Is Core Hydration owned by Keurig Dr Pepper?

Yes. Keurig Dr Pepper acquired Core Nutrition LLC, the parent of Core Hydration, in 2018 for $525 million. Core Hydration operates as a wholly-owned brand within KDP's packaged beverages portfolio. KDP is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker KDP.

Who founded Core Hydration?

Core Hydration was founded in 2015 by Lance Collins and Lukasz Gottwald (Dr. Luke). Collins was a veteran beverage entrepreneur who previously co-founded FUZE Beverage and NOS Energy Drink. The brand launched with backing from celebrities including Katy Perry, Diplo, and Becky G.

What makes Core Hydration different from regular bottled water?

Core Hydration is purified water balanced with electrolytes and minerals to achieve a pH of 7.4, which matches the body's natural pH balance. It contains added calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The brand positions itself as a functional hydration product rather than plain water.

Are Core Hydration bottles really 100% recycled?

Yes. Core Hydration transitioned its full product line to bottles made from 100% recycled plastic in early 2021. The bottles are also BPA-free and 100% recyclable. This made Core one of the first premium water brands to use 100% recycled plastic for its entire product line.

Where can I buy Core Hydration?

Core Hydration is available at major U.S. retailers including grocery stores, convenience stores, and mass merchandisers. It is distributed through Keurig Dr Pepper's direct store delivery network and independent distributor network. The brand's website includes a store locator at https://www.drinkcore.com.

Is Core Hydration affected by KDP's planned company separation?

In 2026, KDP announced plans to acquire JDE Peet's and subsequently separate into two independent pure-play companies. It is not yet clear how Core Hydration will be allocated between the two new entities. The separation is expected to take place after the JDE Peet's acquisition closes, which KDP anticipates in early April 2026.

Food & Beverage

Who Owns Core Hydration?

Core Hydration is a premium purified water brand owned by Keurig Dr Pepper (Nasdaq: KDP). Founded in 2015 by Lance Collins and Lukasz Gottwald, the brand was acquired by KDP in 2018 for $525 million. Core Hydration is known for its pH-balanced water with added electrolytes and 100% recycled plastic bottles. It is headquartered in Plano, Texas, USA.

Parent Company

Keurig Dr Pepper

Acquired

2018

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Plano, Texas, USA

Core Hydration Timeline

2015

Core Hydration

Founded by Lance Collins, Lukasz Gottwald

Founded

2018

Acquired by Keurig Dr Pepper

Keurig Dr Pepper acquired Core Hydration

Acquired

mid rangepremiumUnited Statesrecycled materialsOfficial Website

Who Owns Core Hydration?

Parent Company: Keurig Dr Pepper
Ownership Type: Wholly owned
Acquisition Year: 2018
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: KDP

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Core Hydration	Keurig Dr Pepper	Wholly owned

Where to Buy

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Core Hydration on Amazon

History of Core Hydration

Founded: 2015
Founders: Lance Collins, Lukasz Gottwald
Acquired by Keurig Dr Pepper: 2018

Lance Collins developed Core Hydration in the early 2010s. Collins was already a veteran beverage entrepreneur, having co-founded FUZE Beverage and NOS Energy Drink, both of which were later acquired by Coca-Cola. He partnered with music producer Lukasz Gottwald, known professionally as Dr. Luke, to launch the brand with backing from celebrities including Katy Perry, Diplo, and Becky G.

Core Hydration officially launched in March 2015 from El Segundo, California. The product was positioned as a premium purified water with a pH of 7.4, balanced with electrolytes and minerals including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The brand marketed itself as working in harmony with the body's natural pH balance, differentiating it from both acidic and highly alkaline waters on the market.

The brand grew quickly. By 2016, Core had secured distribution through major regional distributors across the United States, including Honickman in the mid-Atlantic, Columbia Distributing in the Pacific Northwest, and General Distributing in the southwest. Core Hydration was carried at major retailers like Albertsons, Kroger, Safeway, and 7-Eleven.

In 2016, KDP (then Dr Pepper Snapple Group) signed on as a distribution partner, eventually handling approximately two-thirds of Core's U.S. distribution. This relationship proved critical. When Keurig Green Mountain merged with Dr Pepper Snapple Group in 2018 to form Keurig Dr Pepper, the new company moved quickly to acquire Core outright, paying $525 million for the entire Core Nutrition portfolio, which included Core Hydration and Core Organic.

Under KDP ownership, Core Hydration continued to grow. In early 2021, the brand transitioned its full product line to bottles made from 100% recycled plastic. At the time, Core was the fastest-growing brand in the premium water category. Later that year, Core became the first premium water brand and the first KDP brand to join TikTok, launching the #FindYourCore challenge, which generated nearly 2 million videos and over 2.5 billion views in three days.

In 2023, KDP launched the "Find Your Core" campaign with actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld as the brand's first celebrity ambassador since the acquisition. The campaign coincided with a 14% year-over-year increase in retail dollar sales in Q1. The brand has since continued to expand its flavor offerings and product formats while maintaining its core pH-balanced positioning.

About Keurig Dr Pepper

Is Keurig Dr Pepper owned by another company?
No, Keurig Dr Pepper is an independent, publicly traded company with no parent organization. The company was formed through the 2018 merger of Keurig Green Mountain and Dr Pepper Snapple Group and trades on NASDAQ under KDP. JAB Holding Company, which held a controlling stake at formation, has fully divested its shares. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake.

Is Keurig Dr Pepper publicly traded?
Yes, Keurig Dr Pepper trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol KDP. The company plans to separate into two standalone public companies, Global Coffee Co. and Beverage Co., targeted for late 2026. Each entity is expected to carry its own NASDAQ listing following the separation.

When was Keurig Dr Pepper founded?
Keurig Dr Pepper was formed on July 9, 2018, through the merger of Keurig Green Mountain and Dr Pepper Snapple Group. On April 1, 2026, KDP completed its $18 billion acquisition of JDE Peet's, the most significant expansion in the company's history.

What is Keurig Dr Pepper's revenue?
KDP reported FY2025 net sales of $16.6 billion, up 8.2% from $15.4 billion in FY2024. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.05, up 7.3%. For 2026, KDP provided guidance of $25.9 to $26.4 billion in net sales, including the JDE Peet's contribution from April onward.

What brands does Keurig Dr Pepper own after the JDE Peet's acquisition?
Following the April 1, 2026 close, KDP's portfolio includes two platforms: Future Global Coffee Co. brands (Keurig, Peet's Coffee, Jacob's, Douwe Egberts, L'OR, Senseo, Tassimo, Moccona) and future Beverage Co. brands (Dr Pepper, 7UP, Snapple, Canada Dry, Mott's, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Crush, GHOST, Bai, Core Hydration). The separation into two independent companies is targeted for late 2026.

What is Keurig Dr Pepper's market position?
Following the JDE Peet's acquisition close, KDP is the world's second-largest coffee business by revenue after Nestle, with a combined coffee portfolio of approximately $16 billion in annual revenue. In North American soft drinks, KDP is the third-largest competitor after Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.

Who will lead Global Coffee Co. and Beverage Co.?
KDP named Rafael Oliveira, formerly CEO of JDE Peet's, as the incoming CEO of the planned Global Coffee Co. spinoff. The CEO search for Beverage Co. was underway as of August 2026. Both companies are targeted to be independent, publicly traded entities by late 2026.

Founded: 2018
Headquarters: Burlington, Massachusetts, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NASDAQ: KDP
Revenue: $16.6B (FY2025)
Employees: ~28,000 (pre-JDE Peet's)

Visit Keurig Dr Pepper website

View full company profile for Keurig Dr Pepper

Where Is Core Hydration Made / Based?

Headquarters: Plano, Texas, USA
Manufacturing / Operations: United States

Core Hydration Categories & Tags

Purified Water Enhanced Water Hydration Bottled Water American Brand

Core Hydration Sustainability & Ethics

Core Hydration transitioned its full product line to bottles made from 100% recycled plastic in early 2021. At the time, it was one of the first premium water brands to make this change. The shift addressed growing consumer concern about plastic waste in the bottled water industry.

The brand operates under Keurig Dr Pepper's corporate sustainability framework. KDP has set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and waste across its manufacturing operations. The company aims to make all packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable and has invested in lightweight packaging designs to reduce material usage.

Core Hydration's bottles are BPA-free and 100% recyclable. The brand encourages consumers to recycle through clear labeling on packaging. However, the brand has not obtained independent third-party certifications for its broader sustainability claims beyond its use of recycled materials. The sustainabilityFlags field reflects only the verified recycled-materials certification.

As a bottled water brand, Core Hydration faces inherent tension between its business model and environmental concerns about water extraction and plastic packaging. The 100% recycled bottle initiative is the brand's most concrete sustainability action to date.

Core Hydration Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Backed by KDP's extensive distribution network and retail relationships
+Premium positioning in the growing functional water segment
+100% recycled plastic bottles, addressing environmental concerns
+Celebrity and influencer marketing partnerships
+Strong brand recognition among health-conscious consumers

Considerations

-Premium pricing compared to standard purified water
-Faces intense competition from both established and emerging brands
-Bottled water category faces ongoing environmental criticism
-Dependent on KDP's corporate strategy, including the planned separation into two companies
-Limited international presence compared to competitors owned by Coca-Cola or PepsiCo

Frequently Asked Questions About Core Hydration

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Core Hydration

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Aquafina	Pepsico	USA	1994	Mass market	Global	All Genders
Dasani	Coca Cola Company	USA	1999	Mass market	Global	All Genders
Aqua	Danone	Indonesia	1973	Mass market	Asia pacific	All Genders
Poland Spring	Bluetriton Brands	USA	1845	Mass market	United states	All Genders
vitaminwater	Coca Cola Company	USA	1996	Mass market	Global	All-ages