Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola was invented by John Stith Pemberton in Columbus, Georgia. Originally intended as a patent medicine, the drink was bought out by businessman Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led to Coke dominating the world soft-drink market throughout the 20th century.

The Coca-Cola Company was founded in 1892 by Asa Candler, who had acquired the rights to the beverage created by John Pemberton. Under Candler's leadership, Coca-Cola aggressively expanded its advertising to establish the product as a national brand, eventually becoming a cornerstone of American culture.

The iconic contour bottle of Coca-Cola was designed by the Root Glass Company. It was patented on November 16, 1915. The design was inspired by the curves and grooves of a cocoa bean. This bottle design helped distinguish Coca-Cola from its competitors and became a symbol of the brand's identity.

In an effort to reformulate its flagship soft drink, Coca-Cola introduced 'New Coke' on April 23, 1985. The launch proved to be a major marketing failure due to consumer backlash, prompting the company to reintroduce the original formula as 'Coca-Cola Classic' just months later.

The Coca-Cola polar bears debuted in a commercial during the 1993 Super Bowl. This advertising campaign successfully solidified the polar bear as a recurring element of Coca-Cola's holiday marketing, adding a sense of warmth and charm to the brand's seasonal advertisements.

Coca-Cola introduced the PlantBottle in 2009, a more sustainable packaging innovation made partially from plants. This initiative marked a significant step towards reducing the company's environmental footprint and demonstrating Coca-Cola's commitment to sustainability.

The 'Share a Coke' campaign was launched in Australia in 2011, replacing the iconic Coca-Cola logo with popular first names on labels. This personalized marketing strategy aimed to create a deeper connection with consumers and sparked a worldwide success, significantly boosting sales and brand engagement.

Coca-Cola Life, a mid-calorie cola sweetened with a blend of sugar and stevia leaf extract, was introduced in response to changing consumer preferences for lower-calorie options. However, it was discontinued in April 2019 due to lower than expected demand. The product aimed to capture health-conscious consumers seeking a natural sweetener.

In July 2020, Coca-Cola announced it would pause all advertising on social media globally for at least 30 days, as it assessed its advertising standards to address concerns over hate speech and misinformation spreading on these platforms. This decision was part of a broader movement by advertisers to demand changes in social media policies.

Coca-Cola completed a $5.6 billion acquisition of the sports drink company BodyArmor in November 2021. This acquisition was Coca-Cola's largest ever, allowing the company to expand its portfolio in the sports beverage market and compete more aggressively against rivals like PepsiCo's Gatorade.