Seven Castles

Coke

                                      

November 10, 2007

 

Coke (Coca-Cola) is the most recognized brand in the world. By the early 21st century it was sold in more than 200 countries.

 

The exact formula of Coke is a famous trade secret. The Atlanta pharmacist and patent medicine maker John S. Pemberton invented the soft drink in 1886, originally intended as a patent medicine ("nerve tonic") to cure the then-popular supposed diseases of neurasthenia, headaches and hangovers. The sugary syrup, mixed with carbonated water, was also sold as a "delicious and refreshing" soda fountain drink. Its name derived from its two principal drug ingredients, the Peruvian coca leaf (cocaine) and the West African kola nut (caffeine).

 

Coke was made a national soda fountain success by the end of the 19th century. Company was incorporated in 1892. In 1923, it was made a symbol of the American way of life through ubiquitous, effective advertising. During World War II, it was deemed an essential morale booster for American troops overseas, and the employees established bottling plants behind the lines, thus positioning the company for swift global expansion in the postwar world.

 

Beginning in the depression era, Pepsi-Cola arose as a fierce competitor, offering more drink for a nickel. Coke finally matched Pepsi ounce for ounce and offered Sprite, Fanta and other drinks from the 1960s onward. Although the "cola wars" continued into the 21st century, Coke remained the world's preeminent soft drink. The world's most widely distributed product at that time, "Coca-Cola" was reputedly the second best-known word on Earth after "okay". The history of Coke provides a case study in modern image marketing, in which a fi soft drink, mostly sugar water, assumed massive symbolic weight for both critics and advocates.

 

Faced with critiques of its health effects and various allegations of wrongdoing by the company, Coke has remained a popular soft drink to the present day. The company actually produces concentrate for Coke, which is then sold to various Coke bottlers throughout the world. The bottlers, who hold territorially exclusive contracts with the company, produce finished product in cans and bottles from the concentrate in combination with filtered water and sweeteners. The bottlers then sell, distribute and merchandise Coke in cans and bottles to retail stores and vending machines. Coke was sold in bottles for the first time on March 12, 1894, and cans of Coke first appeared in 1955.

 

Coke was the first-ever sponsor of the Olympic games, at the 1928 games in Amsterdam and has been an Olympics sponsor ever since.

 

I love Coke. A cold Coke on a very hot day or when you are very thirsty is tasty. It gets you high. 

【作者: zhangliping】【访问统计:】【2007年11月10日 星期六 05:18】【注册】【打印】