Dr Pepper has overtaken Pepsi as the country’s runner-up most liked soda. The shift shakes up a market that Coke still leads fundamentally. Keurig Dr Pepper, or KDP, now holds a bigger single-brand market share than Pepsi in measured soda sales. KDP keeps climbing by using bottling agreements with both Coke and Pepsi to put Dr Pepper on shelves nationwide. These deals let KDP borrow rivals’ factories and trucks, cutting its own costs while still growing its market share.
Dr Pepper steals Pepsi’s No. 2 crown, and KDP keeps the momentum rolling
KDP isn’t stopping at soda. It’s pushing into energy drinks and sports drinks, going from zero to more than six percent of the energy market in just three years. The company says it wants double-digit share soon. A big help is KDP’s direct store delivery network. Drivers stock store shelves themselves, making sure drinks stay cold and easy to find. Since 2018 Most competitors can’t match that reach, and investors have lifted KDP’s value to about fifteen billion dollars.
Even while they compete, the big three soda makers share some goals. KDP, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola all back the “Every Bottle Back” plan. It gathers used plastic bottles and turns them into new ones so fewer new bottles are needed. Each firm chips in money and know-how to enhance recycling bins and plant upgrades.
KDP’s lineup goes far beyond Dr Pepper. Shelters also carry Cactus Cooler, Nantucket Nectars, and Margaritaville mixers. Coffee pods and cold Starbucks drinks join the mix under partnership deals with Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, and C4 Energy. The wide range lets KDP pitch something for every taste and every time of day.
PepsiCo, meanwhile, faces tougher math. It’s raising prices to cover higher costs, but higher prices can push shoppers toward cheaper or newer options. Volume sales have slipped in some regions as buyers watch their wallets. Pepsi still owns a bigger total drink portfolio than KDP, yet balancing price hikes and lost volume remains a daily puzzle for its teams.
