COKE OR PEPSI - PART II - "You got the right one Baby UH HUH"

COLA WARS

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Much like its main competitor Coke, Pepsi Cola was invented by a pharmacist who had a soda fountain in his drug store. It was also advertised as a tonic that would refresh, but cure a variety of ailments and complaints. Caleb Bradham of New Bern, North Carolina came up with the formula for Pepsi in 1893. He called it “Brad’s Drink which was later changed to Pepsi Cola because of the ingredients pepsin and Kola nuts. Bradham was successful with the company he formed until WW I when sugar prices fell. Bradham had gambled on them continuing to rise and as a result, Pepsi Cola went bankrupt in 1923.

In 1931 Pepsi was bought by the Loft Candy Company (YUM, I remember them and their amazing candy called Parlays!). The new owner, Charles Guth struggled to make Pepsi a success and even offered to sell the company to Coca Cola several times. It wasn’t until 1936 that Guth was able to reorganize his company, improved the formula and began selling 12 ounce bottles at the same price Coca Cola was selling its 6 ounce bottles for – 5 cents! Finally, people had a compelling reason to switch from Coke to Pepsi and they did, to the tune if one billion bottles consumed in 1937! Pepsi is generally recognized for its clever advertising, most of which concentrates on outshining its arch enemy, Coke! Who can forget this famous Pepsi commercial?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg1AbNmkwPg

So, are you a Pepsi person? Think you know all about Pepsi Cola?

Take the Pepsi Quiz and find out!

http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz22547319d0f80.html

One last comparison; here are the mission statements for both companies.

PepsiCo's mission is "To be the world's premier consumer products company focused on convenient foods and beverages. We seek to produce healthy financial rewards to investors as we provide opportunities for growth and enrichment to our employees, our business partners and the communities in which we operate. And in everything we do, we strive for honesty, fairness and integrity."

Coke's is: "Our mission is to create a growth strategy that allows us to bring good to the world -- by refreshing people every day and inspiring them with optimism through our brands and our actions."

Still not sure? Take the Coke vs. Pepsi Quiz!

http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz123092e19868.html

If you missed part one of Marion's Cola Wars... Read Coke or Pepsi Part I

COKE OR PEPSI - PART I - IT'S THE REAL THING

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Coke or Pepsi?  The age old war between the two iconic cola companies continues. Either you’re a Coke person or a Pepsi person; it’s politically incorrect to be both! Let’s look at the history of each company, their impact on society and the cleverness of their slogans and then, of course, the taste. After that, you decide. Tell us which kind of cola connoisseur you are!

Coke was invented in May of 1886 by a pharmacist named Dr. John Pemberton in a brass kettle in his back yard. He took the syrup to his drug store in Atlanta Georgia where his bookkeeper suggested the name Coca Cola because of the ingredients cocaine and kola nut. It was this bookkeeper’s neat script handwriting that became the famous logo still used today.

The syrup was mixed with carbonated water at the soda fountain of the Pharmacy and sold about 9 glasses a day. It was advertised as an elixir or tonic to improve digestion and settle upset stomachs. By the late 1890’s the formula was sold to Asa Candler who launched an aggressive marketing campaign which led to Coca Cola being one of America’s most popular fountain drinks. Clever advertising, updating the product (Diet Coke, Coke Zero, New Coke, Coke Classic etc) and bottling helped Coke to grow into a household word around the world.

The effect of Coke on our culture? HUGE! Besides being the first major soda company to bottle and distribute coke in machines, the Coca Cola Company practically invented the now accepted image of Santa Claus. Their brilliant ads in 1931 depicting that “Jolly Old Elf” as a rosy cheeked, red nosed, chubby old man in a red suit gave children what became the iconic image of Santa for ages to come. It was also Coke that hired famous artists Normal Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth to paint much loved versions of mid-century American life. And who can forget the historic 1971 commercial “I’d like to teach the world to sing”? It was also Coke that was the first soft drink to be consumed in space in July of 1985.

So now you know the history and some interesting facts. What about the taste?  Most people describe it as “fuzzy, sweet, refreshing, crisp and sugary. The truth is, you have to taste it for yourself to really know. 

So, are you a Coke person? Think you know all about Coca Cola?

Take the Coke quiz and find out!

http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/quiz/quiz.html

The competitor: Pepsi Cola  will be explored in part II!