New York (CNN) Two popular Texas brands came together to create a range Dr. Pepper Float ice cream.
The soft drink company entered into a partnership with Blue Bell Creameries To create the flavor that blends vanilla ice cream and Dr. Pepper flavored sorbet. The company announced that it’s available starting Thursday in pint and half-gallon sizes at stores where Blue Bell is sold.
“The best ice cream floats are made with Dr. Pepper poured over a few scoops of Blue Bell,” Jamie Lahorn, Blue Bell’s vice president of sales and marketing, said in a statement.
Dr. Pepper and Blue Bell both have Texas roots.
Founded in 1885 in Waco, Texas, Dr. Pepper was first in a wave of soda start-up companies in the 19th century. (The post-Doctor fell through in the 1950s for design reasons.) The small brand rose to prominence in the latter half of the 20th century and helped shape the soft drink industry, all while cementing its reputation as an outsider.
Over the years, Dr. Pepper has found success as an exotic alternative to Coca-Cola and Pepsi. It’s the champion brand Keurig Dr. Paper (KDP) which, along with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, make up the three largest soda companies in the $37 billion US market, as measured by NIQ in retail and convenience stores.
Recently, Dr Pepper has been gaining ground over its competitors, even as the overall soda market has stabilized.
Dr Pepper soda grew its dollar share by 9% from 2003 to 2021, compared to a 26% decline in the soft drink category overall, according to Keurig Dr Pepper, citing the IRI and Beverage Digest factbook. Today, Dr. Pepper is the fourth most popular soda in the country after Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Mountain Dew.
Meanwhile, Blue Bell was started in 1807 in Brenham by a group of businessmen making butter from excess cream from area farms. Originally called Brenham Creamery, the company changed its name to Blue Bell in 1930, and in 1958 expanded its product line with ice cream.
Danielle Weiner Brunner contributed to this report
