The Evolution of the Coca-Cola Bottle : From the Past to the Present

Origins of a Global Icon

Coca-Cola was invented in 1886 by John Pemberton, a pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The original formula, known as Pemberton's French Wine Coca, combined wine, coca leaves, and kola nuts. When alcohol was banned, Pemberton removed the wine and created a non-alcoholic carbonated beveragewhat we now know as Coca-Cola.

From Medicine to Market

The first Coca-Cola was sold at Jacobs' Pharmacy for five cents a glass. After Pembertons death, entrepreneur Asa G. Candler bought the rights and transformed Coca-Cola into a national brand through innovative marketing and distribution.

The Bottles Evolution

Early Days: Hutchinson & Crown Top Bottles
1899: Coca-Cola was first bottled in Hutchinson bottles, with straight shapes and swing-top caps.
1900: The brand adopted the Crown Top bottlestill straight but with a crown-style cap.
Defining an Icon: The Contour Bottle
As competitors emerged, Coca-Cola needed a distinctive bottle design.

1915: A design competition was held, and Root Glass Company won with a curvy shape inspired by a cocoa pod.
1916: The design was refined for production and patented as the Contour Bottleeasily recognized by touch or sight.

Subtle Yet Significant Changes

1957: The embossed logo was replaced with white script printed on clear glass
1961: Red was added to the label, becoming the brands signature color
1993: Coca-Cola launched the recyclable PET plastic bottlelighter and more portable, but still shaped like the iconic Contour bottle

More Than Packaging

Over the decades, Coca-Cola bottles have become not just containers but symbolsrepresenting history, innovation, and timeless design. Today, vintage Coca-Cola bottles are cherished collectibles and remain powerful tools for brand identity.

You can find Coca-Cola in all Rimping Supermarket branches.