Coca-Cola was invented by an Atlanta-based pharmacist John S. Pemberton in 1886. But the name was conjured up by his bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, who was also a dab hand with a pen. He created the unique flowing script that became the Coca-Cola logo that is still used today.
When Coca-Cola first launched it was marketed as a nerve tonic that "relieves exhaustion." This ad was published c.1886.
You may have heard this story before, and it's true: The very first Coca-Cola products contained cocaine — but only around 9 milligrams per glass. The drug was touted at the time as a substitute for alcohol and was said to cure opium addiction. But cocaine was removed from Coca-Cola in 1903.
Source: Daily Mail and Wikipedia
Of the 57 billion servings of all kinds of beverages drunk each day (other than water), just over 3% (1.9 billion) are Coca-Cola trademarked/licensed drinks. It's the most widely-distributed product on the planet.
Source: Coca-Cola 2015 SEC Filings
There are only two countries in the world where? Coca-Cola is not sold: Cuba and North Korea.
Source: Business Insider
Coke makes so many different beverages that if you drank one per day, it would take you more than nine years to try them all. Coca-Cola has a product portfolio of more than 3,500 beverages (and 500 brands), spanning from sodas to energy drinks to soy-based drinks.
Source: Coca-Cola
If every drop of Coke ever produced was placed in 8-ounce bottles and laid end-to-end, they would reach the moon and back more than 2,000 times. Or, put another way, one round? trip per day for five years, seven months, and 14 days.
Source: Coca-Cola
Coke owns a whopping 20 brands that generate more than $1 billion in sales per year. Here they all are.
Source: Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola brand is worth an estimated $83.8 billion. That's more than Budweiser, Subway, Pepsi, and KFC combined.
Source: BrandZ Top 100
Coca-Cola claims its name is the second-most understood word in the world, behind "OK."
Source: Coca-Cola
Mexicans are the biggest drinkers of Coke in the world. On average, Mexicans drink 745 Coke beverages a year. Americans drink 401 Coke products a year on average.
Source: Statista (2012)
Coca-Cola believes it invented the concept of the coupon. The company distributed sample coupons in late 1886 and the company believes it was the reason the drink spread from the small population of Atlanta to every state in the US by 1990. Between 1886 and 1914, one in 10 Cokes were given away for free.
Source: Marketing Week
Coca-Cola is also to thank for the image we have today of Santa Claus. Coke began its Christmas advertising in 1920s to drum up sales in the slow winter months. It used several images, but none proved popular until 1931 when illustrator Haddon Sundblom painted a plump, jolly Santa in a red coat. The image was based on the Clement Moore poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and his own Scandinavian heritage. Previous images of Santa Claus ranged from him being gaunt, to very big, and he wore all different colors including green and brown.
Source: Coca-Cola
In 1985, Coca-Cola became the first soft drink to ever go to space. Astronauts tested the Coca-Cola Space Can aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. Here's the can.
Source: Coca-Cola
Coke says the "perfect" temperature to serve its drink is between 34 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit?.
Source: Marketing Week
