The History of Coca-Cola

Introduction

Coca-Cola is so ubiquitous and world-famous that it's easy to forget its captivating origin story ; or even, that there is one worth looking into in the first place.

The Company also produces and sells other soft drinks and citrus drinks. With more than 2,800 products available in more than 200 countries, Coca-Cola is the world's largest beverage manufacturer and distributor and one of the largest companies in the United States .

Who created Coca-Cola?

Coca-Cola was first introduced on May 8, 1886 by a pharmacist named Dr. John S. Pemberton . The Coca-Cola recipe eliminated the alcohol present in Pemberton's previous recipe for French Wine Coca (the precursor to Coca-Cola), because a prohibition law had been passed in Atlanta, Georgia.

The original recipe was initially sold as a patent medicine in soft drink stores with the claim that it was a cure for illnesses such as heartburn, nausea and headaches. Dr. Pemberton's accountant, Frank M. Robinson , is credited with designing the brand's logo and naming the drink "Coca-Cola".

French Wine Coca, alcoholic precursor of Coca-Cola.

What is the recipe for Coca-Cola?

The coca plant

Coca is a plant found in South America, generally used in Andean culture for ritual or medicinal uses. It is from this plant that cocaine is also extracted (which is not used in Coca-Cola, rest assured!)

The cola nut

The kola nut was chosen for its antidepressant and stimulating properties. It was also reputed to have aphrodisiac properties and to make digestion easier.

A little essential oils, sugar and citric acid

Then the combination to create the perfect Coca-Cola is to establish the perfect dose of sugar , essential oils and citric acid ...otherwise it makes the Coca-Cola too bitter or too sweet!

To date, no competitor has come even remotely close to the firm's formula!

The growth of Coca-Cola

Before Pemberton's death in 1888, he sold part of his business to a few different parties, with the majority of the business being sold to a local Atlanta businessman named Asa G. Candler. In 1889, Candler acquired the rights to the formula and the name and trademark "Coca-Cola".

In 1892, he established the Coca-Cola Company and expanded the distribution of Coca-Cola syrup concentrate to soda fountains beyond Atlanta. Candler also promoted the drink by distributing free drink coupons and equipping drugstores and soda fountains with Coca-Cola branded merchandise. ⛲

Bottling

The marketing and promotion of Coca-Cola led to a significant increase in demand, and in 1894, a Mississippi businessman named Joseph Biedenharn began bottling the drink , making it portable. In 1895, Candler built syrup factories in several cities, including Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles, to meet growing demand. Although Candler was a shrewd businessman, he did not realize that Coca-Cola's future would be in portable bottles rather than soda fountains . In 1899, Candler sold the exclusive rights to bottle the drink to two lawyers named Benjamin Thomas and Joseph Whitehead.

As the drink continued to gain popularity in bottle form, counterfeit Coca-Cola drinks began to be produced by imitators. This led the Coca-Cola Company to advertise its product as authentic and to run campaigns to encourage the public to " demand the authentic ." In 1916, the first bottles with a rounded silhouette began to be manufactured. This distinctive bottle design allowed The Coca-Cola Company to distinguish its product from imitations.

The first Coca-Cola bottles with a rounded shape.

Coca-Cola goes global

In 1919, The Coca-Cola Company was sold to a group of investors led by a man named Ernest Woodruff . In 1923, his son Robert W. Woodruff was elected president of the company. Woodruff expands the company and introduces Coca-Cola to the rest of the world. Coca-Cola began distributing bottles in " six-packs ", encouraging customers to purchase the drink for their homes. In 1928, Coca-Cola was introduced as a sponsor of the Olympic Games , which gave the company even greater international exposure and started a tradition that continues to this day.

Coca-Cola will be a sponsor of the Olympic Games.

In 1941, the United States entered World War II , and the demand for Coca-Cola from American soldiers serving overseas increased enormously. Under Woodruff's leadership, the Coca-Cola Company began building bottling plants overseas to meet demand. From the mid-1940s to 1960, the number of countries with bottling plants nearly doubled, laying the foundation for Coca-Cola's overseas business.

After World War II, international Coca-Cola consumers demanded more options when purchasing the beverage. Until the mid-1950s, Coca-Cola was sold in a 20 cl glass bottle. This eventually changed when Coca-Cola began producing larger sizes in 1955 and eventually metal cans in 1960. In 1977, the company began producing its first 2-liter plastic bottles .

Coca-Cola advertisements

Advertising has always been an important part of the Coca-Cola company. Over the years, famous jingles and slogans have cultivated Coca-Cola's image as a fun and refreshing drink. Some advertisements were so ingrained in people's minds that they gave rise to legends , such as that of Santa Claus having been invented by Coca-Cola .

👉 If you like Coca-Cola advertisements, you will love our Coca-Cola advertising plaques .

Santa Claus, a famous Coca-Cola mascot.

The beginning of Diet Coke and New Coke

In 1981, Roberto C. Goizueta became chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company. Goizueta organized Coca-Cola's various bottling operations in the United States into a new public company, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Goizueta was determined to innovate, and under his new leadership the company launched Diet Coke . of Coca-Cola Light here], first extension of the Coca-Cola brand. Diet Coke was very popular, and within a few years it became the most popular low-calorie soft drink in the world.

After the success of Diet Coke, Goizueta launched an initiative to reformulate Coca-Cola to develop a new taste. In 1985, New Coke was introduced as the first formula change in almost 100 years. New Coke was highly successful in taste tests, but the public quickly demanded that the company return to the original formula, which was brought back to the market as Coca-Cola Classic . New Coke was eventually discontinued in 2002 after unimpressive sales, and never made it beyond the United States.

Conclusion

Coca-Cola has become one of the most recognizable brands of all time. With more than 1.7 billion servings of Coca-Cola products served every day, Coca-Cola continues to be one of the most ubiquitous beverages in the world.