a brief history of coca-cola

1894. Brisk sales of a new fountain beverage called coca-cola impressed the store's owner, He began bottling coca-cola to sell.

1909. Nearly 400 coca-cola bottling plants were operating, most of them family owned businesses.

1920s and 30s. The company began a major push to establish bottling operations outside the U.S. plants.

1960s (New brands introduced). Following Fanta in the 1950s, Sprite, Minute Maid, Fresca and TaB joined brand coca-cola.

1990s. The company invested heavily to build plants in Eastern Europe and more than $1.5 billion was committed to new bottling facilities in Africa.