Photographs: Fred Prouser/Reuters
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.
Let's take a look at the history of one of the most iconic brands in the world.
Source: CNBC
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Anatoli Stepanov/Reuters
Coke in Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola was created in 1886. The original ingredient included five ounces of coca leaf per gallon of syrup. Author Rick Allen pointed out in his book, Secret Formula, "Fluid extract of the coca leaf is cocaine and was in the original Coca-Cola for about the first five years".
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Tami Chappell/Reuters
Bottled-up
In 1886 - Coca-Cola was a soda foundation beverage which cost five cents per glass. Next, the beverage became available in bottles.
1915 - Coca-Cola made a US patent trademark of the contour bottle to bring distinction of the Coca-Cola brand.
1977 - Coke introduced the plastic bottle but by 1994 the drink was available in the two litre bottle.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: George Frey/Reuters
Worldwide sales
1886 - Coca-Cola sold about drinks per day
1920 - 6.5 million drinks per day (which included bottles and fountain drinks)
1950 - 50 million soft drinks were sold per day
2013 - It's estimated at above two billion per day
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: George Frey/Reuters
Product range
The Coca-Cola Company has grown into the world's largest beverage company with nearly 500 brands with more than 3,000 products. Their line includes sparkling beverages, juices, coffee, tea, sports drinks and packaged water.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Edwin Montilva/Reuters
Major advertiser
The first Coca-Cola advertisement cited an affordable nickel price and was touted as 'Delicious and Refreshing'. By 1906, the company was spending half a million dollars annually for ads.
In recent times their ad budget continues to grow. The company is spending nearly $2 billion on advertisements every year.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Jim Young/Reuters
The logo
The Coca-Cola logo was registered as a trademark in 1893. The logo has remained the same in Spencerian script.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Brian Snyder/Reuters
The mascot
The first mascot, Santa Claus, was introduced in 1931. Phil Mooney, Coca Cola's official historian says, "We started to think about Santa Claus. Well, here's a guy. He's gotta go all over the world in 24 hours. He's gotta be thirsty in the course of that evening. So, let him have a Coca-Cola".
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Denis Sinyakov/Reuters
The commercials
Coca-Cola commercials are placed in the most popular platforms with the same message decades apart. The Coca-Cola "Mean" Joe Green commercial aired during the 1980 Super bowl remains one of the most memorable commercials. The Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Back tosses his jersey to a young boy in gratitude for giving Joe Green his Coca-Cola.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The slogans
Since 1886 Coca-Cola has had notable slogans. They have been catchy and memorable taglines. Coca-Cola has used over 45 different slogans throughout the century.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
The Olympics
Coca-Cola has been partners with the Olympics for more than 80 years. It was during the IX Olympic Summer Games when Coca-Cola made its first official appearance.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Tim Wimborne/Reuters
International foray
During World War II the Coca-Cola company decided to ship their soft drinks to United States military overseas. It created loyal customers and international exposure.
Today, the family contour of the Coca-Cola bottle is recognised all over the globe. These bottles are in French, Amharic (Ethiopian language), Spanish, Arabic and Dutch.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Rick Wilking/Reuters
Out of bounds
Coca-Cola can be found almost anywhere. The soft drink is sold in over 200 hundred countries except Cuba and North Korea.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Mike Blake/Reuters
Personalised coke
Coke has come a long way from its soda fountain days. Soon you will be able to make your own personalised Coca-Cola drink through the new Freestyle Jet machine. The device features of touch-tone screen allowing you to create your own variety of Coke.
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Coca-Cola: How it became world's iconic brand
Photographs: Brian Snyder/Reuters
Unique bottle
The famous Coca-Cola bottle, called the "contour bottle" within the company, but known to some as the "hobble skirt" bottle, was created by bottle designer Earl R Dean. In 1915, the Coca-Cola Company launched a competition among its bottle suppliers to create a new bottle for their beverage that would distinguish it from other beverage bottles, "a bottle which a person could recognise even if they felt it in the dark, and so shaped that, even if broken, a person could tell at a glance what it was".
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