The History of an Icon - Coca- Cola

Many of us take the soft drink of Coca Cola for granted. Coke is a long established part of Americana. It has been with us through World Wars,the Information Era, as well as all of our lives. Wherever we go or whatever we have done, Coke has in someways been a part of it down through the years.

The first year for Coca Cola was in 1886. Sales averaged 9 drinks a day on the average. If all the 8 ounce bottles ever used were laid out end to end , they would stretch to the moon and back 1677 times. In 1993 Coke went to the Polar Bear as their mascot. At that time their mot became "Always Coca-Cola." The Polar Bear was a computer generated graphic design. It gave the appearance as a lovable animal that children and adults alike could relate, too.

Many people don't know who invented Coca-Cola. It was invented by Dr. Stith Pemberton. He was a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia. He carried it in a jug to Jacobs' Pharmacy. Carbonated water was added to the syrup. There it was tasted and pronounced excellent. It was then sold for 5 cents a glass as a soda fountain drink. Thus, began the existence of an American classic. Pembertons partner and bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, gave it its' name. He penned the trademark name of Coca-Cola. He accented the C's in the logo.

In 1889, Asa Chandler bought the rights to it for $2,300. By 1992, he had boosted sales by ten times. He formed the Coca-Cola Corporation and the initial capitalization was $100,000. 1893 saw the trademark patent developed. It also brought in the first dividend for a share of stock at $20. By the year 1895, Chandler announced that Coca-Cola was being drank in each State of the US and American territory at that time.

1919 brought a big change for Coca-Cola. The company was sold for 25 million dollars to Earnest Woodruff and C.W. Bradley. Four years later Woodruff's son Robert was elected as President of the corporation. By the end of 1928, Coca-Cola was also sold in bottle form. So it now had two ways to be sold fountain and bottle.

International distribution started slowly in the early 1900's. It started first in Cuba and Puerto Rico. The first European bottling company began in France in 1920. From there it started spreading to other locations across the globe.

By the beginning of World War II, the product was bottled in 44 different countries. Robert Woodruff made a declaration in 1941 that every man in uniform be able to purchase a coke for 5 cents. During the war, Coca-Cola not only lifted the morale of the troops but, it was also introduced to people that had never tasted it before.

Now that Coca-Cola was global, the focus shifted to advertisement. Global advertisement. The concentration on advertisement was for an understanding of the product in any language. This was a period from the 1950's to the 1970's. " Slogans" were emphasized by the company. Words like refreshing, good tastes, and "Things go better with Coke", were accented.

The 1980's brought global strategy with the slogan "I'd like to buy the world a Coke." It is the best known trademark in the world today. Today coke is bottled in over 200 countries. Coca-Cola is very much a part of Americana. Collectors from all over cherish the many add artifacts that Coca-Cola has produced down through the years. Collectors have everything from Soda machines to soda bottle crates. It alone is a booming industry.

Coca-Cola has become a major part of American and even global culture. The drink that Dr. Pemberton invented has come a long way since 1886.

Sources: The Coca-Cola Company