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Coca Cola A Short History 125 Years Booklet
Coca Cola A Short History 125 Years Booklet
If all the Coca‑Cola ever produced were to Studies have shown that Coca‑Cola is among the
cascade down Niagara Falls at its normal most-admired and best-known trademarks in the
rate of 1.6 million gallons per second, it world. In fact, it is documented that “Coca‑Cola”
would flow for nearly 83 hours. is the second-most widely understood term in the
world, after “okay.”
namic Ribbon
A Short History of
trip per day for five years, seven months and 14 days.
keThis
Red onremarkable
is the a white story
background
about the evolution Did you know?
1886 1888
May 8. Coca‑Cola is created by The first newspaper ad appears Asa Candler begins to acquire
John S. Pemberton and served at announcing Coca‑Cola as a personal control of the Coca‑Cola
Jacobs’ Pharmacy. Nine drinks a “Delicious and Refreshing Beverage.” formula and patents from John
day are sold during this year. Pemberton and his partners.
1887
Company accountant, Frank Robinson, Coupons are first used to
names the drink “Coca‑Cola,” and promote Coca‑Cola.
thinking the two Cs would look well
in advertising, pens the famous John Pemberton registers his
Spencerian script logo. “Coca‑Cola Syrup and Extract”
label as a copyright with the
U.S. Patent Office.
1890s
“The Great
National Drink
at the Great
National Game”
“The Most
Refreshing Drink
in the World”
1900s “Good All the Way Down” “The Ideal Beverage for Discriminating People” “Good to the Last Drop” “Palate Pleasing”
“Enjoy a Glass
of Liquid Laughter”
“Quality Tells
the Difference”
1910s “A Welcome Addition to Any Party” “The Thirsty One’s Best Beverage” “3 Million a Day” “Whenever You See an Arrow, Think of Coca‑Cola”
How did this
global icon get its
distinctive shape?
COKE LORE
In 1960, the contour bottle was granted registration as a trademark by the U.S.
Patent Office. Today, it is still the most recognized bottle in the world, and the
shape is used for packaging from the new aluminum can to the 2-liter family size.
“Thirst Knows
No Time
Nor Season”
“Coca‑Cola
Goes Along”
1930s
“Ice Cold Sunshine” “Whoever You Are, Whatever You Do, Wherever You May Be, When You Think of Refreshment, Think of Coca‑Cola”
How did Santa
become so jolly
and lovable?
COKE LORE
Left to right:
Christmas advertisement,
1921
Sundblom illustration,
1951
The Coca‑Cola Company began its Christmas advertising in the 1920s in an effort
to increase sales during the slower winter months. Several different images of
Santa were used, but none proved to be popular with consumers until 1931. That
year, Archie Lee, an advertising executive for Coca‑Cola, commissioned illustrator
Haddon Sundblom to paint a Santa that was both wholesome and realistic.
Sundblom looked to the Clement Moore poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and his
own Scandinavian heritage to create the big, red, jolly vision of Santa that the
Company used for more than 30 years.
The Company commissioned Sundblom to paint Santa for the last time in 1964,
but by then, the popular image of Santa was the Coca‑Cola Santa Claus.
“The Only
Thing Like “Where There’s
Coca‑Cola Coke, There’s
Is Coca‑Cola Hospitality”
Itself”
1950s
Coke in 10-, 12-, 16- and 26-ounce bottles.
“Coca‑Cola Makes Good Things Taste Better” “Sign of Good Taste” “Be Really Refreshed”
“It’s the Real Thing”
1960s
bottle is introduced.
Television Ads
The Coca‑Cola Company began advertising on television
on Thanksgiving Day, 1950, on the Edgar Bergen and
Charlie McCarthy holiday special. Over the years, three ads
became most associated with Coca‑Cola and are generally
considered among the best television ads ever made.
I’d Like to Buy the World a “Mean” Joe Greene, 1979 Northern Lights, 1993
Coke, 1971
“I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke,” or “Hilltop” as the ad is often called, was
created in 1971. The song for the ad was recorded by The New Seekers, a popular
Australian folk music group. Released as a radio ad in February of that year, the
song was then filmed as a television spot on a hilltop outside of Rome, Italy,
featuring an international group of young people. The ad was an instant classic
with thousands of people writing the Company requesting the music. A popular
recording of the song with the Coca‑Cola references removed was performed by
The New Seekers and topped the charts in many countries around the world.
The Coca‑Cola polar bears became icons for the Company as soon as the
popular “Northern Lights” commercial aired in 1993. The bears were animated by
noted production company Rhythm and Hues using the most current technology
to bring the always-thirsty bears to life. Numerous polar bear commercials have
been produced since 1993; their activities have included skiing and skating, while
the family has grown to include playful cubs.
“You Can’t Beat the Feeling”
1980 1982
A Coca‑Cola contour bottle becomes Diet Coke is introduced in a celebrity- Tokyo Disneyland. The two companies Coca‑Cola becomes the first soft Company-owned bottlers and several
the central focus of the movie “The filled ceremony in New York, becoming sign a worldwide marketing agreement drink consumed in space when the independent bottler groups combine
Gods Must Be Crazy.” the first extension of the trademarks in 1985. astronauts aboard the space shuttle to form Coca‑Cola Enterprises (CCE)
Coca‑Cola and Coke. Challenger tested the space can on as an independent bottler and publicly
1981 1985 a mission. traded company.
Roberto Gouizeta becomes Chairman The Coca‑Cola Company purchases Bottling operations begin in Russia.
and CEO of The Coca‑Cola Company. Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. 1986 1989
While the Company owns the movie The formula for Coca‑Cola is changed May 8. Coca‑Cola marks its hundredth The first neon spectacular sign in
The first bottling plant opens in studio, “Gandhi” wins an Academy for the first time in 99 years. The anniversary with a worldwide the Soviet Union debuts in Moscow’s
China. By 2010, the Company had Award for best picture. product, popularly dubbed “New celebration in Atlanta. Pushkin Square.
opened more than 40 bottling plants Coke,” generated consumer protest
in the country. 1983 nationwide. Product made with the The Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation The Company sells Columbia Pictures.
The Coca‑Cola Company continues a original formula, renamed “Coca‑Cola is created as a joint program between
long association with The Walt Disney Classic,” is returned to the market the Company and The Coca‑Cola
1980s
Company as the anchor sponsor of 79 days later. Bottlers’ Association.
1990s
“Open
Happiness”
2000s
United States. sign lights up Times Square in New
York City.
Can a company
be considered the
world’s biggest
sports fan?
COKE LORE
Worldwide Sponsorships
Coca‑Cola is one of the only brands with the worldwide
presence and ability to sponsor the two biggest sporting
events in the world, and we have been doing it for more
than 80 years.
While The Coca‑Cola Company had been advertising in the stadiums at FIFA
World Cup™ matches since the 1950s, in 1976 The Coca‑Cola Company and the
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) made history as they
forged the first-ever sponsorship between an international sports governing
authority and a company. This sponsorship was far-reaching and included
not only the FIFA World Cup™ but also youth training and the Coca‑Cola Cup.
The Coca‑Cola Company sponsors not only the FIFA World Cup™ but all FIFA
tournaments, such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and FIFA U-17 World Cup™.
2008 2009 2010
Sponsorship of the Beijing 2008 Coca‑Cola Freestyle, an innovative In the aftermath of a devastating
Olympic Games connects with more fountain dispenser that allows earthquake, The Coca‑Cola Company
than 500 million consumers in China. consumers to select from more launches the Haiti Hope Project, a
than 100 beverages, is unveiled. public-private initiative that aims to
A Coca‑Cola Facebook page is develop a sustainable mango industry
established by two fans. The site has Two-liter contour packaging in Haiti.
over 22 million fans worldwide as of is introduced.
January 2011 and continues to grow. The Coca‑Cola Company acquires
PlantBottle PET packaging is the entire North American bottling
Sprite becomes the third Company introduced. Made partially from operations of Coca‑Cola Enterprises.
product to sell more than 2 billion plant-based materials, PlantBottle
cases annually, joining Coca‑Cola plastic bottles are completely 2011
and Diet Coke/Coca‑Cola light. recyclable. The Coca‑Cola Company celebrates
125 years of brand Coca‑Cola.
The Coca‑Cola Conversations Simply becomes a billion-dollar brand.
blog launches.
125 years and we are just
getting started.
This book is printed on FSC-certified Mohawk Loop Silk, which is made with 50% process chlorine-free post-consumer recycled fiber with the
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