the one-of-a-kind beverage as “Waco.”
The specialty drink eventually became known as Dr Pepper, a name credited to Morrison, who chose the brand name.
As demand grew, a young beverage chemist named Robert S. Lazenby became involved. He was impressed by Alderton’s creation and helped Morrison further develop the brand.
In 1891, Morrison and Lazenby formed the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company to meet growing demand.
Seven years later, the Southwestern Soda Fountain Company acquired the rights to produce and sell Dr Pepper syrup. The company changed its name to the Dr Pepper Company in 1902, and its operations moved to Dallas in 1923.
By the early 20th century, Dr Pepper was gaining ground in the beverage industry. Its marketing efforts included the first slogan, “King of Beverages,”and the introduction of a fictional “Old Doc” character that became the brand’s symbol.
Following decades of growth and corporate changes, Dr Pepper Snapple Group merged with Keurig Green Mountain in July 2018 to form Keurig Dr Pepper.
The deal included an $18.7 billion cash payment to Dr Pepper Snapple Group shareholders, who retained an ownership stake in the combined company.
More than 130 years after Alderton created the original recipe, Dr Pepper had become part of a major beverage company with a portfolio of brands spanning soft drinks, coffee and other beverages.
Related: In 2015, Allison Ellsworth started experimenting with soda recipes in her kitchen for her tummy and skin problems; she sold Poppi to PepsiCo for $1.95 billion a decade later
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