THE SOUTHERN TIMES

The History of Coca-Cola

John Styth Pemberton, an Atlanta druggist, sold tonics, including the trending “French Wine Coca,” a tonic with high concentrations of alcohol. However, with the temperance movement, Pemberton was forced to create the tonic without alcohol. Thus, “Coca-Cola” was born, named after the coca plant and the kola nut, which were the main ingredients. Soda water was later added to the tonic when a customer with a severe headache asked for it immediately, and the soda water tap was closer. The mixture grew more popular as more drugstores added soda water to the tonic. Unfortunately, John Pemberton’s health deteriorated, and after selling off the majority of his company and products, he died without any wealth.

 

Another druggist is responsible for Coca-Cola’s original rise to fame: Asa Candler, who had bought the remaining stock of Coca-Cola before Pemberton perished. Asa Candler was the one who formed the Coca-Cola Company, the one who donated a portion of his wealth to fund Emory University and Hospital, and the one who made one of the largest business deals in the South by selling the company to Ernest Woodruff, who soon handed the company to his son – Robert Woodruff.

 

Robert Woodruff turned the already massive company into a multibillion-dollar international business, using previous marketing strategies. The distinctive green glass bottles were plastered across advertisements around the world. Similar to the donations of Asa Candler, Woodruff also made history by gifting $105 million worth of Coca-Cola to Emory University; this is still among the largest single endowments in American history.

 

In the modern era, this company sells Coca-Cola products to more than 470 million people daily, resulting in several billion dollars worth of annual sales.