Research on Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola, which was created by John Pemberton, a pharmacist, and named by Frank Robinson, was founded in 1886 in Atlanta.

Between 1888-1891 Asa Candler secured rights to the business. He turned Coca-Cola from an invention into a business and by 1895 he had built syrup plants in Chicago, Dallas and LA.

In 1894 Joseph Biedenharn became the first to put Coca-Cola in bottles. He sent 12 of them to Candler who responded without enthusiasm not realising that the future of Coca-Cola would be with portable, bottled beverages that customers could take anywhere. He still didn’t realise 5 years later when in 1899 two lawyers, Benjamin Thomas and Joseph Whitehead secured exclusive rights from Candler in order to bottle and sell the beverage.

The company decided to create a distinctive bottle shape to assure people they were getting the real thing so they held a contest to design a bottle which can be recognised in the dark. The Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana won. In 1916 they started manufacturing these bottles, which are still used today, which were chosen because of its attractive appearance, original design and the fact that you can identify it in the dark. The company grew rapidly, moving into Canada, Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, France and other countries and US territories.

In 1923 Ernest purchased the company from Asa Candler

In 1928 Woodruff introduced Coca-Cola to the Olympic Games.

When America entered WW2 Woodruff ordered that every man in uniform gets a bottle of Coca-Cola for just 5 cents.

After 70 years of success with one brand, Coca-Cola decided to expand with new flavours. Fanta which was developed in the 1940’s was introduced in the 1950’s while Sprite followed in 1961.

International advertisement for Coca-Cola came by a 1971 commercial, where a group of young people from all over the world gathered on a hilltop in Italy to sing ‘I’d like to buy the world a Coke’.

In the 1980’s a new chairman ‘Roberto C Goizeuta’ introduced a new drink ‘Diet Coke’ which fit in with the fitness craze of the 80’s. In 1985 he changed the formula to Coke which was the first change in 99 years. He tested it on people who loved the new taste but the public were emotionally attached to the original and pleaded the Coca-Cola changed back. So Coca-Cola listened and changed  it back calling it Coca-Cola Classic.

Coca-Cola’s long association with sports was strenghthened during the 1990’s with ongoing support from the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, Rugby World Cup and the national Basketball Association.

In 1993 the world met the lovable Coca-Cola Polar Bear for the first time.

Powerade, Oasis and Coca-Cola’s family of brands joined Coca-Colas line up around the world.

In 2009, Coca-Cola launched Live Positively - a public commitment to making a positive difference in the world by redesigning the way we work and live so that sustainability is part of everything we do. Live Positively includes goals for providing and tailoring beverages for every lifestyle, supporting active, healthy living programmes, building sustainable communities, reducing and recycling our packaging, cutting our carbon emissions, establishing a sustainable water operation and creating a safe, inclusive work environment for all.

As of 2008, Coca‑Cola can count more than 160 low and no calorie drinks in the company's range, such as Coke Zero and Powerade Zero  . The company now also lists the nutritional information on the front of all drinks in Great Britain with plans to roll out worldwide.

2011 was the 125^th year Coca‑Cola had been around for.

From the early beginnings when just nine drinks a day were served, Coca‑Cola has grown to be the world's most ubiquitous brand, with more than 1.6 billion beverage servings sold each day. Now well into its second century, the company's goal is still to provide magic every time someone drinks one of its more than 400 brands - and to do so in a sustainable way that benefits consumers and the communities we operate in.

Sprite, Fanta, 5alive, Powerade, Kia, Dr Pepper, Lilt and Oasis are just some of the brands made by Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola works in partnership with a number of organisations. Some include: WWF, WRAP, The Carbon Trust, The Special Olympics, Thames 21 and StreetGames