Results: The History of Dr. Pepper; In 1885, one year before the invention of Coca-Cola, a young pharmacist named Charles Alderton began experimenting by mixing different fruit flavors together.

While Alderton spent most of his time mixing medicine for the people of his town, he became very intrigued by the soda fountain and carbonated drinks. He began keeping journals and experimenting with different flavored syrup combinations. After numerous attempts, Alderton, found the perfect mixture. The highly guarded secret recipe is under lock and key inside a tightly secured vault hidden in the company's main building. Did you know the secret recipe consists of 23 flavors?

Mr. Morrison, the owner of the drug store, is credited with taste testing many of Alderton's concoctions in hopes of helping him find this legendary mixture. Dr Pepper quickly became a hit with the towns people and many would ask Alderton to "shoot them a Waco"! Have you ever ordered or purchased a Dr. Pepper Beverage?

Other soda fountain workers in Waco began purchasing the popular syrup from Morrison and Alderton. Soon this became a problem because the two men couldn't keep up with the demand of the famous drink. Luckily, a beverage chemist named Robert Lazenby, came to the rescue. Alderton suggested that Morrison and Lazenby team up and develop the soda further. Are you surprised that Charles Alderton was disinterested in the success of his Mystery Concoction, Dr. Pepper?

In 1891 the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company was opened by Morrison and Lazenby. This company later became known as the Dr Pepper Company. In 1923 , the company moved from Waco to Dallas. Dr Pepper debuted in 1904 at the Worlds Fair in St Louis, Missouri, where it became known to the world! Have you ever visited the Dr. Pepper Museum?

Dr Pepper 7UP, Inc. was created by the merger of Dr Pepper, Inc. and The 7 Up Company on May 19, 1986. The merger was a result of the independent bailouts of both companies and the subsequent Federal Trade Commission blockage of a Dr Pepper merger with Coca-Cola. In early 1995, Cadbury Schweppes purchased the remainder of Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. and Dr Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Group from The Carlyle Group. All Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. assets were absorbed into Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, which included Mott's Beverages and Snapple Beverages. Are you surprised the FTC prevented a merger of Dr. Pepper and Coca-Cola?

The soft drinks portions were spun off from Cadbury Schweppes in North America in 2008 creating Dr Pepper Snapple Group. In July 2018, Keurig Green Mountain acquired Dr Pepper Snapple Group in a deal worth $18.7 billion. In 2018, Kuerig Dr Pepper was found to have ascended to the ranks of the soft drink elites when it was found to be the #5 most popular soft drink among Americans. it is safe to say that Dr Pepper has made quite the journey from its humble beginnings in a small pharmacy in Waco, Texas, to its current status as a global soft drink giant. Dr Pepper truly is The Drink of the Century. Did you know Dr Pepper cast its spell on famous musicians; John Lennon, The Beach Boys, Cher, and ZZ Top to name a few?