Who Makes Diet Crush? The Keurig Dr Pepper Story

As of 2025, Keurig Dr Pepper is a leading beverage company in North America with annual revenue of approximately $15 billion. It is this industry giant that makes Diet Crush, which is now branded as Crush Zero Sugar, as part of its extensive portfolio of iconic soft drink brands.

Quick Summary

Keurig Dr Pepper is the manufacturer and international marketer of the Crush soda brand, including its zero-sugar varieties. The Crush brand has a long history involving several major corporations, with Keurig Dr Pepper acquiring the rights through a series of corporate transitions over the decades. The company distributes its products across North America and internationally via various bottling partners.

Key Points

• Ownership: Diet Crush is made by Keurig Dr Pepper, a leading North American beverage company.

• Rebranding: The 'Diet Crush' product is now more commonly known and marketed as 'Zero Sugar Crush'.

• Parent Company History: The Crush brand has changed hands several times, from founder Neil C. Ward to Procter & Gamble, Cadbury Schweppes, and eventually to Keurig Dr Pepper.

• Distribution Network: In North America, the distribution of Crush and other KDP products is often handled by external partners, such as PepsiCo.

• Product Lineup: Keurig Dr Pepper produces a full portfolio of Crush products, including the popular Orange, Grape, and Strawberry flavors, in both regular and zero-sugar varieties.

• Caffeine-Free: Most flavors of Crush soda, including the zero-sugar versions, are caffeine-free.

The Company Behind the Crush Brand

For anyone asking who makes Diet Crush, the answer is Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP). This conglomerate holds and markets the Crush brand, which was originally created back in 1911 as an orange soda. While the 'diet' label has often been replaced by 'zero sugar' to align with modern marketing trends, the product's ownership remains with Keurig Dr Pepper. KDP is a major player in the North American beverage industry, with a portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed, and partner brands, from coffee to soft drinks.

A Corporate Family Tree: Crush's Journey to Keurig Dr Pepper

The ownership history of the Crush brand is a winding path that involves several large corporations. Understanding this history helps explain how Crush came to be part of the Keurig Dr Pepper family. The journey looks like this:

• The Early Years (1911): The brand was founded by beverage and extract chemist Neil C. Ward.
• The Procter & Gamble Era (1980): Procter & Gamble acquired the Crush brand (with the exception of Canadian rights).
• The Cadbury Schweppes Period (1989): Cadbury Schweppes acquired Crush USA from Procter & Gamble Co., placing it within a larger soft drink portfolio.
• The Formation of Dr Pepper Snapple Group (2008): Cadbury Schweppes spun off its U.S. beverage business, forming the Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
• The Keurig Merger (2018): Keurig Green Mountain acquired the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, creating the combined entity, Keurig Dr Pepper.

This history of mergers and acquisitions is common in the beverage industry and demonstrates how even legacy brands like Crush can change hands many times. The result is that a wide variety of familiar brands, including both caffeinated and caffeine-free options, are consolidated under the Keurig Dr Pepper umbrella.

Comparison: Diet Crush vs. Other KDP Brands

To put Crush's position in the KDP portfolio into perspective, it helps to compare it to other prominent brands from the same company. The table below outlines key differences and similarities.

Feature	Diet/Zero Sugar Crush	7UP Zero Sugar (US)	Dr Pepper Zero Sugar	Sunkist Zero Sugar Orange
Flavor Profile	Fruit-forward (orange, grape, etc.)	Lemon-lime	23-flavor blend	Orange-forward, often includes caffeine
Caffeine Status	Caffeine-free	Caffeine-free	Caffeinated	Caffeinated
Market Position	Legacy orange soda brand	Iconic lemon-lime soft drink	Unique-tasting cola	Licensed citrus brand
Primary Competitors	Fanta, Sunkist (historically)	Sprite	Pepsi, Coca-Cola	Crush, Fanta
Primary Sweetener	Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium	Often Aspartame, Acesulfame K	Combination of sweeteners	Varies by flavor/market

This comparison shows how KDP strategically manages a diverse portfolio, with different brands competing in various flavor categories. While some KDP brands are caffeinated, the company ensures that caffeine-free options like Crush are available for a different segment of the market.

The Role of Bottlers and Distributors

While Keurig Dr Pepper owns the Crush trademark, the actual manufacturing and distribution process is often managed by a network of bottling partners. This is a common practice in the beverage industry, where the brand owner licenses the product to independent companies for production and regional distribution. This model allows KDP to maintain a broad market reach without owning every single bottling facility. For example, in North America, PepsiCo handles some of the distribution for Crush. The bottling and distribution agreements can vary by region, and have evolved over time with changes in ownership, such as the 2009 shift that expanded Crush distribution via Pepsi bottlers in the U.S..

Conclusion

In summary, the next time you enjoy a Diet Crush (now Zero Sugar Crush), you can thank Keurig Dr Pepper. The company holds the rights to the classic orange soda and its diet versions, steering the brand as part of its vast beverage empire. With a history that has seen the brand pass through the hands of several major corporations, Crush has settled under the Keurig Dr Pepper umbrella. This modern-day iteration of the brand offers a wide range of fruit-flavored soda options, including the zero-calorie varieties for which customers continue to have a high demand.

Official Website for Crush Soda: crushsoda.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Diet Crush called now?

Diet Crush is now marketed as Crush Zero Sugar. This branding change reflects a broader industry trend toward emphasizing 'zero sugar' over 'diet' to appeal to modern consumers seeking no-sugar options.

Does Crush soda contain caffeine?

No, most flavors of Crush, including the zero-sugar varieties, are caffeine-free. This is a key differentiator from some other orange sodas on the market, such as Sunkist.

Is Crush a Pepsi or Coca-Cola product?

Neither. The Crush brand is owned by Keurig Dr Pepper. While PepsiCo acts as a North American distributor for some of its products, it does not own the brand.

Who originally created the Crush soda formula?

The Crush soda formula was originally created in 1911 by beverage and extract chemist Neil C. Ward.

When did Keurig Dr Pepper acquire the Crush brand?

Keurig Dr Pepper acquired the Crush brand indirectly. It gained ownership when Keurig Green Mountain merged with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group in 2018. Dr Pepper Snapple Group, in turn, had spun off from Cadbury Schweppes, which had bought Crush in 1989.

What other brands does Keurig Dr Pepper own?

Keurig Dr Pepper owns a large portfolio of popular beverage brands, including Dr Pepper, 7UP (in the US), A&W Root Beer, Canada Dry, and Snapple.

Are Crush sodas available internationally?

Yes, Crush is available in many international markets, although distribution partners vary by region. For instance, in parts of North America, it is distributed by PepsiCo, while in some Latin American countries, it may be distributed by Coca-Cola bottlers.