Story of Coca-Cola

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The Everyday Drink

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Discovery of Coca-Cola

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Story of Coca-Cola deserves to be known and understood, as in today's times, we cannot resist drinking Coke every single day

Strange, but interesting. John Stith Pemberton was a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, in the late 19th  century.

Earlier, he actively participated in the American Civil War (1861-1865) and was wounded in the fighting.

Later, he started getting addicted to morphine to ease his aches and pains. 

He kept searching for a substitute, and he stumbled upon the Coca-Cola wines. He started experimenting with Coca Leaves and Kola nuts.

Finally, on 8 May, 1886, Dr. John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Pemberton first created a syrup that he initially called "Pemberton's French Wine Coca."

When Atlanta enacted prohibition legislation in 1886, he reformulated the drink to be non-alcoholic.

He mixed the syrup with carbonated water and offered it at Jacobs' Pharmacy, where it sold for five cents a glass.

At that time, Coca Leaves and Kola nuts remained the core ingredients.

Frank M. Robinson, Pemberton's bookkeeper, suggested the name "Coca-Cola" and created the distinctive script logo that remains largely unchanged today.

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The Short History Background of Coca-Cola

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Early Years and Ownership Changes

John Pemberton's health gradually started deteriorating, and he got into financial difficulty.

He began selling portions of his business to various partners. Before he died in 1888, he had sold most of his ownership rights.

Asa Griggs Candler was an Atlanta businessman who acquired complete ownership by 1891 for approximately $2,300.

Candler was a marketing genius who transformed Coca-Cola from a local soda fountain drink into a national phenomenon.

He distributed promotional items like calendars, clocks, and free drink coupons, and by 1895, Coca-Cola was being sold in every state and territory in the United States.

The Bottling Revolution

In 1899, two Chattanooga lawyers, Benjamin Thomas and Joseph Whitehead, secured exclusive rights to bottle Coca-Cola from Candler for just one dollar.

Candler believed the future was in soda fountains and saw little value in bottling.

This decision later proved to be one of the most significant in the company's history, as bottling allowed Coca-Cola to reach consumers everywhere.

The franchised bottling system they established became the foundation for Coca-Cola's worldwide distribution network.

In 1916, the iconic contour bottle was introduced, designed to be recognizable even in the dark or when broken.

The Woodruff Era

In 1919, the Candler family sold the company to a group of investors led by Ernest Woodruff for $25 million.

In 1923, his son Robert Woodruff became president at age 33 and would lead the company for over six decades.

Robert Woodruff was instrumental in making Coca-Cola an international brand.

He established the Foreign Department in 1926 and pushed for global expansion.

During World War II, he committed to providing every American serviceman with a bottle of Coca-Cola for five cents, regardless of where they were stationed or what it cost the company.

This led to the establishment of 64 bottling plants around the world to supply troops, laying the groundwork for post-war international expansion.

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Coke's Challenges and Controversies

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The New Coke Disaster (1985)

Perhaps the most famous business blunder in history occurred on April 23, 1985, when Coca-Cola announced it was changing its 99-year-old formula.

"New Coke" was sweeter and had performed well in blind taste tests against Pepsi.

On the contrary, the public reaction was immediate and fierce.

Consumers hoarded old Coca-Cola, protest groups formed, and the company received over 400,000 calls and letters of complaint.

Just 79 days later, the company brought back the original formula as "Coca-Cola Classic."

The episode demonstrated the deep emotional connection consumers had with the brand.

Health Concerns

Throughout its history, Coca-Cola has faced criticism regarding health issues:

- Early formulations contained small amounts of cocaine from coca leaves until 1903
- Sugar content and links to obesity have been ongoing concerns
- The company has faced lawsuits and criticism over marketing sugary drinks to children
- Water usage controversies, particularly in India where communities claimed the company depleted local water supplies

Labor and Human Rights Issues

The company has faced allegations of labor violations and human rights abuses at various bottling plants around the world, including accusations related to violence against union organizers in Colombia.

Competition with Pepsi

The "Cola Wars" with PepsiCo have a long history dating back to the 1970s.

The rivalry also resulted in both companies innovating in marketing, product development, and distribution.

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Coca Cola's Major Achievements and Milestones

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Brand Building

Coca-Cola eventually became one of the most recognized brands in the world.

The company pioneered many marketing techniques including:

- Celebrity endorsements dating back to the early 1900s
- The creation of the modern image of Santa Claus in red and white (matching Coca-Cola's colors) in the 1930s
- Iconic advertising campaigns like "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke" (1971) and "Share a Coke"
- Sponsorship of major events including the Olympics since 1928

Product Diversification

The company expanded far beyond its original cola:

- Fanta was created in 1940
- Sprite launched in 1961
- Acquired Minute Maid in 1960
- Diet Coke was introduced in 1982, becoming the third most popular soft drink
- Acquired Glaceau (Vitaminwater) in 2007 for $4.1 billion
- Purchased Costa Coffee in 2019 for $5.1 billion
- Acquired Fairlife Dairy in 2020

Global Expansion

Coca-Cola products are sold in more than 200 countries and territories.

The company operates through a network of company-owned and independent bottling partners.

It claims that its products are consumed 2.2 billion times per day worldwide.

Financial Performance

As of the most recent full fiscal year (2023):

- Net Operating Revenues: Approximately $45.8 billion
- Net Income: Approximately $10.7 billion
- The company employs around 80,000 people directly
- Market capitalization fluctuates but has been around $250-270 billion

Coca-Cola has paid dividends every year since 1893 and has increased its dividend for over 60 consecutive years, making it a "Dividend King" and a favorite among income investors.

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Coca-Cola Today

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Today, The Coca-Cola Company offers more than 500 brands, including sparkling soft drinks, water, enhanced water, sports drinks, juice, dairy, plant-based beverages, tea, and coffee.

The company has been working to address changing consumer preferences by:

- Reducing sugar in many products
- Offering smaller package sizes
- Expanding into healthier beverage categories
- Setting sustainability goals for water replenishment and packaging recycling

The company's headquarters remains in Atlanta, Georgia, where it all began in a small pharmacy in 1886.

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Summ-up

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Indeed, the story of Coca-Cola is very enlightening as well as insightful, and as most of the human population drinks Coke every day, everyone has a little stake in it.

We all deserve to know how one of the most loved companies came into existence.

It began as a five-cent drink at a single pharmacy, and eventually became a global beverage empire.

Coca-Cola's journey represents one of the most remarkable business success stories in history.

The company transformed a simple syrup recipe into the world's most valuable brand through innovative marketing, strategic distribution, and an unwavering focus on brand building.

Although there have been challenges from health concerns, competition, and changing consumer tastes, Coca-Cola has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability over nearly 140 years of operation.

You can read more about Coca Cola at Wikipedia