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🧪 The official birth of Coca-Cola (May 8, 1886)
To avoid alcohol, Pemberton created a version without wineHe maintained the mixture of coca and kola nut. He added sugar syrup, plant extracts, and a special flavoring whose full contents remain a secret to this day. After numerous experiments, Pemberton arrived at a thick, dark-colored syrup with an intense, sweet, and slightly acidic flavor.
On May 8, 1886, Pemberton took his syrup to the Jacobs' Pharmacy in Atlanta. There they mixed it with carbonated water, an extremely popular ingredient at the time because bubbles were believed to have medicinal benefits.
The result was surprising: a refreshing, aromatic, sweet and innovative drink.
That was the first day Coca-Cola was sold to the public. 5 cents per glass.
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✒️ The name and logo: the work of assistant Frank Robinson
John Pemberton had a talent for chemistry, but he wasn't a marketing expert. The one who truly transformed the brand into something appealing was Frank M. Robinson, your accountant and salesperson.
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Robinson suggested the name "Coca-cola"because it referenced two of its main ingredients and sounded pleasant and marketable.
But his most iconic contribution was the design of the handwritten logoin elegant Spencerian-style calligraphy. This detail would be crucial, because the brand needed a strong symbol capable of standing out among hundreds of similar tonics.
The logo was barely modified in over a century, demonstrating the visual power of Robinson's creation.
📉 Financial problems and the sale of rights
Although Pemberton had created a beverage with enormous potential, his failing health, his dependence on opiates, and his lack of business acumen prevented him from turning Coca-Cola into a major success. Even though the drink was beginning to gain loyal customers, it wasn't generating enough profit.
Looking for quick money, Pemberton began to sell parts of the rights He shared his formula with various partners. Among them was an ambitious businessman named Asa Griggs Candler.
In 1888, Pemberton died. His son inherited his share of the company, but had no interest in continuing. Asa Candler bought all the remaining shares and became the sole owner of Coca-Cola for approximately $2,300.
That would be one of the best business deals in history.
