Topic
29 facts from 4 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1880s
John Pemberton, the Atlanta inventor of Coca-Cola, was a Confederate veteran wounded in the Civil War and addicted to morphine, which the hosts say was known as 'army disease'.
“Dr. John Pemberton, a Confederate war veteran who had not only been stabbed, he had also been shot during the war and got army disease”
1880s
Soda fountains bought Coca-Cola syrup for about $1.30 a gallon and, at 128 five-cent drinks per gallon, took in about $6.40 of revenue from it.
“They're 128 drinks per gallon. They're making $6.40 of revenue for a product that costs them $1.30 to buy.”
1887
Frank Robinson, Pemberton's business partner and bookkeeper, named Coca-Cola and introduced its script logo in 1887.
“So the next year in 1887, Frank Robinson, the business partner who also named the drink, he also introduces the script logo.”
1888
Coca-Cola mailed free-drink tickets to Atlanta addresses, which the hosts describe as the first manufacturer's coupon redeemable at a retailer; an 1888 ticket is the oldest known coupon used in America.
“They decide that they are going to offer tickets to consumers redeemable at their local Atlanta soda fountains for free glasses of Coke.”
1891
Asa Candler paid only $2,300 in 1891 to acquire the last pieces of ownership of Coca-Cola, according to the hosts.
“Even with all that growth having already happened, he only paid $2,300 to buy it all.”
1892
In 1892, the first official year of the Coca-Cola Company, it sold 35,360 gallons of syrup at an average of $1.30 a gallon, which the hosts calculate as about $46,000 in revenue and $12,000 in profit.
“with those costs, they sell 35,360 gallons of syrup at an average price of $1.30 a gallon.”
1915
The patent for Coca-Cola's contour bottle was granted in 1915; the design, by the Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana, was later nicknamed the Mae West bottle.
“Ultimately, in 1915, the patent for the contour bottle gets granted.”
1919
Banker Ernest Woodruff led an investor syndicate that bought Coca-Cola from the Candler family for $25 million in 1919, which effectively made the company publicly traded.
“a local banker named Ernest Woodruff puts together an investor syndicate and basically stages a takeover of the company and buys out the family members for $25 million.”
1920s
By the mid-1920s Coca-Cola is estimated to have sued and shut down more than 7,000 copycat cola brands.
“by the mid-20s, it's estimated that Coca-Cola sues and shuts down over 7,000 copycat cola brands in a very, very busy legal department.”
1920
In a 1920 case against the Koke Company, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Coca-Cola had become a brand name meaning a single thing from a single source.
“Coca-Cola means a single thing coming from a single source and well-known to the community.”
1923
Robert Woodruff became president of the Coca-Cola Company in 1923 and was then the youngest president of any major U.S. corporation.
“So in 1923, Robert takes over as president of the Coca-Cola Company, becoming the youngest president of any major corporation in America at that time.”
1930s
Under Robert Woodruff, Coca-Cola installed about 32,000 coolers in U.S. gas stations in the first year of that push, a step the hosts call a precursor to the coin-operated vending machines Coke introduced in 1937.
“they go around the country and install 32,000 Coca-Cola coolers in gas stations around the country just in the first year.”
1931
In 1931 Coca-Cola commissioned artist Haddon Sundblom to paint a large, red Santa Claus for Christmas ads, which helped standardize the modern image of Santa.
“So in 1931, Coke commissions the artist Haddon Sunbloom to create Christmas ad imagery for Coca-Cola featuring Santa Claus.”
1934
In 1934 Pepsi began selling 12-ounce bottles, reusing beer bottles, for the same nickel Coke charged for 6.5 ounces.
“In 1934, Pepsi, in almost a last-ditch effort to try and just do something to stay alive and save the company, tests using recycled beer bottles, which are 12-ounce bottles, to sell Pepsi.”
1941
By August 1941 colas other than Coca-Cola held 14% of the U.S. soft drink market, most of it Pepsi.
“by August 1941, so it's six, seven years later, colas that are not Coca-Cola have 14% of the U.S. soft drink market share, the majority of which is Pepsi.”
1941-1945
From 1941 to 1945 Coca-Cola sent 64 portable bottling plants overseas, and an estimated 5 billion or more bottles were distributed to U.S. troops.
“1941 to 1945, 64 portable bottling plants were sent to Asia, Europe, and North Africa. And the best estimates are that more than 5 billion bottles were distributed to troops during the war.”
1950s
In the late 1950s the ad agency McCann Erickson ran a blind taste test for Coke that found a statistically significant number of people preferred Pepsi, according to the hosts.
“Consumers, when presented with the two drinks, Coke and Pepsi, in a blind taste test, a statistically significant number of people prefer the taste of Pepsi.”
1955
Ray Kroc made a handshake deal with Coke fountain division head Waddy Pratt in 1955 to supply McDonald's, and the hosts say it lasted roughly 40 years without a formal contract.
“And he calls up Coca-Cola and does a handshake deal, meets in person, and does a handshake deal with Waddy Pratt, who ran Coke's fountain division.”
1962
Coca-Cola launched its first diet soda, Tab, in 1962 after Robert Woodruff rejected naming it Diet Coke.
“So in 1962, they finally appealed to the diet market by launching Tab, which is their new diet drink product that they had considered naming Diet Coke, but Bob Woodruff rejected it.”
1971
The 1971 Coca-Cola 'Hilltop' commercial, 'I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke', was approved with a $100,000 budget, which rain-delayed shoots later pushed higher.
“They got the budget greenlit from the head of advertising at Coca-Cola to do the most expensive ad of all time. A hundred thousand dollar budget.”
1977
In 1977 Pepsi outspent Coca-Cola on advertising for the first time, amid the success of the Pepsi Challenge.
“In 1977, Pepsi outspends Coke in advertising for the first time in history.”
1980
Coca-Cola's board appointed chemical engineer Roberto Goizueta, a Cuban immigrant, as CEO in May 1980.
“All of this finally resolves in May of 1980, when the board appoints a young chemical engineer named Roberto Gosueta as CEO.”
1983
Diet Coke, announced in July 1982 at Radio City Music Hall, became America's top diet drink by the end of 1983.
“By the end of 1983, the first full year on the market, Diet Coke is the number one diet drink in America.”
1985
New Coke, launched in April 1985, was followed 79 days later by the return of the original formula as Coca-Cola Classic.
“there was 79 days between when they released New Coke and when Coca-Cola Classic made its return.”
1987
Berkshire Hathaway bought about $1.2 billion of Coca-Cola stock, around 6% of the company, in 1987.
“He buys 1.2 billion worth of stock on the open market in 1987, which equates to 6% of the company.”
1988-1994
Berkshire Hathaway built a stake of roughly $1.3 billion in Coca-Cola over the next few years, from 1988 to 1994, and the hosts say it owns about 9.5% of the company today.
“a roughly $1.3 billion equity stake in the company over the next few years”
1998
By 1998 Coca-Cola was selling about one billion servings a day, which Buffett cited as the key fact for a long-term Coca-Cola investor.
“all that mattered was by 1998, they were selling one billion servings a day”
Undated
Michael Ovitz says CAA won Coca-Cola's advertising account and all 35 commercials it pitched were approved.
“We got awarded the account and of the 35 commercials we presented, they approved every single one.”
Undated
Michael Ovitz says CAA hired the studio Rhythm and Hues to animate its Coca-Cola polar bear commercials.
“we hired a company called Rhythm and Hues to do the animation”
Episodes