In a surprising shift, Dr Pepper has overtaken Pepsi in sales, making it the second largest soda brand. According to a report by “24/7 Wall St.,” Dr Pepper, after 140 years in the market, has achieved this significant milestone, emerging as a strong competitor to Coca-Cola, which holds the top spot.
The Wall Street Journal indicates that Dr Pepper has surpassed Pepsi for the first time, based on statistics from Beverage Digest. Dr Pepper’s success wasn’t sudden; it was a result of a “steady climb” over the past twenty years. The company invested heavily in marketing, introduced new flavors, and leveraged TikTok videos to promote the drink among younger audiences.
Despite this, Pepsi’s overall brand, which includes Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar, remains strong. While Coca-Cola dominates with a market share of around 20%, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, and Sprite each hold about 8%. Interestingly, despite being older than both Pepsi and Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper is not technically considered a cola because it doesn’t contain kola nut.