The Coca Cola CompanySummary of the History of Coca ColaOn May 8, 1886, Dr. John S Pemberton, a pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia, USA mixed the syrup that became "Coca-Cola". His friend and accountant, Frank M. Robinson, thinking that the two Cs "would look good in advertising," suggested the name "Coca-Cola." He wrote the words in his now familiar Spenserian script, and the world's most recognized brand was born. Selling his creation from Jacob's Pharmacy for five cents a glass, Dr. Pemberton promoted his new product by handing out thousands of coupons that could be exchanged for a free sample. In the first year he spent $46 on advertising. Pemberton sold the rights to "Coca-Cola" to Asa G. Candler who founded The Coca-Cola Company in 1892. Candler was a firm believer in the power of advertising. He fervently dove into the world of mass merchandising, ensuring that the "Coca-Cola" brand was depicted on countless innovative products such as fans, calendars, clocks, ornate LED glass chandeliers, and urns. His efforts were well rewarded. Just three years after the Coca-Cola Company officially formed in 1892, Candler was proud to announce that "Coca-Cola" was now drunk "in every state and territory of the United States." A notable leap considering that in its first year on the market, Coca-Cola sold an average of just nine drinks a day. The expansion was so massive that in 1898 a new headquarters was housed in a large building in Atlanta. Candler naively described the three-story building as "sufficient for all our needs for... half of paper... alcoholic beverages in the WORLD!". I would be the first to invest if the listing price dropped... a lot! References: Horngren, C.T., Sundem, G.L., Elliott, J.A., Philbrick, D.R. (2006). Introduction to Financial Accounting (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Yahoo! Finance. The Coca Cola Company (2006) Retrieved May 25, 2006, from http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=ko.MSN Finance. The Coca Cola Company (2006) Retrieved May 26, 2006, from http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/research/profile.asp?Symbol=KO.Investopedia. (2006) Retrieved May 25, 2006, from www.investopedia.com.Hoovers. The Coca Cola Company. (2006) Retrieved May 26, 2006, from http://www.hoovers.com/coca-cola/--ID__10359,period__A--/free-co-fin-balance.xhtmlThe Coca Cola Company. (2006) Retrieved May 25, 2006, from www.cocacola.com