1990s-Present
1990
This 48 quart, Model 5286 chest cooler was manufactured in June, 1990 by the Coleman Co., Inc. in Wichita, Kansas.
(Figure
1990-01, Coleman chest cooler)
1991
During 1991 Cadbury Schweppes’ copywriters didn’t
bother to research Hires’ extensive history and repeated historical
dating errors and tired myths when developing a marketing push to
recognize what they apparently believed was Hires’ 115th year
of operation. Here’s an
example of a bulletin sent to Hires bottlers:
(Figure
1991-01, 115th anniversary
bulletin)
1992
(Figure
1992-01, amber 12 fluid ounce ACL bottle)
(Figure
1992-02, cardboard six pack of amber 12 fluid ounce ACL bottles)
1993
(Figure
1993-01, wooden free drink token, 1.5" diameter, front and back)
1995
When the game of POGS (originally known as "milk caps") became popular during the early 1990s, Cadbury Beverages, Inc. in Canada partnered with Warner Bros to produce these examples picturing the cartoon characters Sylvester and Tweety. For more information about the origin of the milk caps game search Wikipedia for "POGS."
(Figure
1995-01, Hires and Warner Bros. POGS, front)
(Figure
1995-01, Hires and Warner Bros. POGS, back)
1996
During 1996, Cadbury Schweppes was advertising “Hires
Root Beer, America’s oldest root beer, is more than 120 years old and
the oldest continuously marketed soft drink in the United States…Charles
Hires stubbornly insisted on using better ingredients and flavorings
than his competitor. This
frustrated his accountants, but Hires Root Beer ultimately became
synonymous with high quality, a Hires trait appreciated by today’s loyal
customers.”
1998
A 1998 press release made this announcement:
VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA, March 9, 1998
Brio Industries Inc. is pleased to announce that it
has been appointed by Cadbury Beverages Canada Inc. as the exclusive
distributor of Hires Root Beer in all territories of Western Canada and
Ontario formerly serviced by Pepsi-Cola Canada Ltd.
Hires is the number one selling branded root beer in
Canada. From that lofty
position, the brand last year posted strong, double-digit growth
nationally. (Source: A. C. Nielsen survey for 52 weeks ended January 3,
1998.)
Brio Chairman and CEO Ralph McRae said “We are
extremely proud of our new arrangements with Cadbury Beverages.
They are precisely the type of partner we have sought for our
Integrated Distribution System.
I view this as a very significant relationship for our company;
one upon which we look to build for the future.”
Brio’s Integrated Distribution System combines the
Company’s packaging, warehousing, distribution, sales, merchandising and
information resources in a unique system that provides independent brand
owners with a cost-effective means of distributing their products to a
broad market.
Under the terms of the multi-year relationship, Brio
will purchase Hires concentrate from Cadbury and be responsible for all
aspects of packaging, distribution, merchandising and marketing.
Cadbury will provide additional support to Brio for marketing and
listing programs for the brand.
Brio is the largest independent packager and
distributor of soft drinks, juices, waters and new age beverages in
Western Canada.
2001
Cadbury Schweppes continued limited support for the
Hires brand with this 2001 press release:
Hires Root Beer Celebrates 125th Anniversary
PLANO, TEXAS – Hires Root Beer, which was first introduced in 1876 at the U.S. Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, will celebrate its 125th anniversary this week.
“Hires Root Beer is not only America’s original root
beer, but it is also the oldest continuously marketed soft drink in the
United States,” said Tracy Burgess, associate brand manager for Hires
Root Beer. “We are proud of
the strong heritage of the product and the exceptional quality and taste
it has provided consumers for the past 125 years.”
To commemorate its 125th anniversary,
Hires Root Beer will take part in a special celebration at Memorial Hall
in Philadelphia to honor the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is also
celebrating its 125th anniversary.
Memorial Hall was the site of the Fine Arts Gallery at the U.S.
Centennial Exhibition that took place between May 10, 1876, and Nov. 10,
1876, and was also the original location of the museum.
As part of the celebration, Hires Root Beer will be served to
guests attending the museum event…
Hires Root Beer is a brand of Plano, Texas-based Dr
Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., the leading non-cola soft drink enterprise in
North America and the largest subsidiary of London-based Cadbury
Schweppes plc. Its soft
drink brands represent about 16 percent of the U.S. carbonated soft
drink market. In addition
to Hires Root Beer, the company’s other major soft drink brands are Dr
Pepper, 7 Up, Canada Dry, Schweppes, A&W Root Beer, Sunkist, Squirt and
Hawaiian Punch, in addition to RC Cola.
2008
Cadbury Schweppes spun off its soft drinks arm May 5, 2008 and renamed the beverage company Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Although the Dr Pepper Snapple Group still owned the Hires brand, they chose to instead promote A&W Root Beer, another brand the group owned. Hires Root Beer was no longer sold by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group in Canada, having been replaced by Stewarts Root Beer. Major competitor Pepsi-Cola Canada Ltd. owned and marketed Mug Root Beer in Canada. Hires Root Beer was only available in the U.S. thru a limited number of Internet-based sources.
MTH Electric Trains introduced this O gauge model train refrigerator car No. 30-78075 in 2008. Use of the Hires trademarks was licensed by Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. The train was manufactured in China.
(Figure
2008-01, MTH model railroad refrigerator car and carton)
2018
January 29, 2018 Keurig Green Mountain, a specialty coffee and
coffeemaker company, announced acquisition of the Dr Pepper Snapple
Group for $18.7 billion.
The merger was scheduled for completion during 2018, with the new
publicly traded company known as Keurig Dr Pepper. In addition to
Hires, Keurig Dr Pepper owns the A&W Root Beer, IBC Root Beer, and
Stewart's Root Beer brands.
(Figure 2018-01, Hires can)