Asa Griggs Candler and the Rise of Coca-Cola

Initially created in the late 1800s by chemist John Stith Pemberton as a patent medicine, Coca-Cola was later acquired by entrepreneur Asa Griggs Candler, whose innovative marketing strategies propelled the drink to global success throughout the 20th century.

Born on December 30, 1851, Asa Griggs Candler was a pharmacist and influential businessman. In 1888, he purchased the formula for Coca-Cola from Pemberton for $238.98 in Atlanta, Georgia. Fascinated by the sweet, fizzy beverage, Candler began acquiring full ownership of the product after Pemberton sold his remaining shares and died shortly thereafter. By 1892, Candler had invested a total of $2,300 and became the sole owner.

Made from coca leaf extract, caffeine, carbonated water, and sugar, the beverage was rebranded under Candler’s direction. In 1892, he officially established the Coca-Cola Company and trademarked the product a year later, soon paying out its first shareholder dividends.

Candler’s mastery of marketing played a key role in Coca-Cola’s rapid expansion. By 1894, the company had opened its first syrup plant outside Atlanta in Dallas, Texas. That same year, Joseph Biedenharn became the first to bottle Coca-Cola, paving the way for mass distribution.

Candler remained a central figure in the company’s growth until later in life. After suffering a stroke in 1926, he never fully recovered and passed away on March 12, 1929, at Wesley Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
Asa Griggs Candler and the Rise of Coca-Cola