The History of Coke
Coke history is a business success story unmatched by any other. There are very few products or brands that have held such a prominent place in America and the rest of the world for as long a period of time as Coke has. Coke history dates all the way back to 1886, and its invention has led to the production of what is likely the world's most familiar taste ever since. The history of Coke, including the development, production and marketing of Coke is easily one of the greatest business success stories of all time.
Coke history began in the Atlanta, Georgia area in 1886 thanks to a pharmacist named Dr. John S. Pemberton. Years earlier, in 1863, Pemberton had developed a beverage called Pemberton's French Wine Coca which was likely a spinoff of European coca wine, and was commonly used as a nerve tonic, stimulant and headache remedy.
However, in 1886 prohibition kicked in and Pemberton was forced to change the formula which he did by sweetening it with sugar instead of wine. His flavored syrup was blended with carbonated water at a local pharmacy, and the result was a beverage that those who sampled it deemed as "excellent", and decided it should be sold. Pemberton's partner and bookkeeper, Frank M. Robinson came up with the name, and also designed the distinct script of the name that is still trademarked and used to this day.
At that time, Coke began to be sold from soda fountains in the Atlanta area for 5 cents a glass. Sales in the first year averaged nine glasses a day. Pemberton ran the first newspaper advertisement in Coke history in May of that year, and he claimed it as a cure for a variety of diseases.
Coke history does not come without some drama. By the time Pemberton passed away in 1888, there were three versions of Coke being sold. A businessman by the name of Asa Griggs Chandler had purchased the rights to produce Coke, as had a group of four other businessmen, and Pemberton's son Charley was also producing his own version.
Since Pemberton stated that the other manufacturers could use the formula but that his son had the rights to the official name, Chandler attempted to sell his product under different names, but with little success. This led Chandler to seek legal claim to both the name and formula and take full control of the market.
In 1891, he was eventually able to purchase the sole rights for a price of $2,300.
Chandler quickly expanded the distribution of Coke soda fountains beyond the Atlanta area, and in 1894 Coke began to be bottled. A Mississippi merchant named Joseph Biedenham was the first to do it when he installed bottling machinery on his soda fountain. Then in 1899, three Tennessee businessmen purchased the exclusive Coke bottling rights for the tiny sum of one dollar, and developed the bottling system that would eventually take Coke global.
Chandler was a keen marketer, and Coke history is shaped by his marketing strategies. He believed strongly in advertising which he used to a great extent. They also distributed thousands of coupons good for a free sample, produced all sorts of souvenir products with the Coke branding, and in 1916 developed the famous Coke bottle, which has become one of the most well known packages for any product ever.
Business boomed and it wasn't long before there were syrup manufacturing plants in Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles, and the success of Coke would never slow down, before entering the scene in Europe by way of France in 1919. In 1919 an investor group led by Atlanta banker Ernest Woodruff purchased the company from Chandler's group for $25 million after which they re-incorporated, went public and sold half a million shares for $40 a pop.
Since then, Coke history has been an astounding success story, and is quite possibly the most highly recognized brand of any type of product in the world. Coke products now include roughly 400 brands that can be purchased in virtually anywhere on the planet. Coke advertising has always been innovative and powerful, and has been extremely influential on marketing strategies of many companies across many sectors. It has been and continues to be one of the most successful and admired companies in history. Beyond its sheer business success, Coke has established itself as somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. Rarely if ever has a product touched so many consumers from such diversified lifestyles as Coke.
The Coke recipe has remained a closely guarded secret as it has been passed down from one generation to the next, and according to legend it is kept in a company vault, safe from any would-be replicators. So as rich and successful as Coke history has been so far, don't expect their dominance to fizzle any time soon.
Coke history began in the Atlanta, Georgia area in 1886 thanks to a pharmacist named Dr. John S. Pemberton. Years earlier, in 1863, Pemberton had developed a beverage called Pemberton's French Wine Coca which was likely a spinoff of European coca wine, and was commonly used as a nerve tonic, stimulant and headache remedy.
However, in 1886 prohibition kicked in and Pemberton was forced to change the formula which he did by sweetening it with sugar instead of wine. His flavored syrup was blended with carbonated water at a local pharmacy, and the result was a beverage that those who sampled it deemed as "excellent", and decided it should be sold. Pemberton's partner and bookkeeper, Frank M. Robinson came up with the name, and also designed the distinct script of the name that is still trademarked and used to this day.
At that time, Coke began to be sold from soda fountains in the Atlanta area for 5 cents a glass. Sales in the first year averaged nine glasses a day. Pemberton ran the first newspaper advertisement in Coke history in May of that year, and he claimed it as a cure for a variety of diseases.
Coke history does not come without some drama. By the time Pemberton passed away in 1888, there were three versions of Coke being sold. A businessman by the name of Asa Griggs Chandler had purchased the rights to produce Coke, as had a group of four other businessmen, and Pemberton's son Charley was also producing his own version.
Since Pemberton stated that the other manufacturers could use the formula but that his son had the rights to the official name, Chandler attempted to sell his product under different names, but with little success. This led Chandler to seek legal claim to both the name and formula and take full control of the market.
In 1891, he was eventually able to purchase the sole rights for a price of $2,300.
Chandler quickly expanded the distribution of Coke soda fountains beyond the Atlanta area, and in 1894 Coke began to be bottled. A Mississippi merchant named Joseph Biedenham was the first to do it when he installed bottling machinery on his soda fountain. Then in 1899, three Tennessee businessmen purchased the exclusive Coke bottling rights for the tiny sum of one dollar, and developed the bottling system that would eventually take Coke global.
Chandler was a keen marketer, and Coke history is shaped by his marketing strategies. He believed strongly in advertising which he used to a great extent. They also distributed thousands of coupons good for a free sample, produced all sorts of souvenir products with the Coke branding, and in 1916 developed the famous Coke bottle, which has become one of the most well known packages for any product ever.
Business boomed and it wasn't long before there were syrup manufacturing plants in Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles, and the success of Coke would never slow down, before entering the scene in Europe by way of France in 1919. In 1919 an investor group led by Atlanta banker Ernest Woodruff purchased the company from Chandler's group for $25 million after which they re-incorporated, went public and sold half a million shares for $40 a pop.
Since then, Coke history has been an astounding success story, and is quite possibly the most highly recognized brand of any type of product in the world. Coke products now include roughly 400 brands that can be purchased in virtually anywhere on the planet. Coke advertising has always been innovative and powerful, and has been extremely influential on marketing strategies of many companies across many sectors. It has been and continues to be one of the most successful and admired companies in history. Beyond its sheer business success, Coke has established itself as somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. Rarely if ever has a product touched so many consumers from such diversified lifestyles as Coke.
The Coke recipe has remained a closely guarded secret as it has been passed down from one generation to the next, and according to legend it is kept in a company vault, safe from any would-be replicators. So as rich and successful as Coke history has been so far, don't expect their dominance to fizzle any time soon.
