The History of Coca-Cola
For more than 120 years, Coke has been quenching the thirst of Americans and people all over the world. What began as a 5-cent soda fountain treat in Atlanta, Georgia, is now a worldwide commodity.
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Origin
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Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia, developed the syrup that would become the basis for Coca-Cola. On May 8, 1886, Pemberton took some of his syrup to a nearby pharmacy where it was mixed with carbonated water and sampled. Patrons rated it "excellent." It was sold for 5 cents a glass as a soda fountain drink.
The Name
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Frank Robinson, the partner and bookkeeper for Pemberton, gave the new soda its name. Robinson thought that the two C's together would look good in advertisements and scripted the name Coca-Cola. The name stuck and soon advertisements for the product appeared in store windows throughout Atlanta. Sales of the beverage averaged about nine drinks per day. Pemberton didn't fully realize the impact of his syrup and sold portions of his business to different buyers before he died in 1888.
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Growth of the Company
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Asa Candler purchased a portion of Pemberton's business just before Pemberton's death. Candler was a keen Atlanta businessman who knew how to market and advertise his product. He opened a retail drug store and advertised that he held exclusive rights to Coca-Cola when in fact he did not. Eventually he did acquire all rights to the beverage and in 1893 Coca-Cola became a registered trademark. Through Candler's hard work the business thrived. In 1894 he opened a syrup manufacturing plant in Dallas, Texas, followed by plants in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Bottling
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Candler focused on growing the soda fountain business for Coca-Cola, but there was another market available. In 1899, two men from Chattanooga, Tennessee, secured the rights to bottle Coca-Cola and distribute it throughout the United States. This set the foundation for today's worldwide bottling system.
Curved Bottle
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As Coca-Cola became more popular other companies began labeling their product Coca-Cola. These imitations were a significant problem until 1916 when Coca-Cola bottlers approved the design of the curved glass bottle that is today closely associated with the product. In 1945, "Coke" became a registered trademark and in 1977 the shaped bottle was also granted a registered trademark, highly unusual for packaging.
Global Business
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Coca-Cola operates in more than 200 countries and produces 450 different brands. The name is so widely recognized throughout the world that in 1988 three independent surveys showed that Coke was the best-known product worldwide.
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References
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons
