Keurig Dr Pepper

Background Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, founded in 1979 in Vermont as a specialty coffee roaster, expanded nationwide in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It acquired Keurig, Inc. in 2006 and changed its name to Keurig Green Mountain in 2014. Dr Pepper Snapple Group was established in 2008 after its separation from Cadbury Schweppes, taking ownership of brands including Dr Pepper, Snapple, and 7 Up in the United States. Both companies operated independently until 2018. Formation (2018-2020) In July 2018, Keurig Green Mountain acquired Dr Pepper Snapple Group in a transaction valued at $18.7 billion. Dr Pepper Snapple Group was the legal successor, remained publicly traded, and was renamed Keurig Dr Pepper. The merger created one of the largest beverage company in North America. On July 10, shares in Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2018, KDP acquired regional carbonated‑soft‑drink brand Big Red and premium water brand CORE Hydration. The same year, KDP entered a long‑term distribution agreement with Danone to distribute a natural‑spring water brand in the United States. In early 2019, Keurig Dr Pepper announced the relocations of it Texas headquarters from Plano to a new 350,000-square-foot office in The Star in Frisco, Texas. In September of that year, McDonald's USA and KDP announced a long-term agreement the licensing and distribution of McCafé packaged coffee in the United States. In July 2020, KDP and Polar Beverages entered into a long-term agreement for the nationwide distribution of Polar Seltzer sparkling water products in the United States through KDP’s manufacturing and direct store delivery (DSD) network. The agreement built on an existing relationship in which Polar had served as a distributor and manufacturer for KDP in the Northeastern United States. The company then transferred its stock exchange listing to the NASDAQ. Later that year, KDP expanded its DSD network by obtaining distribution rights in New York and New Jersey through an agreement with The Honickman Companies and by acquiring additional territories in East Texas and Northern Louisiana. 2021-present In 2021, KDP relocated its beverage research and development laboratory to Frisco, Texas, near its corporate headquarters. In June 2022, the company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire global rights to Atypique, a Canadian non-alcoholic ready-to-drink cocktail brand offering beverages such as margaritas, gin and tonics, and mojitos. That same month, KDP added Intelligentsia Coffee to its partner portfolio, introducing the brand in K-Cup pod format for the first time. In November 2022, Keurig Dr Pepper made a US$50 million minority investment in Athletic Brewing Company, a U.S.-based producer of non-alcoholic craft beer. In December 2022, the company invested approximately US$863 million to acquire a 30% stake in Nutrabolt, the manufacturer of C4 Energy. The transaction included a long-term distribution agreement granting KDP rights to distribute C4 in most of its company-owned DSD territories. In July 2023, the company acquired a 33% stake in La Colombe Coffee Roasters for US$300 million. The investment was accompanied by a long-term sales and distribution agreement for La Colombe's ready-to-drink coffee beverages, along with a licensing arrangement for K-Cup pods in the United States and Canada. In October 2023, Keurig Dr Pepper signed a long-term distribution agreement with Grupo PiSA to distribute Electrolit, a Mexican sports drink brand, across most of KDP’s company-owned DSD territories in the United States. Distribution began in early 2024. Electrolit entered the U.S. market in 2014 and has become one of the highest-selling brands in the sports hydration category, which was valued at approximately US$11 billion. In May 2024, KDP and its green coffee sourcing division, Keurig Trading, opened a sourcing and logistics office in Varginha, Brazil, a major coffee-producing region. In September 2024, Keurig Dr Pepper entered into a long-term sales and distribution agreement with Black Rifle Coffee Company to launch Black Rifle Energy, a new line of zero-sugar ready-to-drink energy beverages. This expanded upon the companies’ existing collaboration on K-Cup pods. In October 2024, Keurig Dr Pepper agreed to acquire a 60% stake in Ghost, sports nutrition and energy drink company, for approximately US$990 million. The agreement includes an option to acquire the remaining 40% by 2028. Ghost continues to operate under its existing leadership within KDP's U.S. Refreshment Beverages segment. KDP committed up to US$250 million to support integration into its distribution network. In October 2025, KDP struck a deal with private-equity companies KKR and Apollo Global Management, along with Goldman Sachs to secure $7 billion in funding to support the acquisition and the planned separation of its coffee and beverage businesses into two public companies. In January 2026, KDP formally launched its all-cash takeover offer for JDE Peet’s at €31.85 per share after obtaining competition clearances. JDE Peet’s board supported the offer, and shareholders holding 69% of the company’s shares had committed to accept it. The following month, the company secured an additional $1.5 billion in equity funding for the deal. KDP also announced that it was targeting the separation of the combined business into Global Coffee Co and Beverage Co by the end of 2026. In April 2026, as part of its planned post-acquisition separation, Keurig Dr Pepper named JDE Peet’s chief executive Rafael Oliveira to lead its coffee operating unit and the future Global Coffee Co, while Tim Cofer was set to lead Beverage Co. ==Corporate affairs==

Inventory lawsuit The SEC began to look into how then-named Green Mountain Coffee accounted for revenue in 2010. Shortly afterward, a class action lawsuit began regarding how inventory was handled, with the amended lawsuit being filed April 30, 2012. Plaintiffs stated Green Mountain Coffee had maintained demand was high enough that no excess inventory had been produced even while production continued to increase. Confidential Green Mountain Coffee employees had stated inventory had been moved between locations without documentation in order to overstate inventory counts and inflate earnings. Sustainability GMCR implemented environmental policies within two years of its founding, and environmentalism and sustainability were important policies for which Green Mountain became well known. Among other initiatives within Green Mountain's first decade, in 1983 employees began composting used coffee grounds at its retail stores; in 1986 the company introduced its first organic coffee in a retail market test; in 1989 it formed an Employee Environmental Committee, and began a recycling program; in 1997 it pioneered the first biodegradable bag for bulk coffee purchases; In 2005, Green Mountain was the first coffee company to support the United Nations' Global Reporting Initiative mission to develop globally accepted sustainability reporting guidelines. In 2008 GMCR's board of directors added a social and environmental responsibility committee. The company offsets 100% of its direct greenhouse gases, and prioritizes waste reduction and responsible energy use, and sustainability over the life-cycle of its products. In addition to other awards and recognition for sustainable practices, GMCR was on Sustainable Businesss "World's Top 20 Sustainable Business Stocks" annually from 2002 to 2007, and as of 2015 it is on the EPA's National Top 100 of green power users in the U.S. In 2014, Keurig Green Mountain announced a multi-faceted effort to address the long-term challenges of the global water crisis, and instituted an initial commitment of $11 million to support nonprofits working to promote water security. Environmental advocates and journalists have criticized the company for the billions of non-recyclable and non-biodegradable K-Cups consumers purchase and dispose of every year, and for the dichotomy between the company's historic environmentally conscious image and the impact of K-Cups on the environment. In 2015, the company's chief sustainability officer stated that every new K-Cup spin-off product introduced since 2006 – including the Vue, Bolt, and K-Carafe cups – is recyclable if disassembled into paper, plastic, and metal components. In its 2014 Sustainability Report, released in February 2015, Keurig Green Mountain re-affirmed that a priority for the company is ensuring that 100% of K-Cup pods are recyclable by 2020. Corporate social responsibility From its inception, and in tandem with its environmentally conscious outlook, Green Mountain has had a culture grounded in social responsibility, community mindedness, philanthropy, and respect for employees. Among other recognition and awards for its corporate social responsibility (CSR), GMCR was not under consideration for the ranking in 2008, because the focus switched to exclusively large-cap companies. It re-entered the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list in 2010 and 2013. In 2005, Green Mountain released its first Corporate Social Responsibility Report. In 2008, GMCR's board of directors added a social and environmental responsibility committee overseeing the company's social responsibilities. GMCR was a pioneer in the Fair Trade movement in 2000, guaranteeing farmers a steady minimum price far above market value. Since 2010 Green Mountain has been the largest purchaser of Fair Trade coffee in the world. In addition, the company was from its beginnings known for its long-term relationships and fair dealings with coffee-growing suppliers, and for its large percentage of farmer-direct coffee purchases. GMCR has prioritized initiatives to alleviate poverty and hunger in coffee-growing communities. These include Coffee Kids, an international non-profit which improves the lives of children and families in remote coffee-growing villages; and the FomCafe cooperative's quality-control training program, which helps farmers earn higher profits for coffee. and through it Green Mountain has provided millions of dollars in loans to cash-strapped coffee farmers. In 2002 Green Mountain also formed a joint alliance with the U.S. Agency for International Development, to improve the livelihoods of those in impoverished coffee-growing regions. The company offers employees continuous training and development opportunities; tuition for outside education; profit-sharing; financial education; and continuous career-advancement support. Employees are paid for up to 52 hours of volunteer work in their community per year. GMCR has been on Forbes list of Best Small Companies five times, and has been recognized as a "Best Place to Work" in HR Magazine. The domestic segment produces and sells coffee, hot cocoa, teas and other beverages, to be prepared hot or cold, in Keurig pods; it also sells coffee in traditional packaging, including whole beans and ground coffee in bags, and ground coffee in fractional packs. It also sells patented Keurig single-cup brewing systems for use both at home and away from home. Through its owned brands and through its partnerships and licensing, Keurig Green Mountain's K-Cup pods offer more than 400 varieties of coffee, tea, and other beverages from 60 brands, including the top ten best-selling coffee brands in the U.S. Corporate governance Founder Bob Stiller was president and CEO of the company from 1981 until 2007, when he stepped down but remained chairman until May 2012. Lawrence J. Blanford became Green Mountain's president and CEO in 2007. Brian Kelley, previously chief product supply officer of Coca-Cola Refreshments, became the company's president and CEO in December 2012. In March 2016, JAB Holding Company and other investors acquired Keurig Green Mountain. The pre-existing management team, with Gamgort as its new CEO, continued to run Keurig Green Mountain as an independent entity, following its acquisition by JAB Holding Company. In April 2024, Tim Cofer became the CEO of Keurig Dr Pepper, while Robert Gamgort remained in the position of Executive Chairman. == Brands ==