For trivia about Coca-Cola, see Coca-Cola/Trivia.
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke (a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company in the United States since March 27, 1944). Originally intended as a patent medicine when it was invented in the late 19th century by John Pemberton, Coca-Cola was bought out by businessman Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led Coke to its dominance of the world soft-drink market throughout the 20th century.
Achievements
By the time of its 50th anniversary, the soft drink had reached the status of a national icon in the USA.
In 1935, it was certified kosher by Atlanta Rabbi Tobias Geffen, after the company made minor changes in the sourcing of some ingredients. The longest running commercial Coca-Cola soda fountain anywhere was Atlanta's Fleeman's Pharmacy, which first opened its doors in 1914.
Jack Fleeman took over the pharmacy from his father and ran it till 1995, closing it after 81 years.
On July 12, 1944, the one-billionth gallon of Coca-Cola syrup was manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company. Cans of Coke first appeared in 1955.
On July 5, 2005, it was revealed that Coca-Cola would resume operations in Iraq for the first time since the Arab League boycotted the company in 1968.
In 2012, Coca-Cola would resume business in Burma after 60 years of absence due to U.S.-imposed investment sanctions against the country. Coca-Cola with its partners is to invest US$5 billion in its operations in India by 2020.
Different Flavors
| Name | Launched | Discontinued | Notes | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola | 1983 | The caffeine-free version of Coca-Cola. |   | |
| Coca-Cola Cherry | 1985 | Was available in Canada starting in 1996. Called "Cherry Coca-Cola (Cherry Coke)" in North America until 2006. |  | |
| Coca-Cola Zero | 2005 | Diet version of Coca-Cola. |  | |
| New Coke/"Coca-Cola II" | 1985 | 2002 | Still available in Yap and American Samoa |  |
| Coca-Cola with Lemon | 2001 | 2005 | Available in: Australia, American Samoa, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Denmark, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Korea, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Réunion, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, and West Bank-Gaza |  |
| Coca-Cola Vanilla | 2002; 2007 | 2005 | Available in: Austria, Australia, China, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Malaysia, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States. It was reintroduced in June 2007 by popular demand. |  |
| Coca-Cola with Lime | 2005 | Available in Belgium, Netherlands, Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. |   | |
| Coca-Cola Raspberry | June 2005 | End of 2005 | Was only available in New Zealand. Currently available in the United States in Coca-Cola Freestyle fountain since 2009. |  |
| Coca-Cola Black Cherry Vanilla | 2006 | Middle of 2007 | Was replaced by Vanilla Coke in June 2007 |  |
| Coca-Cola Blāk | 2006 | Beginning of 2008 | Only available in the United States, France, Canada, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Lithuania |  |
| Coca-Cola Citra | 2006 | Only available in Bosnia and Herzegovina, New Zealand and Japan. |  | |
| Coca-Cola Orange | 2007 | Was available in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar for a limited time. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland it's sold under the label Mezzo Mix. Currently available in Coca-Cola Freestyle fountain outlets in the United States since 2009. |  | |
| Coca-Cola Life | 2015 | Introduced in Argentina in 2015, it is now available in the United States. |   |
Logo Design
The famous Coca-Cola logo was created by John Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Mason Robinson, in 1885. Robinson came up with the name and chose the logo's distinctive cursive script. The typeface used, known as Spencerian script, was developed in the mid-19th century and was the dominant form of formal handwriting in the United States during that period.
Robinson also played a significant role in early Coca-Cola advertising. His promotional suggestions to Pemberton included giving away thousands of free drink coupons and plastering the city of Atlanta with publicity banners and streetcar signs.
Official Site
us.coca-cola.com
Gallery
