Ghost Energy is killing off its Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish flavored drinks, ending a seven-year partnership with Mondelēz International that helped turn the startup into a billion-dollar acquisition target. The move comes four months after Keurig Dr Pepper closed a $1.65 billion deal to buy the brand, setting up a direct collision with Coca-Cola in the energy drink wars.
Three energy drink flavors are disappearing from shelves: Sour Patch Kids Redberry, Sour Patch Kids Blue Raspberry, and Swedish Fish. The company is also discontinuing protein powders branded with Oreo, Chips Ahoy, and Nutter Butter.
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Why the Split Happened
Mondelēz filed a lawsuit in April 2025 claiming Ghost broke their licensing contract when Keurig Dr Pepper bought the company. The snack conglomerate alleged the agreement contained a clause that voided everything if Ghost changed ownership without permission.
Court documents show Keurig Dr Pepper tried to renegotiate after closing the acquisition on December 31, 2024. Mondelēz refused. By late January, the candy and cookie giant notified Ghost the partnership was over.
The lawsuit initially demanded Ghost destroy all remaining products and marketing materials carrying Mondelēz brands. After three weeks of litigation, both sides reached a settlement in mid-May allowing a 12-month phase out instead of immediate removal.
Dan Lourenco, Ghost’s CEO, posted on X that Mondelēz chose to “end a mutually beneficial 7-year partnership.” He told fans to stock up while supplies last.
The Coca-Cola Connection
This fight matters because Ghost is now owned by one of Coca-Cola’s biggest rivals. Keurig Dr Pepper competes directly against Coke’s massive beverage empire, which includes a distribution partnership with Monster Energy.
Monster controls roughly 30 to 33 percent of the US energy drink market. Red Bull holds 35 to 40 percent. PepsiCo backs Celsius, the fastest growing brand in the category. Before the acquisition, Ghost had no major corporate parent and operated independently.
The $23 billion energy drink market has become a battleground for big beverage companies. Keurig Dr Pepper paid $990 million upfront for 60 percent of Ghost, with plans to buy the remaining 40 percent by 2028. The deal valued Ghost at roughly three times its 2024 sales.
Ghost’s revenue had more than quadrupled in the three years before the sale. The brand helped Keurig Dr Pepper post 11 percent sales growth in the first quarter of 2025.
What Consumers Are Losing
The discontinued flavors represented Ghost’s most recognizable products. Swedish Fish took nearly three years to develop, launching in February 2022 after extensive taste testing. Lourenco called it a personal favorite.
Chips Ahoy protein powder consistently ranked as the top or second-best flavor in consumer reviews. The whey formula included actual cookie pieces, differentiating it from standard chocolate chip varieties sold by competitors.
Sour Patch Kids Blue Raspberry and Redberry became staples at convenience stores and gym supplement shops. The bright packaging and candy branding attracted younger buyers in a category traditionally marketed toward athletes and gamers.
Mondelēz partnerships gave Ghost credibility with mainstream consumers who might not otherwise try a sports nutrition brand. Licensing deals with household names like Oreo and Nutter Butter bridged the gap between fitness supplements and everyday snacks.
The Replacement Plan
Ghost has access to a different toy box now. Keurig Dr Pepper owns A&W, 7UP, Snapple, Hawaiian Punch, and Crush. Leaked retail calendars show A&W Root Beer and 7UP flavored energy drinks arriving in 2026.
The company confirmed other new releases:
January 2026: Blue raspberry energy drink, not branded as Sour Patch Kids. Welch’s Cran Grape limited edition.
May 2026: Sour Strips Rainbow becoming a permanent flavor.
Existing partnerships with Warheads, Bubblicious, Welch’s, Sonic, and Cinnabon continue because those brands are owned by different companies. Warheads belongs to Impact Confections. Perfetti Van Melle owns Bubblicious after buying it from Mondelēz years ago.
What This Means
The breakup exposes a tension in licensing partnerships. Brands like Ghost rely on borrowed equity from established names to build their business. But those deals can evaporate when ownership changes, especially if the new parent company competes with the licensor.
Mondelēz competes with Keurig Dr Pepper in multiple categories beyond energy drinks. The companies both sell ready-to-drink beverages, coffee products, and various packaged foods. Mondelēz also owns Grenade, a protein bar and supplement brand that directly competes with Ghost.
For Ghost fans hunting for the discontinued coca-cola rival ghost discontinued flavors, time is running out. Retailers are selling through existing inventory over the next several months. Once stores run dry, those specific candy collaborations are gone. Whether the replacement flavors can match the originals will determine if Keurig Dr Pepper’s billion-dollar bet pays off.
