In 1898, in the quiet town of New Bern, North Carolina, a pharmacist named Caleb Bradham began writing a significant chapter in the history of carbonated beverages.
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Photo: North Carolina Museum of History.
Aiming to create a drink that aided digestion, Bradham experimented with a combination of ingredients such as sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, kola nuts and other additives. This experiment culminated in the creation of “Brad’s Drink”, a drink initially sold in his own pharmacy.
The need for a more attractive and representative name led Bradham to rename his invention on August 28, 1898. He chose “Pepsi-Cola”, a name derived from the word “dyspepsia”, which refers to indigestion, and the key ingredient, the kola nut.
This name change was not just a superficial rebranding, but also an attempt to highlight the drink's therapeutic potential. Additionally, Bradham acquired and modified the “Pep Kola” name from a competitor, thus solidifying the Pepsi-Cola brand.
What started as a drink sold at a local pharmacy quickly gained popularity. Realizing the potential of his creation, Bradham decided to focus entirely on developing the business.
In 1902, he formalized this change in direction by registering the Pepsi-Cola brand and establishing the company. This decision marked Pepsi's transition from a home remedy to a mass consumer product.
Over the years, Pepsi has undergone several transformations, both in terms of marketing and formulation. The brand has become known not only for its unique taste, but also for its innovative advertising campaigns and aggressive marketing strategies.
This includes celebrity partnerships, catchy slogans and eye-catching packaging, all contributing to Pepsi's positioning as one of the most popular drinks in the world.
Recently, in response to growing health and wellness concerns, PepsiCo announced a significant change in its product formulation. In March last year, the company revealed that Pepsi would contain 57% less sugar per bottle.
This initiative reflects a broader movement in the food and beverage industry, which aims to offer healthier options and meet consumer demands for products with lower content sugar.
