The Coca-Cola company is getting in on the nostalgia game by bringing back an old-school soda that fans will be pumped to see on store shelves.

In the 1970s, the Coca-Cola Company introduced Mr. Pibb to compete with Dr. Pepper. In 2001, the soda was discontinued and rebranded as Pibb Xtra, but it didn’t take off as well as the original, and it has become increasingly difficult to find on shelves across the U.S. However, on Thursday, the Coca-Cola Company announced it’s reintroducing the iconic brand with a “bold reformulation and rebranding of Pibb Xtra, designed to meet the tastes of today’s consumers.”

According to the soda giant, the new Mr Pibb packs an “intense” sweet cherry flavor complemented by a hint of caramel and a “spicy finish.” It added in the statement, “It’s sweet with a bite – made for those who want more personality in their soda.”

“Bringing back Mr. Pibb is about more than reviving a classic — it’s about honoring an icon that fans have never stopped talking about and reintroducing its bold, unapologetic flavor to a new generation,” Dane Callis, director of sparkling flavors for Coca-Cola North America, shared with Food & Wine.

This is also a soda for people seeking a serious morning kick, as it contains 30% more caffeine than Pibb Xtra. “The spicy cherry segment is growing fast, creating the perfect moment to bring back Mr. Pibb and give fans the bold, spicy cherry flavor they’ve been missing, but with a modern twist: a little more caffeine, a new look, and a lot more attitude,” Calliss added.

Beyond bringing a little more flair to soda fans’ taste buds, the company might also have another reason for wanting to expand the soda to more places.

According to Bloomberga Texas court order took effect in October, officially terminating Dr Pepper’s decades-long distribution agreement with Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, which Yahoo Finance explained had long supplied soda products in California and Nevada. The court ruling grants Keurig Dr. Pepper complete control over its own distribution to venues such as movie theaters, restaurants, and beyond.

A spokesperson for Keurig Dr Pepper shared in a statement that it “looks forward to bringing this distribution of the Dr Pepper trademark into Keurig Dr Pepper’s DSD system this fall.” However, the ruling also means Dr. Pepper will no longer be available at soda fountains in restaurants, theaters, or gas stations owned by Coca-Cola. It does, however, free up space for its one-time competitor, Mr. Pibb and Pibb Xtra.

The newly revamped Mr Pibb will be available on store shelves along the West Coast, Midwest, and in Florida starting in the coming days, and will be available in 12-ounce cans in 12-packs and 20-ounce bottles. regions will gain access to the new formulation in 2026. As Callis added, “We hope fans feel that spark of nostalgia when they see Mr. Pibb back on shelves, but also the excitement of discovering something that feels fresh, bold, and unapologetically fun.”