1886
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It was 1886, and the Statue of Liberty was being constructed in New York Harbor. About 800 miles away, another iconic American symbol was about to be unveiled. Like many of the people who have changed history today, John Stith Pemberton was inspired by his simple curiosity. One afternoon he stirred up a fragrant, caramel colored liquid and brought it down to Jacob's Pharmacy, where it was then combined with carbonated water, and thus, Coca-Cola was born.
1886
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Frank Robinson, Pemberton's bookkeeper, had designed Coca-Cola's original logo which is still used today.
Frank Robinson (left) both designed the logo for Coca-Cola and invented the iconic name.
1888
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John Stith Pemberton passes away not being able to see his success and his invention's full potential. Yet after John Pemberton died, Asa G. Candler decided to buy the newborn company and nurture it into a true business. Asa G. Candler decided that after he'd bought this company and owned for awhile, that he'd sell the bottling rights to three businessmen by the names of Benjamen Thomas, Joseph Biedenharn and John Lupton, for only one dollar a person. This was known to be one of the most important events in Coca-Cola history.
1893-1904
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Asa G. Candler transformed Pemberton's invention into a booming business. He bought the Coca-Cola Formula from Pemberton for $2,300. After Coca-cola became quite popular, advertising came into play. The first ad saleswomen to endorse Coca-Cola. After the endorsement went out, a Mississippi businessman by the name of Joseph Biedenharn decided that he could make more money by bottling Coca-Cola. So, he did. Making lots of money, he continued doing this for many years.
1905-1918
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Imitation may seem the sincerest form of flattery, but not to Coca-Cola. Many companies attempted to imitate Coca-Cola's bottle, and the Coca-Cola Company finally decided it was enough. They wanted to create a unique bottle, something that nobody had ever seen before. And thus, the contour bottle was born. The Root Glass Company of Terre Haut, India, won a contest to make a bottle so unique it could be told apart in the dark. In 1916, they began manufacturing Coca-Cola's famous "Contour Bottle".
1919-1940
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Perhaps no other person had more of an impact on the Coca-Cola company than Robert Woodruff. In 1923, four years after his father had purchased the company from Asa Candler, Woodruff became the company's president. While Candler had introduced the company to the U.S., Woodruff spent over 60 years as company president. Woodruff was a marketing genius due to the fact that he saw the opportunity for expansion everywhere he looked. Woodruff published the six pack, the open top cooler, and many other innovations that lead Coca-Cola to it's success today. He also introduced the company to the Olympic Games in 1928.
1941-1959
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During the time of WWII, Woodruff ordered that "every man in uniform gets a bottle of Coca-Cola for 5 cents, no matter where they are, no matter what it costs the company". General Dwight D. Eisenhower sent an urgent cablegram stating that he needed materials for 10 bottling companies immediately. Even during WWII, many people enjoyed a Coca-Cola. Woodruff’s vision that Coca-Cola be placed within "arm's reach of desire," was beginning to come true. From the mid 1940's to the late 1960's, orders for Coca-Cola nearly doubled. At this time. the usage of the word "Coke" was being widely advertised on the radio, posters, and wherever applicable.
1960-1981
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After Coke's 70 years of success with it's one brand, Coca-Cola, the Coca Cola Company decided it was time to expand. They began to come out with new drinks, such as Fanta, TAB, Fresca, and Minute Maid. Coca-Cola's presence was now growing worldwide. Along with becoming internationally recognized, Coca-Cola recognized that advertising was an important part of business as well. The international appeal of Coca-Cola was embodied by a 1971 commercial, where a group of young people from all over the world gathered on a hilltop in Italy to sing "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke." This became one of Coke's most commercially famous advertisements ever.
1982-1989
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In 1981, Roberto C. Goizueta became chairman of The Board of Directors and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. Goizueta, who fled Cuba (who, at this time, was ruled by Fidel Castro), completely overhauled the Coca-Cola Company with his strategy "Intelligent Risk-Taking". Also during this time, Diet Coke had been invented and released to the public, and after many demands, the release of "Coca-Cola Classic" became one of the public's biggest outrages ever.
1990-1999
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The 90's were a time of growth for The Coca-Cola Company. The company's association with sports steadily increased during this time period. It became sponsors for the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup football (soccer), Rugby World Cup and the National Basketball Association. Coca-Cola classic became the Official Soft Drink of NASCAR racing, connecting the brand with one of the world's fastest growing and most popular spectator sports. In the year 1993, Coca-Cola's adorable Polar Bear became a part of their advertising campaign. Also during this time, many new drinks were sold such as Powerade sports drink, Qoo children's fruit drink and Dasani bottled water. The Company's family of brands further expanded through acquisitions, including Limca, Maaza and Thums Up in India, Barq's root beer in the U.S., Inca Kola in Peru, and Cadbury Schweppes' beverage brands in more than 120 countries around the world. By 1997, the company sold 1,000,000,000 servings of it's products a day, and still had room to grow.
2000-NOW
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Coca-Cola is committed to local markets, paying attention to what people from different cultures and backgrounds like to drink, and where and how they want to drink it. With its bottling partners, the Company reaches out to the local communities it serves, believing that Coca-Cola exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches.
From the early beginnings when just nine drinks were sold a day, Coca-Cola has grown into one of the world's most famous brands, with more than 1,700,000,000 servings sold a day. When people choose to reach for one of The Coca-Cola Company brands, the Company wants that choice to be exciting and satisfying, every single time.
From the early beginnings when just nine drinks were sold a day, Coca-Cola has grown into one of the world's most famous brands, with more than 1,700,000,000 servings sold a day. When people choose to reach for one of The Coca-Cola Company brands, the Company wants that choice to be exciting and satisfying, every single time.