Who Owns 7UP?

7Up is jointly owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, which holds 100% of the rights in the United States, and PepsiCo, which controls 100% of the international rights across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This unique dual ownership structure has existed since 1986 when the brand’s rights were divided between domestic and global markets.

The lemon-lime soft drink continues to maintain strong market positions worldwide. In 2025, 7Up celebrated nearly a century of operation with updated packaging designs and sustainability initiatives. Both Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo have invested in new regional flavors and eco-friendly bottle innovations to strengthen the brand’s appeal among environmentally conscious consumers.

Recent product launches include 7Up Zero Sugar variants and limited-edition flavors such as 7Up Mojito Free in European markets. The brand has maintained its position as a leading caffeine-free alternative in the carbonated soft drink category, competing directly with Sprite and other lemon-lime beverages.

Who Owns 7Up?

Dual Ownership Structure

The ownership of 7Up operates under an unusual bifurcated model where two separate corporations control distinct geographical territories. This arrangement emerged from historical business transactions that split the brand along regional lines rather than maintaining unified global ownership.

Keurig Dr Pepper’s US Control

Keurig Dr Pepper maintains exclusive ownership of 7Up throughout the United States. The company manages all production, distribution, and marketing activities for the American market through its beverage division based in Burlington, Massachusetts, and Frisco, Texas. This ownership includes complete control over product formulations, packaging decisions, and regional marketing campaigns specific to US consumers.

PepsiCo’s International Operations

PepsiCo owns and operates 7Up in all markets outside the United States. The company’s international beverage division headquartered in Purchase, New York, oversees production and marketing across more than 100 countries. PepsiCo adapts the brand to local preferences through regional bottling partners and subsidiaries operating across continents.

Largest Shareholders of 7Up

Keurig Dr Pepper Shareholder Composition

Since 7Up exists as a brand asset rather than a standalone corporation, its ownership flows through the shareholders of its parent companies. For the US market, Keurig Dr Pepper’s largest institutional investors indirectly hold stakes in 7Up’s domestic operations. The Vanguard Group owns approximately 8.2% of Keurig Dr Pepper shares, representing the single largest institutional position. BlackRock follows with roughly 6.7% ownership, while State Street Corporation holds about 4.3% of outstanding shares.

JAB Holding Company, a private investment firm, maintains significant influence through its substantial stake in Keurig Dr Pepper. The company played a crucial role in the 2018 merger that created the current corporate structure. Individual investors and smaller institutions collectively own the remaining shares, with no other single entity holding more than 3% of the company.

PepsiCo Shareholder Distribution

For international 7Up operations, PepsiCo’s shareholder base determines indirect ownership. The Vanguard Group stands as PepsiCo’s largest shareholder with approximately 8.9% of total shares. BlackRock maintains the second-largest position at around 7.1%, followed by State Street Corporation with roughly 5.2% ownership.

These major institutional investors hold their positions through various index funds and actively managed portfolios. Their combined influence shapes corporate governance decisions that affect 7Up’s global strategy. Additional notable shareholders include Capital Research Global Investors and various pension funds that collectively represent millions of individual retirement accounts worldwide.

Ownership Through Market Capitalization

The market capitalization of both parent companies determines the theoretical value of their respective 7Up holdings. Keurig Dr Pepper’s market cap fluctuates around $45-50 billion, with 7Up representing one component of its diverse beverage portfolio. PepsiCo’s significantly larger market capitalization of approximately $230-240 billion reflects its global food and beverage empire, within which 7Up serves as one element of its international soft drink offerings.

History of 7Up Co-founders

Charles Leiper Grigg: The Inventor

Charles Leiper Grigg created 7Up and established the foundation for what would become a globally recognized brand. Born in 1868, Grigg spent his early career working in the beverage industry, developing various soft drink formulations. He founded the Howdy Company in St. Louis, Missouri, which initially produced orange-flavored drinks before expanding into other flavors.

Grigg’s entrepreneurial vision led him to experiment with lemon-lime combinations during the late 1920s. His background included creating flavoring agents and working with carbonation techniques that were relatively new to the mass market at that time.

Creation of the Original Formula

In 1928, Grigg developed what would become 7Up’s signature formula. The original product carried the lengthy name “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda” and contained lithium citrate, a compound believed to have mood-enhancing properties. The beverage launched commercially in 1929, just weeks before the stock market crash that initiated the Great Depression.

Despite economic challenges, the drink gained traction among consumers seeking refreshing alternatives to cola beverages. Grigg simplified the brand name to “7Up” in 1936, removing the lithiated designation as the company pivoted toward emphasizing taste and refreshment rather than medicinal properties. The lithium citrate ingredient was completely removed from the formula by 1948 following updated health regulations.

Legacy and Corporate Evolution

Grigg maintained leadership of his company until his death in 1940. His creation survived multiple ownership changes while retaining the core lemon-lime formula that distinguished it from competitors. The Howdy Company evolved into The Seven-Up Company in 1967, cementing the brand’s identity around its flagship product.

Who Is on the Board of Directors for 7Up?

Keurig Dr Pepper Board Structure

The board of directors for Keurig Dr Pepper oversees 7Up’s US operations through corporate governance frameworks. Robert Gamgort serves as Executive Chairman, bringing decades of consumer packaged goods experience from his previous roles at major food and beverage companies. His leadership focuses on strategic direction and shareholder value creation.

Timothy Cofer holds the CEO position and sits on the board, directly managing day-to-day operations that affect 7Up’s market performance. His background includes senior roles at Mondelēz International and Central Garden & Pet, providing expertise in brand management and distribution networks.

Independent Directors with Financial Expertise

Several independent directors contribute financial oversight and risk management perspectives. Mary Beth West brings consumer products experience from her executive tenure at specialty retail and confectionery companies. Her insights inform product innovation strategies that affect 7Up’s portfolio development.

Olivier Goudet serves on the board with extensive investment and operational experience. His background with JAB Holding Company provides connections to the major stakeholder that facilitated Keurig Dr Pepper’s formation. Other financial specialists monitor capital allocation decisions that determine marketing budgets and production investments for flagship brands including 7Up.

PepsiCo Board Composition

PepsiCo’s board of directors governs international 7Up operations alongside the company’s broader global portfolio. Ramon Laguarta serves as Chairman and CEO, directing strategy for all beverage brands outside the United States. His previous leadership of PepsiCo’s European and Sub-Saharan Africa operations provides direct experience with the markets where 7Up competes internationally.

The board includes directors with technology, operations, and marketing expertise who guide digital transformation initiatives affecting 7Up’s international positioning. Dina Dublon contributes financial services experience, while Daniel Vasella brings pharmaceutical and healthcare industry perspectives that inform decisions about product reformulations and health-conscious variants like 7Up Zero Sugar.

Directors Focused on Sustainability and Operations

Several board members specialize in supply chain management and environmental initiatives. David Constable’s background in energy and chemicals industries supports discussions about sustainable packaging for 7Up bottles. Michelle Gass provides retail and brand strategy expertise from her executive roles at major consumer-facing corporations.

Lloyd Trotter contributes operational excellence perspectives developed through manufacturing leadership positions. These directors collectively shape policies affecting 7Up’s production methods, distribution efficiency, and environmental impact across international markets where PepsiCo maintains control.

FAQs

Who owns the 7Up brand?

Keurig Dr Pepper owns 7Up in the United States, while PepsiCo owns all international rights including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America through a split established in 1986.

Is 7Up owned by Pepsi or Coke?

7Up is owned by PepsiCo internationally and Keurig Dr Pepper domestically. It has no ownership connection to Coca-Cola, which produces the competing lemon-lime brand Sprite.

Who manufactures 7Up?

Keurig Dr Pepper manufactures 7Up in the United States through its production facilities and licensed bottlers. PepsiCo’s international bottling network produces 7Up in all other global markets.

Where did 7Up originate?

7Up originated in St. Louis, Missouri, where Charles Leiper Grigg invented the lemon-lime formula in 1929 under his Howdy Company before simplifying the name in 1936.

What is 7Up’s current market value?

7Up’s brand net worth is estimated at approximately $1.6 billion in 2025, with global annual revenue reaching $3.1 billion across both US and international markets combined.