Major changes to the Dr. Brown’s business strategy began in 1982. That’s when the Canada Dry bottling company purchased the brand from American Beverage. Up until this point, Dr. Brown’s had been primarily sold at kosher delis and restaurants on the east coast. By 1984, Canada Dry had packaged the three most popular flavors in 2-liter bottles and began distributing them through supermarket chains across America. The longtime regional, ethnic brand suddenly enjoyed a national following. This success persuaded Canada Dry to discontinue the brands of Kirsch, Hoffman and Hammer, which they had acquired in the previous decade. Dr. Brown’s became the sole survivor of the original New York soda brands.

Dr. Brown’s has made its mark on more than just the palates of soda drinkers over the past 145 years. It has turned up in numerous pop culture references in recent decades. The character of Billy Rose, played by actor James Caan in the 1975 film “Funny Lady,” was often seen drinking Cel-Ray soda as an alternative to alcohol. Cel-Ray was mentioned by singer Frank Zappa on his 1971 album, “The Mothers At The Fillmore.” The green and white can also appeared in the 1973 Al Pacino film, “Serpico.” And on TV, it has made its way into the refrigerator of the Gilmore Girls, and most famously a 1997 episode of Seinfeld. In a comical sequence of events, Jerry explains to his girlfriend that he is unable to kiss her because “I bruised my lip; I was drinking a Cel-Ray and I brought it up too fast.”

Today, the ownership of the Dr. Brown’s brand is divided. The Canada Dry/Pepsi bottling company produces the cans in College Point, Queens, while the glass bottle rights are owned by J&R bottling company of southern California. The original recipe for each flavor remains exactly the same.

According to 2014 company statistics, provided by Antoinette “Toni” Hayes from the vice president’s office, the current bestselling flavors are:

1)        Diet Cream

2)        Diet Black Cherry

3)        Black Cherry

4)        Cream