Larry+Young

** Larry D. Young ** President and Chief Executive Officer of Dr Pepper Snapple Company

Education and Upbringing: Larry grew up in Springfield, Texas and in his early years went to Fremont Elementary School, Pleasant View Junior High School and Hillcrest High School as the class of 1972. He and his wife Collette currently live in Dallas but still own a house in Springfield near Young’s family. Larry never attended college or got a graduate degree.

How he got to the top of the ladder: Larry Young is president and chief executive officer for Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Larry was named president and chief executive officer in October 2007 after serving as president and chief operating officer for the company's bottling division and led part of Dr Pepper Snapple Group in May 2008.Larry joined the company in April 2006 through gaining all of Dr Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Group, where he had been president and CEO since 2005. As head of operations, he had an important part of helping to make a new business for an already fully integrated beverage company. By integrating the bottling group and many other independent businesses into DPS, the company now has a more reliable, sustainable and secure route to market to the public. The company has been allowed to protect its brand fairness and improve customer relations by having better control of its products from innovation to the store shelf. As a result, DPS can more effectively deliver those brands.

Larry’s 30-year career has produced and sold virtually every type of beverage in America and across Europe and Russia. He worked for more than 25 years in the Pepsi system with PepsiAmericas and with Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers. This is where he began on a route truck and worked his way to President and Chief Operating Officer. In 2008, Larry was appointed chairman of the board of the American Beverage Association and inducted into the Beverage World Soft Drink Hall of Fame. A profile of the company: Snapple: The Best Stuff of Earth

Snapple began selling fruit drinks to health food stores, commencing the birth of Snapple beverages under the Unadulterated Food Corporation. Snapple teas were born in 1987, the first of which was Lemon Tea. It is referred to as the “godfather” of Snapple teas. Snapple has grown and produces over 70 flavors of tea and juice. Snapple is sold in every state in the U.S. Snapple Beverage Group was purchased by London-based Cadbury Schweppes, from Triarc Companies, whom had bought the company in 1997, in October 2000. In 2008, Snapple got a new formula with reduced calories and a new package. Snapple is currently part of a Plano, Texas-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group, an integrated refreshment beverage business marketing more than 50 beverage brands throughout North America.

Ideas, Strategies, Tactics, Secrets, and Passions:

The Snapple website says that “ACTION is at the heart of everything we do. It all begins with our Call to ACTION. Every DPS employee contributes to our success by taking action to meet the needs of our customers and consumers. ACTION is also about giving back to our communities.” They are committed to giving back and helping out everyone. Their focus areas are fit and active lifestyles, for both children and adults, their environmental sustainability, Emergency relief programs, like the American Red Cross to whom they donated over $1 million to, and keeping communities together.

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