Why Is There No Diet Dr Pepper in Stores? Explained (2024)

Last Updated on April 17, 2024 by Shari Mason

The lack of Diet Dr Pepper in the store has raised curiosity and questions.

Through my own firsthand experiences and insider knowledge, join me as we unveil why is there no Diet Dr Pepper in stores, explore the theories, and seek answers.

Let’s uncover the reasons and unravel the tale of this hard-to-find soda.

Real Reason Behind No Diet Dr Pepper In Stores

Based on our research, Keurig Dr. Pepper, the brand’s parent company, confirms that they are working on supply issues with their allocations nationwide because there is a shortage of Diet Dr Pepper in stores.

Many fans of Diet Dr Pepper have been speculating about the scarcity of these diet sodas in groceries nationwide.

The fans believe Dr Pepper canceled its diet version after the Dr Pepper zero sugars variant debuted last 2021.

Another assumption is that the coronavirus period caused the diet soda shortage. People hoard and stack up food and drinks during the pandemic, which can partially increase the demand for soda.

Also, it affects labor shortage and inflation since people and commodities are restricted due to lockdowns.

Was There a Shortage in Aluminum Cans?

Yes, based on our research, there was a shortage of aluminum cans during the pandemic’s peak. The increasingly high demand for market-in-can products has been continuously rising, which caused a high demand for metals.

Many people fear potential lockdowns because of the pandemic. So, shortages lead not only to aluminum but most found commodities like canned food, toilet paper, containers, and even a cup shortage.

I can’t do coffee, but I can do Dr. Pepper.“

Cher, Singer

I learned that the production and supply of items, including aluminum cans, had been constrained. Throughout the pandemic, the shortage partially caused price increases.

So many beverage industries, like Dr Pepper, struggled to sustain and produce extra-canned beverages.Find out if Restaurant Depot accepts EBT here.

High Demand For Diet Dr Pepper In Stores

I discovered that Diet Dr Pepper is one of the leading brands of regular carbonated soft drinks in the United States, along with Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people store in-cans and multi-pack products they can consume at home.

In-cans are lightweight and more convenient than glass alternatives, making them a top choice for consumers.

This high demand for Diet Dr Pepper has increased its sales. For 2021, Dr Pepper increased a 9.2% to $12.68 billion, compared to their 2020 $11.62 billion net sale.

Read: How Do You Drink Something Without Tasting It?

Dr Pepper Available Flavors

Dr Pepper has 23 flavors: amaretto, cola, cherry, caramel, coriander juniper, birch, pepper, anise, sarsaparilla, ginger, licorice, vanilla, blackberry, apricot, blackberry, molasses, lemon, plum, orange, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, and prickly ash.

This gives a more alluring flavor to all kinds of Dr Pepper, which includes their regular soda signature Dr Pepper and diet versions.

Also, it has cherry variants such as Cherry Dr Pepper, Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper, and its Diet Cherry Dr Pepper. Dr Pepper also offers caffeine-free variants and real sugar beverages commemorating its 125th anniversary in 2010.

They pitched their Dr Pepper Cream Soda variant last 2020, which also comes in diet form. In 2021, they launched the zero sugar variants (the original, Zero Sugar Dr Pepper Cherry, and Zero Sugar Dr Pepper Cream Soda).

Is Diet Dr Pepper Discontinued?

No, Diet Dr Pepper is not discontinued. The absence of Diet Dr Pepper on store shelves is partially due to the increased demand for diet sodas.

Some assumptions arose that it would replace the company’s current diet offering after launching Zero Sugar in 2021.

Dr Pepper’s spokesperson disclaimed this speculation. Diet Dr Pepper has not been discontinued and will remain available in stores and online.

Also, the Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla Diet variant was discontinued, not the diet version. It was halted last July 2012 but returned in 2018 in limited Southern markets.

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How Much Caffeine Does It Contain?

Diet Dr Pepper contains about 41mg of caffeine in a 12oz in-can, the same as the original Dr Pepper flavor.

It has more caffeine than other diet sodas like Diet co*ke and Diet Pepsi. But coffee is a much stronger caffeine source than Dr Pepper, with around 90mg in an 8oz cup.

However, Dr Pepper offers no caffeine variants, which compete with caffeine-free Diet co*ke products.

Who Owns Dr Pepper?

The Keurig Green Mountain company currently owns Dr Pepper Snapple Group. But Dr Pepper Snapple Group owned Dr Pepper originally.

Keurig Green Mountain purchased Dr Pepper in July 2018. This company is formerly known as Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

It’s an American coffee company that manufactures brewing systems and sells coffee beans and ground coffee in bags.

After acquiring Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Keurig Green Mountain changed its name to Keurig Dr Pepper.

Strategies to Combat Diet Dr Pepper Shortage

I learned that the company made some strategies to combat the Diet Dr. Pepper shortage, hoping to keep up with the demand.

The company worked to ramp up production at its existing facilities and build new facilities to meet the demand.

As they work on increased production, they start prioritizing shipments to areas with the highest demand or major retailers selling large volumes of the product.

FAQs

Summary

There is no Diet Dr. Pepper in stores because of the rise of demand. The shortage of Diet Dr Pepper in grocery stores has been unanticipated. The increased demand for this popular soda resulted in some supply issues.

Production and supply have been widely affected due to the pandemic but Dr Pepper has been striving to work out with its distribution partners by keeping shelves stocked nationwide.

The longing for that familiar taste and the desire to enjoy this beloved beverage continues to grow. I remain hopeful that the shelves will soon be replenished, satisfying our cravings and bringing back the joy of sipping on a cold, refreshing Diet Dr Pepper.

If you still can’t find Dr Pepper, you can try other soft drink options like Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or caffeine-free Coca-Cola.

References:

1. https://www.delish.com/food-news/a33584775/dr-pepper-shortage/
2. https://finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/not-drill-dr-pepper-just-170900833.html