1898
New Bern, North Carolina
In the small town of New Bern, North Carolina, local pharmacist Caleb Bradham invented the original formula of what would become Pepsi-Cola. First called “Brad’s Drink,” this popular beverage was crafted with a mix of sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, kola nuts, nutmeg, and other additives.
1903
Pepsi-Cola
The instant popularity of this new drink leads Bradham to devote all of his energy to developing Pepsi-Cola into a full-fledged business. He applies for a trademark with the U.S. Patent Office, Washington D.C., and formed the first Pepsi-Cola Company.
The first Pepsi-Cola newspaper advertisem*nt appears in the New Bern Weekly Journal.
1903
From Drugstore to Warehouse
“Doc” Bradham moves the bottling of Pepsi-Cola from his drugstore into a rented warehouse; he sells 7,968 gallons of syrup in the first year of operation.
Pepsi’s theme line is “Exhilarating, Invigorating, Aids Digestion.”
1904
The Bishop Factory
Bradham purchases a building in New Bern known as the “Bishop Factory” for $5,000 and moves all bottling and syrup operations to this location. Pepsi is sold in six-ounce bottles. Sales increase to 19,848 gallons.
1905
Charlotte and Durham
Pepsi-Cola’s first bottling franchises are established in Charlotte and Durham, North Carolina.
Pepsi receives its new logo, its first change since 1898.
1906
The Original Pure Food Drink
Pepsi gets another logo change, the third in eight years. The modified script logo is created with the slogan, “The Original Pure Food Drink.”
There are 15 U.S. Pepsi bottling plants. The Pepsi trademark is registered in Canada. Syrup sales rise to 38,605 gallons.
The federal government passes the Pure Food and Drug Act, banning substances such as arsenic, lead, barium, and uranium, from food and beverages. This forced many soft drink manufacturers, including Coca-Cola, to change their formulas. Pepsi-Cola, being free of any such impurities, claimed they already met federal requirements.
1908
Horse-Drawn Carts to Motor Vehicles
Pepsi-Cola becomes one of the first companies to modernize delivery from horse-drawn carts to motor vehicles. Two hundred fifty bottlers in 24 states are under contract to make and sell Pepsi-Cola.
1909
Barney Oldfield Endorses Pepsi-Cola
Automobile race pioneer Barney Oldfield endorses Pepsi-Cola in newspaper ads as “A bully drink…refreshing, invigorating, a fine bracer before a race.”
1910
Bottler Convention
The first Pepsi-Cola bottlers’ convention is held in New Bern, North Carolina.
1920
Drink Pepsi-Cola, it will satisfy you
Pepsi theme line speaks to the consumer with “Drink Pepsi-Cola, it will satisfy you.”
1939
Radio Jingle
Pepsi created the first radio advertising jingle to be broadcast from coast to coast.
1950
Television
Pepsi-Cola advertised on television for the first time and modernized our famous script.
1977
#1 Cola Product
Pepsi-Cola became the most popular cola drink in supermarkets.
1998
Historical Site Opens
The Birthplace of Pepsi historical site opens in New Bern, NC.
2012
Coming Home
Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi
announced that the annual PepsiCo shareholders meeting would move to New Bern. “We are proud to be a North Carolina company and feel at home right here,” she said.
