Pepsi Bottling Group to distribute Crush in U.S.

Pepsi Bottling Group has signed an agreement with Dr Pepper Snapple Group to make and distribute Crush beverages in the majority of its U.S. territories, the companies announced Thursday.

Pepsi Bottling Group, based in Somers, N.Y., is the largest Pepsi bottler. Dr Pepper Snapple Group, a Plano, Texas-based beverage firm, was spun off earlier this year from Cadbury Schweppes.

The deal is significant because it will almost double the U.S. market penetration of the Crush brand, which includes Orange Crush, Diet Orange Crush and Grape Crush. Pepsi Bottling Group already distributes Crush in Canada.