Pibb Xtra is a reformulation of Mr. Pibb (sometimes styled as Mr. PiBB), a soft drink created and marketed by The Coca-Cola Company. It is a kind of pepper soda[2] with several variants.
As of 2020, Pibb Xtra is sold in bottles, cans, and two-liter bottles, and is available in most Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. It has a subtle cherry undertone.
History
Mr. Pibb advertisement
First introduced as "Peppo" to compete against Dr Pepper,[3] the name was changed to "Mr. Pibb" after Dr Pepper sued The Coca-Cola Company for trademark infringement.[4] The original test markets for Mr. Pibb in 1972 were located in Waco, Texas[5] the birthplace of Dr Pepper, before the company moved to Dallas, Texas.[6] In 1980, Mr. Pibb was reformulated and marketed with the words "New Taste" printed prominently on the products.[7]
In 2001, a cinnamon-forward "spicy cherry" flavor replaced the original formula in many parts of the United States, marketed as a bolder version of original Mr. Pibb.[8] As recently as 2020, Pibb Xtra has been marketed as a "refreshing, spicy cherry alternative to regular cola".[1][9][10]
Variations
Standard flavors
Pibb Xtra, introduced in 2001, replaced Mr. PiBB. It is not merely a re-branding, but a reformulation.
Pibb Zero replaced Diet Mr. PiBB.
Coca-Cola Freestyle flavors
Pibb is now available in some Freestyle machines at restaurant chains that do not serve Dr Pepper or regions where Dr Pepper is not bottled by a local Coca-Cola distributor, which introduced the brand to new countries exclusively through the machines.[11] In 2011, Pibb Xtra expanded to two new flavors: Pibb Xtra Cherry and Pibb Xtra Cherry-Vanilla. Released for Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, both new flavors were also released for Pibb Zero. Pibb Xtra Strawberry was released in 2018, along with Dr Pepper and Coca-Cola Strawberry.
Ingredients
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, potassium sorbate and potassium benzoate, artificial and natural flavors, caffeine, monosodium phosphate, lactic acid, polyethylene glycol.
^Dougherty, Philip H. (1973), "Advertising: Howdy to Mr. Pibb, Furs, Feathers, Fins Direct Mail Doings People", The New York Times (June 27, 2001): 109
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