History of Coca-Cola...

John Styth Pemberton first introduced the refreshing taste of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. It was May of 1886 when the pharmacist concocted a caramel colored syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard. He first "distributed" the new product by carrying Coca-Cola in a jug down the street to Jacobs Pharmacy. For five cents, consumers could enjoy a glass of Coca-Cola at the soda fountain. Whether by design or accident, carbonated water was teamed with the new syrup, producing a drink that was proclaimed "Delicious and Refreshing."

Dr. Pemberton's partner and bookkeeper, Frank M. Robinson, suggested the name and penned "Coca-Cola"
in the unique flowing script that is famous worldwide today. Mr. Robinson thought that "The two C's would
look well in advertising."    On May 29, 1886, the first newspaper advertisement, in The Atlanta Journal, pronounced Coca-Cola "Delicious and Refreshing," a theme still around today.

 In 1886, sales of Coca-Cola averaged nine drinks per day. That first year, Dr. Pemberton sold 25 gallons of
 syrup, shipped in bright red wooden kegs. Red has been a distinctive color associated with the No. 1 soft drink
 brand ever since. For his efforts, Dr. Pemberton grossed $50 and spent $73.96 on advertising.   Sadly Dr. Pemberton was never able to see what a legend he created as he died in 1888.

 By 1891, Atlanta entrepreneur Asa G. Candler had acquired complete ownership of the Coca-Cola business, with a total investment of $2,300. Within four years, his merchandising flair helped expand consumption of Coca-Cola to every state and territory.

The trademark "Coca-Cola" was first registered in the US Patent Office on January 31, 1893. Early advertising discouraged
 calling the product "Coke" and urged customers to use the full name. But "Coke" was here to stay and became a trademark in   1945.

In 1894, they opened the first manufacturing plant outside of Atlanta in Dallas, TX. In following years plants were spread to
Los Angeles, and Chicago.

In 1919, The Coca-Cola Company was sold to a group of investors for $25 million. Robert W. Woodruff became president of The Coca-Cola Company in 1923, and his more than six decades of leadership took the business to unrivaled heights of commercial success, making Coca-Cola an institution the world over.