Dr Pepper Bottling Co. of Dublin, the soft drink's oldest and smallest bottler, formally announced Wednesday that it has set up a legal fund to help defend itself against the brand owner, Plano-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
It had received a pledged $25,000 donation more than six weeks ago."We've been extremely proud and overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to support us," says Bill Kloster, CEO of the family-owned company. "Our customers treasure our product and recognize that we're a small business that's been drawn into an expensive fight against a corporate giant."Chris Barnes, a Dr Pepper Snapple spokesman, responded, "There would be no need for a legal defense fund if they just honored the agreement they signed."In its lawsuit filed June 28 in federal court in Sherman, Dr Pepper Snapple said the Dublin bottler violated a licensing agreement by selling its cane-sugar product in other franchise territories and using an unauthorized logo.The bottler refused to stop shipping beyond its territory or give up its "Dublin Dr Pepper" logo unless it was "compensated," it claimed.Every donor making a $50 contribution will get a T-shirt quoting Dr Pepper Snapple's CEO, Larry Young: "Nothing tastes better than a Dublin Dr Pepper."Young made the remark during a 2009 interview with Dallas PBS station KERA/Channel 13. Barnes called the comment "a quote from two years ago that's been taken out of context."The Dublin bottler says that more than 12,000 people have joined the "I Support Dublin Dr Pepper" Facebook page since the lawsuit was filed. It also held a July 30 rally and taping of a music video celebrating small-town values. At the event, the Dublin Industrial Council, which promotes economic development, announced its $25,000 donation.Barry Shlachter, 817-390-7718Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
