Despite these tremendous stats, the soft drink came from humble origins. It was invented by Atlanta pharmacist Dr. John S. Pemberton in 1886 and originally advertised as a tonic for the most common ailments. Its caffeine-rich formula gave the syrup a refreshing edge, and combined with its unique texture created from the addition of carbonated water, it was deemed an “excellent” beverage by those who sampled it. The first servings of Coca-Cola were sold for five cents per glass, and during the first year, sales averaged a modest nine servings per day in Atlanta.
Just two years after creating what would become the world’s bestselling soft drink, Dr. Pemberton sold the majority of his business's interest to Atlanta businessman Asa G. Candler. Under Candler’s leadership, sales rose from about 9,000 gallons a year to 370,877 gallons in a decade. However, it wasn't just the taste that allowed the sparkling beverage's popularity to skyrocket: in a collaboration with an independent bottling company, in fountain form, the Coca-Cola Company was able to expand its sales to all 50 states. In 1920, over 1,200 Coke bottling operations had been established.
One thing we can probably all agree on is the universality of a good Coke. It was a symbol that united Americans with their allies around the globe during World War II, and a name was even given to Coca-Cola distributors in the army: the "Technical Observers." A Victory Mail from the National World War II museum reads: "I had rather have the Cokes as the beer. I’ll bet you were surprised to hear that, but it’s the truth." Coca-Cola was a way to connect those fighting abroad and those at home, something that both soldiers and common civilians could enjoy. The "Have A Coke" ads featured American pilots laughing with Chinese airmen as they shared a Coke, and the drink's reach expanded far beyond the war zones, into Iceland, Newfoundland, Panama, and many more countries.
I'd like to sum up my blog by quoting American artist Andy Warhol: “A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the Cokes are the same and all the Cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the president knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it.”
Sources:
https://coffeeordie.com/coca-cola-colonels/
https://today.yougov.com/topics/food/explore/brand/Coca_Cola
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/the-history-of-the-coca-cola-contour-bottle
https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Coca-Cola-Company
https://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/about-us/coca-cola-history/
This was such an interesting blog! I feel like a lot of people even today associate the coca cola brand with Americans and patriotism. It's a product that was consumed by the common American, making it easier to unite everyone in the country. Another interesting aspect of the soft drink's history is its spread to other countries. in 1978, Coca Cola was the only company allowed to sell cold packaged beverages in the People's Republic of China. In the 90s, Coca Cola began to sell their drinks to East Germany and other parts of Asia. They even changed their marketing strategies to appeal to those populations. It's so interesting that a beverage we all drink today has such a rich history and even represents a global symbol!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Coca-Cola-Company
That's so interesting that Coca Cola is such a unifying thing for America and how soldiers had so much respect for the "technical observers." Something that I'm interested about is coke in the military, no cola, but cocaine. During the Vietnam war, about 28% of soldiers took hard drugs like heroin and cocaine. In addition to this use of illegal drugs, military officers were able to prescribe their men heavy drugs such as stimulants in order to improve their endurance and try to limit mental breakdowns. Although it was common and overall deemed okay within the war, the media was outraged, and it divided Americans even further about their opinions on the war.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.history.com/news/drug-use-in-vietnam
I found Andy Warhol's quote particularly interesting because it highlights how all Cokes are the same. It made me realize that Coca Cola has very limited competition- sure, Pepsi sells a similar drink, but besides the two companies, there's hardly anything similar to the cola drink. The rival between Coca Cola and Pepsi is very prominent, though. While researching, I found that in 2006 two Coca Cola employees were caught trying to sell company secrets to Pepsi workers for up to $75,000. The employees handed the information over, thinking they were giving it to a Pepsi executive, only to realize that they had handed the secrets to an FBI agent who had been alerted to the illegal actions about to take place. The two Coca Cola employees were sentenced to over 5 years in prison.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/79322/12-refreshing-facts-about-coca-cola