Have the soft drink lovers ever wondered from where and how, their favorite drink, Coca Cola, originated? For all the inquisitive minds out there, we present some interesting information about the background of Coca Cola. In the year 1886, John Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta prepared a fragrant caramel colored liquid out of curiosity. He then took it to the nearby Jacob’s Pharmacy, where the mixture was blended with carbonated water. As the response from the initial customers was good, it was put on sale for five cents per glass. To know more about the history and origin of Cola, read on.
The credit for the inception of the name of the drink goes to Frank Robinson, who was Pemberton’s bookkeeper. He named it Coca Cola and wrote in a unique calligraphic style, which is used even today. In its first year, Pemberton sold only 9 glasses per day. In 1888, Pemberton died and the rights for the business were transferred to Atlanta businessman Asa Griggs Candler. He became the first President of the company and gave vision and business to the brand. Candler was a smart businessman and introduced the brand to the people in a complete innovative manner. He indulged in mass promotion by distributing various effects to the pharmacist bearing the Coca Cola brand name.
In 1894, a Mississippi businessman named Joseph Biedenharn bottled Coca cola for the first time, but did not receive a positive response from Candler. By 1895, Candler established syrup plants in Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. In 1899, two Chattanooga lawyers, Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead, secured exclusive rights from Candler to bottle and sell the beverage for the sum of only one dollar. To protect themselves from the trap of imitation, the company decided to present the drink in a distinct shaped bottle.
In 1916, the Root Glass Company of Terre Haute started manufacturing the contour shaped bottles, which remain the hallmark of Coca Cola till date. In 1923, Robert Woodruff became the President of the company. He was a marketing genius and took the brand to new heights. In 1928, he introduced Coca Cola in Olympics Games in novice six-pack and open top cooler packaging, which facilitated people’s access to the brand. Coca Cola even grew during World War II. After the crisis, Coca Cola expanded its overseas business and went places. By 1960, the overseas market doubled and Cola became a symbol of American lifestyle.
The company diversified with the introduction of new flavors such as Fanta, Sprite etc. The advertising strategy intensified making it the popular brand across the globe. Within a short span of time, diet Coke was introduced, which was the first extension of Coca Cola trademark and proved to be a great success after Cola. In 1990s the wide scale association of the brand with various spots events escalated its growth like never before. The expansion continued with acquired brands like Limca, Mazaa, Thums up, etc. In effect, by 1997, the Company sold 1 billion servings of its products every day.
The success story of the company can be estimated from the fact that it has well entered its second century, without looking back. Presently, the company owns about 400 brands, which provide refreshment to global citizens. With time, Coca-Cola has grown to become the most ubiquitous drink brand of the world, with more than 1.4 billion beverage servings sold each day. Making its presence felt from international markets to local markets, Coca cola has come a long way for sure, touching the lives of people everyday.
