History
The Coca-Cola Company introduced Peppo, marketed as a "pepper-type soda", in early 1972. [5] The beverage, then only contained to the Memphis, Tennessee market, drew ire from The Dr Pepper Company, who sued The Coca-Cola Company for trademark infringement in June of that year. [6] As this litigation continued, Coca-Cola modified the Peppo formula and introduced the new Mr. Pibb to Jackson, Mississippi and Waco, Texas [7] (the birthplace of Dr Pepper before the company moved to Dallas) in the same month. [8] A sugar-free variety of Mr. Pibb would be introduced in late 1973. Peppo would continue to be produced in limited quantities as the case continued through August 1975, when after PepsiCo filed its own suit concerning the drink's name, Coca-Cola would agree to abandon the Peppo name and sell off the remaining stock. In 1980, Mr. Pibb was reformulated and marketed with the words "New Taste" printed prominently on the products. [9]
In 2001, a cinnamon-forward "spicy cherry" flavor replaced the original formula in many parts of the United States, marketed as a bolder version of original Mr. Pibb. [10] Diet Mr. Pibb would be discontinued with this rebrand, and a replacement, Pibb Zero, would only be introduced in 2005. As recently as 2020, Pibb Xtra has been marketed as a "refreshing, spicy cherry alternative to regular cola". [1] [11] [12]
In October 2025, the Mr. Pibb name was restored along with a reformulation that includes more caffeine. The brand relaunch was in response to the loss of distribution rights to Dr Pepper by Reyes Coca-Cola, the bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola Company products in much of the Midwestern and Western United States. [13]