History
Carbonated Soft Drinks
Important Events In The Development Of Soft Drink Products
1798
The term "soda water" is first introduced
1809
First U.S. patent issued for the manufacture of imitation mineral waters
1815
The first soda "fountain" is patented
1835
Bottled soda water first produced in U.S.
1850
Manual hand-foot filling, corking device is first used for bottling soda water
1851
Ginger ale is introduced in Ireland
1861
Soft drinks referred to as "pop"
1874
The first ice-cream soda is served
1876
Root beer is produced in quantity for public sale
1881
First cola-flavored beverage is introduced
1892
Invention of the crown bottle cap
1899
First patent for a glass blowing machine, used to produce glass bottles
1913
Motor trucks begin to replace horse drawn carriages as delivery vehicles, beginning a new era for the soft drink industry
1919
Industry joins to form a national association: American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages
1920
U.S. Census reports more than 5,000 bottlers in business
Early 1920s
Automatic vending machines begin to dispense sodas in cups
1923
Introduction of six-pack cartons called "Hom-Paks"
1934
Color labels are used to merchandise products
1952
First diet soft drink introduced
1958
First aluminum cans are introduced
1959
First diet cola is introduced
1962
Easy opening, pull-ring tabs are first available
1965
Soft drinks in aluminum cans appear in vending machines
1965
Resealable tops are invented
1966
American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages renamed National Soft Drink Association
1970
Plastic bottles are first used for soft drinks
1973
Creation of the PET bottle
1974
The stay-on tab is invented
1981
Talking vending machines are invented
Mid-1980s
Caffeine-free and low-sodium soft drinks gain popularity
Early 1990s
Clear colas manufactured.
1991
Soft drink companies begin using PET bottles
1993
Number of soft drink containers recycled since the first Earth Day in 1970 reaches 384 billion
2004
National Soft Drink Association changes its name to American Beverage Association
Where Soft Drink Manufacturing Began
A uniquely American industry, the manufacturing of soft drinks began in the 1830's. However, the evolution of soft drinks took place over a much longer period. The forerunners of soft drinks began more than 2,000 years ago when Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine," first suspected that mineral waters could be beneficial to our well-being. But Hippocrates did not envision drinking the effervescent mineral waters bubbling from the earth's crust. Instead, the Greeks and Romans used them for bathing and relaxation. More than a thousand years passed before mineral waters made the transition from therapeutic bath to refreshing beverage.
From Bath to Beverage
In America, the transition resulted from the discovery of the natural springs in New York. Many legends and myths developed about the earth's mysterious waters, believed to be cures for everything from arthritis to indigestion. The claims attracted physicians and scientists who began studying the tiny bubbles fizzing from these waters.
Scientists eventually proclaimed the air being released as gas carbonium — simple carbon dioxide. Soon after they perfected a way of producing artificially carbonated water in the laboratory. With that development it was only a matter of time before soft drinks made it into the hands of the American public.
Pharmacists Intervene
By the 1830's, both artificial and natural mineral waters were considered healthy and refreshing products in America. But pharmacists, believing they could improve upon their curative properties, experimented with a multitude of ingredients from birch bark to dandelions. And while no miracle cures developed, some very interesting flavors and tastes were discovered. Ginger ale, root beer, sarsaparilla, lemon and strawberry were among the most popular of the early flavors.
In the early days the soft drink industry was a seasonal business, operating primarily during the summer months. Sales were limited by few outlets for the new carbonated beverages, and by the consumer's restricted mobility.
For many years, America's pharmacists were the driving force behind the refinement of soft drinks and many of the flavors and combinations. Their association with chemistry and medicine made them ideally suited for this business, still part pharmacology and part refreshment.
The local pharmacy was the center attraction in many American towns in the mid-1800's. It was customary to gather around the new soda fountains and enjoy one's favorite refreshment mixed on the spot. However, as the corner drugstore grew in popularity, the soft drink bottling industry was taking shape.
Soft Drink Bottling Begins
Gradually, demand grew for soft drinks to be consumed in the home. Bottling the product proved difficult at first, since pressure from the carbon dioxide forced corks right out of the bottles. Clearly, if soft drinks were ever to be sold for consumption beyond the corner pharmacy, there would have to be a way to keep them corked. Inventors worked for years to develop a solution, patenting some 1,500 different corks, caps and lids for soft drink bottles.
Crown Caps aid Home Consumption
Then, in 1892, the "crown cap" was invented. Tiny in design, the crown completely revolutionized the soft drink industry by preventing the escape of carbon dioxide from bottled beverages. In fact, it was the dominant soft drink closure for more than 70 years.
Soon the crown cap's success was being felt at the corner pharmacy. As home consumption of soft drinks grew, demand at the corner drug store began to dwindle. Many pharmacists, realizing the promising future of soft drinks, abandoned their trade to become full-time bottlers. Others began stocking soft drinks in their stores. Horse drawn wagons traveled America's streets, loaded with brand-name soft drinks and headed for growing retail outlets.
Hom-Paks Invented
While the crown cap helped lead the way to soft drinks in the home, it was not until the 1920's that the trend took hold. The invention of "Hom-Paks," the first six-pack cartons, made it more convenient to carry products back to the house. Their use resulted in the increased availability and the growing popularity of soft drinks across America.
Automobiles Herald a New Era
The appearance of the automobile heralded a new era for the soft drink industry. Roadside stands appeared across the country. Service stations became major outlets for bottled refreshment, and large motorized delivery trucks were better able to satisfy the country's growing taste for liquid refreshment.
Vending Machines Appear
Automatic vending machines began to appear in the 1920's, once again changing the business of soft drinks. Vending machines and fountain dispensers led the way to the expansion of soft drinks to industrial outlets. Americans could now consume the popular beverage at home or at work. Today, there are more than 2.5 million soft drink vending machines in the U.S.
Industry Calls for More Innovation
The mushrooming demand for products resulted in the growth of the soft drink industry, from pharmacies into a national industry. Inventors of soft drinks spread their products across America by opening a few strategically placed bottling facilities through franchise agreements. Eventually it became clear that supplying a growing nation's thirst for soft drinks would require more than a few additional bottling plants. But until the 1890's, the industry was primarily one of manual operations. Glass bottles were blown individually, while filling, sealing, mixing, and packaging were almost totally manual operations. Expansion could not occur without a more mechanized process.
Soft Drinks & the Industrial Age
That changed between 1890 and 1910. New, automated machinery was developed, making the soft drink industry more efficient and productive. The number of plants bottling soft drinks increased from 1,377 to 4,916, as sales soared.
The industrial age was in full swing, America's population was exploding and soft drink demand was booming. Together, the industry and the nation entered the era of mass production and national marketing.
New, modern machinery turned out uniform products and significantly increased the production of soft drinks. By the time The Great Depression hit, carbonated beverages were already established as part of the American way of life. Even in hard economic times, consumers were unwilling to give up soft drinks--one of the small pleasures they could still afford to enjoy.
The Depression witnessed the creation of innovative new soft drink brands and containers, which continued during the 1940's and 50's.
Responding to consumer demand, the industry rolled out soft drinks in cans and introduced diet beverages (INSERT LINK) to the market. Carriers were developed for convenience and ease in taking soft drinks from the store to the home.
World War II Impacts Industry
Together, America and its soft drink industry suffered hardships caused by World War II. Shortages of cork, sugar and steel significantly impacted the manufacturing process, but soft drinks continued to be available to the public. The soft drink industry participated in scrap metal collection drives and made significant efforts to conserve natural resources in order to support the war effort. Soft drinks were classified as "essential to soldier morale" by the U.S. War Department and both the soft drink industry and federal government made every effort to provide troops with products. When unable to ship soft drinks directly to the soldiers, the government sent machinery and materials so they could be made on the spot.
Meeting Consumer Demand
Since that time, the country has experienced significant progress—a man on the moon, color TV, computers, and compact disc players. For the soft drink industry, it has meant the development of new flavors, the sale of canned products in vending machines and the invention of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles.
Soft drink companies have kept pace with the nation's endless thirst for refreshment. While many things have changed throughout the years the beverage industry has continued to meet the ever-changing demands of its consumers.
