Coca-Cola is a
carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants and
vending machines internationally.
The Coca-Cola Company claims that the beverage is sold in more than 200 countries.
[1] It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company in
Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke (a now
genericized trademark) or (in European and American countries) as cola, pop, or in some parts of the U.S.,
soda. Originally intended as a
patent medicine when it was invented in the late 19th century by
John Pemberton, Coca-Cola was bought out by businessman
Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led Coke to its dominance of the world soft-drink market throughout the 20th century.
The company produces
concentrate, which is then sold to licensed Coca-Cola 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 Coca-Cola to retail stores and vending machines. Such bottlers include
Coca-Cola Enterprises, which is the largest single Coca-Cola bottler in North America and western Europe. The Coca-Cola Company also sells concentrate for soda fountains to major restaurants and
food service distributors.
The Coca-Cola Company has, on occasion, introduced other cola drinks under the Coke brand name. The most common of these is
Diet Coke, with others including Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola,
Diet Coke Caffeine-Free,
Coca-Cola Cherry,
Coca-Cola Zero,
Coca-Cola Vanilla, and special editions with lemon, lime or coffee.
In response to consumer insistence on a more natural product, the company is in the process of phasing out E211, or
sodium benzoate, the controversial additive used in Diet Coke and linked to DNA damage to yeast cells and hyperactivity in children. The company has stated that it plans to remove E211 from its other products, including
Sprite and
Oasis, as soon as a satisfactory alternative is found.
[2]According to Coca-Cola authorities, the best Coca-Cola is made in
Skopje,
Macedonia, where the company has granted the
Skopje Brewery its "Best Bottling Company" award.
[3][4][5]Contents[
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1 History1.1 New Coke1.2 21st century2 Use of stimulants in formula2.1 Coca — Cocaine2.2 Kola nuts — Caffeine3 Production3.1 Ingredients3.2 Formula of Natural Flavourings3.3 Franchised production model4 Brand portfolio4.1 Logo design4.2 The Coca-Cola "contour bottle" design5 Local competitors6 Advertising6.1 "Holidays are coming!"6.2 Sports sponsorhip6.3 In mass media7 Health effects8 Criticisms9 In popular culture9.1 Use as a spermicide9.2 Use as a political and corporate symbol10 See also10.1 Coca-Cola variations11 Notes12 External links//
