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The History of Coca Cola

John Pemberton was the inventor of Coca Cola

By Mary Bellis,
See More About:

• coca cola
• soft drink
• soda fountain
• john pemberton

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In May, 1886, Coca Cola was invented by Doctor John
Pemberton a pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia. John
Pemberton concocted the Coca Cola formula in a three
legged brass kettle in his backyard. The name was a
suggestion given by John Pemberton's bookkeeper Frank
Robinson.

Birth of Coca Cola

Being a bookkeeper, Frank Robinson also had excellent

penmanship. It was he who first scripted "Coca Cola" into
the flowing letters which has become the famous logo of
today.

The soft drink was first sold to the public at the soda
fountain in Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta on May 8, 1886.

About nine servings of the soft drink were sold each day.
Sales for that first year added up to a total of about $50.
The funny thing was that it cost John Pemberton over $70 in
expanses, so the first year of sales were a loss.
Until 1905, the soft drink, marketed as a tonic, contained
extracts of cocaine as well as the caffeine-rich kola nut.

Asa Candler

In 1887, another Atlanta pharmacist and businessman, Asa

Candler bought the formula for Coca Cola from inventor John
Pemberton for $2,300. By the late 1890s, Coca Cola was one
of America's most popular fountain drinks, largely due to
Candler's aggressive marketing of the product. With Asa
Candler, now at the helm, the Coca Cola Company increased
syrup sales by over 4000% between 1890 and 1900.

Advertising was an important factor in John Pemberton and

Asa Candler's success and by the turn of the century, the
drink was sold across the United States and Canada. Around
the same time, the company began selling syrup to
independent bottling companies licensed to sell the drink.
Even today, the US soft drink industry is organized on this
principle.

Death of the Soda Fountain - Rise of the Bottling

Industry

Until the 1960s, both small town and big city dwellers
enjoyed carbonated beverages at the local soda fountain or
ice cream saloon. Often housed in the drug store, the soda
fountain counter served as a meeting place for people of all
ages. Often combined with lunch counters, the soda fountain
declined in popularity as commercial ice cream, bottled soft
drinks, and fast food restaurants became popular.

New Coke

On April 23, 1985, the trade secret "New Coke" formula was
released. Today, products of the Coca Cola Company are
consumed at the rate of more than one billion drinks per
day.

Continue > I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke

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Photos of Coca Cola

• Photos of Modern Coca Cola Campaigns

• Vintage Coca Cola Advertising
• Coca Cola Brands
History of Coca Cola & Dr. John Pemberton

• Dr. John Pemberton

• Highlights in the History of Coca Cola Television
Advertising

Suggested Reading

• Timeline: History of Soft Drinks

• Introduction to Pop
• Coca Cola Headquarters

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• Introduction to Pop - The History of Soft Drinks
• Mixed Drinks in Germany

Mary Bellis
Inventors Guide

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The Chronicle Of Coca-Cola

BIRTH OF A REFRESHING IDEA

The product that has given the world its best-known taste was born in Atlanta,
Georgia, on May 8, 1886. Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a local pharmacist,
produced the syrup for Coca-Cola®, and carried a jug of the new product down
the street to Jacobs' Pharmacy, where it was sampled, pronounced "excellent"
and placed on sale for five cents a glass as a soda fountain drink. Carbonated Hig
water was teamed with the new syrup to produce a drink that was at once do
"Delicious and Refreshing," a theme that continues to echo today wherever
Coca-Cola is enjoyed.
Thinking that "the two Cs would look well in advertising," Dr. Pemberton's partn
Robinson, suggested the name and penned the now famous trademark "Coca-Cola
newspaper ad for Coca-Cola soon appeared in The Atlanta Journal, inviting thirs
popular soda fountain drink." Hand-painted oilcloth signs reading "Coca-Cola" appea
suggestion "Drink" added to inform passersby that the new beverage was for soda fo
first year, sales averaged a modest nine drinks per day.
Dr. Pemberton never realized the potential of the beverage he created. He gradually
various partners and, just prior to his death in 1888, sold his remaining interest in Co
Atlantan with great business acumen, Mr. Candler proceeded to buy additional rights

Learn the rest of the history by selecting another chapter from the drop-down menu o

• Our Company
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Have questions for the Coke archivist? Visit Phil Mooney's blog.
Coca-Cola Recipes: Coca-Cola Cake Recipes & More

For more than 120 years, The Coca-Cola Company has provided a wide variety o
aren’t just for drinking anymore.

The following recipes were developed by The Culinary Institute of America® for Th
range of products including soft drinks, diet soft drinks, juices and lemonade be
contemporary flavors, include nutritional information and use everyday ingredients. W
recipes, many submitted through this site by people like you.

Who knew that the secret to tasty appetizers, entrees and desserts was in the beve
section at your grocery store?

To see a recipe, select from the list below.

Beverages

Culinary Institute of America®:

• Cherry Party Punch

• Lime-Orange "Wannabe" Margarita
 • Vanilla Cream

Heritage Recipes:

• Coconut Shake
• Coke® Peach Float
• Smoothies

Breakfast

Culinary Institute of America®:

• French Toast with Vanilla Syrup and Pecans

• Lemonade-Yogurt-Granola Breakfast Parfait
• Streusel-Topped Orange Cranberry Muffin

Heritage Recipes:

• Glory Muffins

Appetizers and Soups

Culinary Institute of America®:

• Coconut-Lemonade Shrimp
• Oven-Baked Chicken Wings with Sweet & Tangy Mustard Sauce
• Oven-Baked Nachos Topped with Glazed Chicken, Onions and Peppers

Heritage Recipes:
 • French Onion Soup
• Italian Minestrone Soup
• Twin Cheese Dip

Entrees

Culinary Institute of America®:

• Ancho Chili
• Lemony-Honey Glazed Pork Chops
• Orange Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
• Sauteed Salmon with Sweet and Sour Glaze
• Seared Scallops with Fiery Orange Passion Fruit Salsa

Heritage Recipes:

• Barbecued Ham
• Beef Brisket
• Casserole BBQ Chicken
• Cherry Coke® Ham
• Chicken Wings (or Ribs)
• Chinese Pepper Steak
• Coca-Cola® Ham
• Coca-Cola Roast
• Coyote's Coke Can Chicken
• Easy Coca-Cola Chicken
 • Family Pot Roast
• Fruited Pork Chops
• German Sauerbraten
• Ginger Chicken Wings
• Hungarian Goulash
• Indian Chicken Curry
• Limelight Steak BBQ
• Matchless Meat Loaf
• Teriyaki Chicken

Side Dishes, Vegetables and Sauces

Heritage Recipes:

• Diet Cherry Coke® Lentils

• Grecian Green Beans
• Japanese Pickled Cauliflower
• Mustard Herb Dressing
• Southern Caramelized Vidalias
• Steak Fried Onions
• Sweet-Sour Cabbage
• Thick Barbecue Sauce

Desserts

Culinary Institute of America®:

• Bubbly Berries in Lemon-Lime and Mint Syrup with Lemon Sorbet

 • Frozen Yogurt with Root Beer Sauce
• Light Lime Cheesecake
• Mango Passion Sorbet

Heritage Recipes:

• Banana Cake with Sea Foam Frosting

• Brazilian Iced Chocolate
• Chocolate Cola Cake
• Coca-Cola Cherry Salad
• Cola Cake
• Cuba Libre Chiffon Pie
• Date-Nut Bread
• Diet Coke "Almost Brownies"
• Easy Low-Fat Cake
• Gingerbread Deluxe
• Scottish Oaten Bread
• Southern Belle Salad

• Sparkling Sprite Surprise Pie

Privacy Policy - Terms of Use - Site Map - Other Coca-Cola Web

sites - European Undertaking

© 2006-2009 The Coca-Cola Company

• Our Company
• Sustainability
• Products
• Heritage
• Investors
• Press Center
• Careers
• Contact Us

Search Coca-ColaSEARCH

• The Chronicle of Coca-Cola

• Coke Lore
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• Collectors Columns
• Collectors Club
• The World of Coca-Cola
• Recipes
• Test Your Coke IQ
• Heritage Timeline
• Email Alerts

Have questions for the Coke archivist? Visit Phil Mooney's blog.
Test Your Coke® IQ

Privacy Policy - Terms of Use - Site Map - Other Coca-Cola Web sites -
European Undertaking

© 2006-2009 The Coca-Cola Company

• Our Company
• Sustainability
• Products
• Heritage
• Investors
• Press Center
• Careers
• Contact Us

Search

• The Chronicle of Coca-Cola

• Coke Lore
• Coca-Cola Stories
• Collectors Columns
• Collectors Club
• The World of Coca-Cola
• Recipes
• Test Your Coke IQ
• Heritage Timeline
• Email Alerts
Have questions for the Coke archivist? Visit Phil Mooney's blog.
Collectors Club

Do you love Coca-Cola Collecting? Welco

Join the Coca-Cola Collectors Club and become a part of an ever-expanding fam
sharing good times with family and friends, collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia

The Coca-Cola Collectors Club was originally formed in 1974 by a small group of l
Coca-Cola merchandise grew, so did the Club. Today, it boasts an internation
representing 28

Because of the diversity of collectibles available, virtually anyone can enjoy the pas
entertaining pursuit, lifelong friendships are formed and

Hard-to-find items such as expensive signs and posters are not the only treasures tha
from around the world, commemorative pins and stickers, beanbag plush toys and hol
get started. The common bond is the Coca-Cola trademark, combined with a treasure-h
you about their favorite collectible, but share the special me

As a member of the Coca-Cola Collectors Club, you'll be in the company of others wh

Cola collecting. You'll enjoy special merchandise offerings, a monthly newsletter, and
Visit the Club's Web site http://www.cocacolaclu

Following are some upcoming Coca-Cola Collectors Club events. Club membership is
Club's Web site for more information and contacts.
 • 35th Annual National Convention. Denver, CO, June 30-July 4, 2009

• 36th Annual National Convention. Milwaukee, WI, July 6-10, 2010

Privacy Policy - Terms of Use - Site Map - Other Coca-Cola Web sites -
European Undertaking

© 2006-2009 The Coca-Cola Company

History of Bottling

Coca-Cola® originated as a soda fountain beverage in 1886 selling for five cents
impressive, but it was only when a strong bottling system developed that Coca-Cola bec
it is today.

1894 … A modest start for a

In a candy store in Vicksburg, Mississippi, brisk sales of the new fountain beverage call
store's owner, Joseph A. Biedenharn. He began bottling Coca-Cola to sell, using a co
Hutchinson.

Biedenharn sent a case to Asa Griggs Candler, who owned the Company. Candler tha
One of his nephews already had urged that Coca-Cola be bottled, but Candler focused o

1899 … The first bottling

Two young attorneys from Chattanooga, Tennessee believed they could build a busines
In a meeting with Candler, Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead obtained ex
 Cola across most of the United States (specifically excluding Vicksburg) --
third Chattanooga lawyer, John T. Lupton, soon joined their venture.

1900-1909 … Rapid
The three pioneer bottlers divided the country into territories and sold bottling r
Their efforts were boosted by major progress in bottling technology, which imp
quality. By 1909, nearly 400 Coca-Cola bottling plants were operating, most of them fam
were open only during hot-weather months when demand was high.

1916 … Birth of the

Bottlers worried that the straight-sided bottle for Coca-Cola was easily confused with im
the Company and bottlers asked glass manufacturers to offer ideas for a distinctive bo
Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana won enthusiastic approval in 1915 and was intr
bottle became one of the few packages ever granted trademark status by the U.S. Pat
the most recognized icons in the world - even in the dark!

1920s … Bottling overtakes f

As the 1920s dawned, more than 1,000 Coca-Cola bottlers were operating
zeal fueled steady growth. Six-bottle cartons were a huge hit after their 19
later, open-top metal coolers became the forerunners of automated vend
the 1920s, bottle sales of Coca-Cola exceeded fountain sales.

1920s and 30s … Internation

Led by longtime Company leader Robert W. Woodruff, chief executive officer and
Company began a major push to establish bottling operations outside the U.S. Plan
 Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Belgium, Italy, Peru, Spain, Australia an
World War II began, Coca-Cola was being bottled in 44 countries.

1940s … Post-war
During the war, 64 bottling plants were set up around the world to supply
urgent request for bottling equipment and materials from General Eisenh
Many of these war-time plants were later converted to civilian use, permanently enlarg
accelerating the growth of the Company's worldwide business.

1950s … Packaging
For the first time, consumers had choices of Coca-Cola package size and type -- the
bottle, or larger servings including 10-, 12- and 26-ounce versions. Cans were also intr
available in 1960.

1960s … New brands

Following Fanta® in the 1950s, Sprite®, Minute Maid®, Fresca® and TaB® joined bra
Mr. Pibb® and Mello Yello® were added in the 1970s. The 1980s brought diet Coke®
by POWERADE® and DASANI® in the 1990s. Today hundreds of other brands are
preferences in local markets around the world.

1970s and 80s … Consolidation to

As technology led to a global economy, the retailers who sold Coca-Cola merged an
mega-chains. Such customers required a new approach. In response, many sma
consolidated to better serve giant international customers. The Company encouraged
bottler consolidations to assure that its largest bottling partners would have capacity to
with global retailers.

1990s … New and grow

Political and economic changes opened vast markets that were closed or underdevelop
of the Berlin Wall, the Company invested heavily to build plants in Eastern Europe. And
than $1.5 billion was committed to new bottling facilities in Africa.

21st Century
The Coca-Cola bottling system grew up with roots deeply planted in local communitie
Company well today as people seek brands that honor local identity and the distinctiven
true a century ago, strong locally based relationships between Coca-Cola bottlers, cus
the foundation on which the entire business grows.

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European Undertaking

© 2006-2009 The Coca-Cola Company