Coca Cola Case Study
Q1. Trace the history and major milestone of the Coca Cola Company. Write about new businesses, divestment, new market entered and exited.
Coca Cola History:
Coca-Cola began its existence in a three-legged brass pot in the backyard of John S. Pemberton on May 8, 1886. Pemberton was a pharmacist trying to create a new headache tonic. Pemberton took his creation to the now famous Jacob's Pharmacy about 2 blocks from his home. There the syrup was mixed with cold tap water and sold to ailing customers for 5 cents. As the story goes, a customer in great pain came in and ordered the syrup and the soda jerk accidentally mixed it with carbonated water instead of regular tap water. The customer loved the new drink, declaring it "Delicious and Refreshing!"
Frank Robinson, Pemberton's partner and bookkeeper, suggested the name "Coca-Cola", taking each part of the name from a key ingredient in the product and proclaiming that the two C's would look well in advertising. Mr Robinson penned "Coca-Cola" in the unique flowing script that is now famous worldwide!
As John Pemberton's health grew worse, he sold the company off. Asa Candler took sole ownership of the company by 1891 for a mere $2,300.
In 1894, Coca-Cola was first bottled by Joseph Biedenharn, owner of the Biedenharn Candy Company of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Candler believed that the bottling idea was crazy and that people would never go for it! As the popularity of Coca-Cola increased, many imitators came onto the scene, offering products such as "Koca-Kola", so the company decided that they needed a bottle that would be easily recognizable so as not to be confused with any other. The Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana designed the now famous "contour bottle". This bottle design was first patented in 1915 and then again December 25, 1923. In the year 1928, bottle sales first surpassed fountain sales, proving that the bottling idea had been a great success!
Asa Candler's merchandising flair helped expand
Coca Cola History:
Coca-Cola began its existence in a three-legged brass pot in the backyard of John S. Pemberton on May 8, 1886. Pemberton was a pharmacist trying to create a new headache tonic. Pemberton took his creation to the now famous Jacob's Pharmacy about 2 blocks from his home. There the syrup was mixed with cold tap water and sold to ailing customers for 5 cents. As the story goes, a customer in great pain came in and ordered the syrup and the soda jerk accidentally mixed it with carbonated water instead of regular tap water. The customer loved the new drink, declaring it "Delicious and Refreshing!"
Frank Robinson, Pemberton's partner and bookkeeper, suggested the name "Coca-Cola", taking each part of the name from a key ingredient in the product and proclaiming that the two C's would look well in advertising. Mr Robinson penned "Coca-Cola" in the unique flowing script that is now famous worldwide!
As John Pemberton's health grew worse, he sold the company off. Asa Candler took sole ownership of the company by 1891 for a mere $2,300.
In 1894, Coca-Cola was first bottled by Joseph Biedenharn, owner of the Biedenharn Candy Company of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Candler believed that the bottling idea was crazy and that people would never go for it! As the popularity of Coca-Cola increased, many imitators came onto the scene, offering products such as "Koca-Kola", so the company decided that they needed a bottle that would be easily recognizable so as not to be confused with any other. The Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana designed the now famous "contour bottle". This bottle design was first patented in 1915 and then again December 25, 1923. In the year 1928, bottle sales first surpassed fountain sales, proving that the bottling idea had been a great success!
Asa Candler's merchandising flair helped expand