Who Owns Schweppes?

Schweppes was founded in 1783 by Jacob Schweppe, a Swiss-German watchmaker and amateur scientist who had been experimenting with carbonating water in Geneva. Schweppe developed a practical method for producing carbonated mineral water on a commercial scale, building on the scientific work of Joseph Priestley, who had discovered how to infuse water with carbon dioxide in 1767.

Schweppe initially sold his carbonated water in Geneva, marketing it as a health product. The business was successful enough that Schweppe relocated to London in 1792, establishing a factory in Drury Lane to serve the British market. The company supplied carbonated water to the British royal family and received a royal warrant.

The development of Schweppes tonic water in the 19th century was driven by the British colonial experience in India. British soldiers and colonial administrators were required to take quinine as a prophylactic against malaria, but quinine's intensely bitter taste made it difficult to consume. Mixing quinine with carbonated water and sugar produced a more palatable drink, and Schweppes developed a commercial tonic water formulation. The practice of mixing tonic water with gin produced the gin and tonic, one of the world's most popular cocktails.

Schweppes expanded its product range through the 19th and early 20th centuries, adding ginger ale, lemonade, and other carbonated beverages. The brand became one of the most recognized beverage brands in the British Empire.

In 1969, Schweppes merged with Cadbury, forming Cadbury Schweppes PLC. The merger combined Cadbury's confectionery brands with Schweppes' beverage portfolio. Cadbury Schweppes grew into a major international food and beverage company, acquiring Dr Pepper and 7 Up in the United States.

In 1999, Cadbury Schweppes sold the Schweppes trademark in the United Kingdom and more than 150 other countries to The Coca-Cola Company for approximately $1.85 billion. Coca-Cola had wanted the continental European rights as well, but European competition regulators blocked that portion of the deal. The European rights remained with Cadbury Schweppes and eventually passed to Suntory.

In 2008, Cadbury Schweppes separated its beverage and confectionery businesses. The beverage operations, including Dr Pepper, 7 Up, Snapple, and the North American Schweppes business, became Dr Pepper Snapple Group. The confectionery business retained the Cadbury name and was subsequently acquired by Kraft Foods in 2010, becoming part of what is now Mondelez International.

In 2018, Keurig Green Mountain acquired Dr Pepper Snapple Group, forming Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (Nasdaq: KDP). KDP became the owner of the Schweppes trademark in the United States and Canada.

In August 2025, Keurig Dr Pepper announced an agreement to acquire JDE Peet's, a European coffee company, for approximately $18.4 billion. KDP plans to subsequently separate into two independent publicly traded U.S.-listed companies: a Beverage Co. focused on refreshment beverages (including Schweppes, Dr Pepper, 7 Up, Canada Dry, and Snapple) and a Global Coffee Co. focused on coffee brands. Schweppes will be part of the Beverage Co. after the separation. The transaction is expected to close in 2026.