Bradham poured a sample of his mixture into a beaker and gave it to his assistant to taste it. Then he saw his assistant’s face light up upon tasting it, Bradham knew he had created a winner.
Like many drugstores of its time, Bradham provided ‘soda’ mixes for his customers and friends. His favorite was ‘Brad’s Drink’.
The name ‘Brad’s Drink didn’t convey the nature of the beverage and he decided to rename it ‘Pepsi-Cola’ in 1898.
The word “Pepsi’ was probably a reference to the idea that his drink would aid digestion like pepsin, an enzyme found naturally in the body.
By 1900, Pepsi-Cola had become so popular, that Bradham started the Pepsi-Cola Company. At first, the Pepsi-Cola Company simply sold Pepsi-Cola syrup to drug stores in eastern North Carolina.
By 1905, demand for Pepsi Cola had increased so much that Bradham decided it was time to offer Pepsi-Cola for sale in bottles. To facilitate the sale in bottles Bradham issued the first of many franchise agreement. Soon the name of Pepsi-Cola was known throughout the southeastern.
By end of the first decade of 20th century, Bradham had organized a network of more than 250 bottles in 24 states.
Early History of Pepsi Cola
