Things are not always as they seem

By Brenda Cannon Henley
Almost everyone reared in the south (and perhaps everywhere else, too, according to recent surveys on the subject) can be divided into two main groups — Coke or Pepsi drinkers. I fall into the latter and have preferred Pepsi to Coke products for many years. Coca Cola was founded in Atlanta, where I am originally from, and I have written many stories about the manufacturing plants, the wonderful museum at Underground Atlanta, and the various products over the years. Coke has also been very good to me in sponsoring charitable events and helpful projects, and I do appreciate them. There is also a big interest in Coke bottles just now where the names of individuals appear on the label. In fact, in my refrigerator as I type are two with different names on them that my kids have bought for friends. But, had I a choice, I bought Pepsis. I have since that time, and as I write this article, I have a nice cold Pepsi sitting on my desk. My husband and my children all know to bring me Pepsis although they drink Cokes much of the time.

BCH_2014-0902Many years ago while serving on the staff of a large Baptist church near Atlanta, my pastor, also my boss and my good friend, was a Pepsi drinker, and that might have led to my further confirmation of the product. We kept Pepsis in the refrigerator in the big church kitchen and in latter years, there were machines where one could buy a soft drink. They were all Pepsi products.

My step dad in an effort to prove there was no real difference in the two products went so far as to pour a perfectly good Coke into a kitchen glass, open a Pepsi bottle and pour the Coke into it, and then poured the authentic Pepsi in the Coke bottle. He then offered me the “Pepsi,” which was really Coke, and I took one good sip, and made a face. “There is something wrong with this Pepsi,” I said ever so seriously. “It’s too sweet and syrupy tasting. Something isn’t right.” And, then my step dad confessed to what he had done. He was surprised that I really good tell and a taste test commenced among my immediate family members proving nothing except that we each our favorite.

I found it interesting to learn that Pepsi Cola was actually first manufactured and marketed under the name, Brad’s Drink, in New Bern, NC. Caleb Bradham offered it for sale in his drugstore in 1893. He took the name from the digestive enzyme, pepsin, and the kola nut, used in the recipe.

His marketing strategy including the terms, “delicious,” “aid in digestive process,” and the fact he claimed it would “boost energy.” This was pretty advanced marketing for 1893 in a rather small town in North Carolina. Perhaps some bought Brad’s Drink because they knew Brad and wanted to support his enterprises. I would imagine that many bought it because it was a new thing on the market. And, just perhaps, others were truly enjoying the flavor he had created. Nevertheless, the product survived and went on to be one of the two most requested brands on the market. It has since made millions of dollars for the manufacturers and made its way into markets around the world.

Statistics fascinate me and I really enjoy reading comparisons. Coke claims to have sold one million gallons of product in 1904, and registered the well-known trademark in 1945. The company went public in 1962. Pepsi boasted that their product was franchised in 24 states by 1910. Cokes sold for 5 cents until 1946 while Pepsi doubled the size of their bottles and still sold the product for 5 cents in 1933. Coke launched its first television ad in 1950 and adopted the familiar red and white design in 1969. Pepsi released its first ad jingle in 1939.

According to Brandon Gaille, a statistician that studies these things, Coca Cola’s annual intake is $35.2 billion and Pepsi rakes in $57.8 billion. The difference is explained by the fact that Pepsi has a larger variety of products selling under their brand.

We ask for a Pepsi, but in realty, we are getting Brad’s Drink, and don’t even know it. At least, they claim we are getting his original recipe with a few additions. This reminds me of people we meet every day. We think we are getting one thing, but time and experience proves we are getting something really different. Some times, it is good, and some times, not so good.

Make wise choices. We are free to choose even in the simple matter of our favorite soft drink, but we are all going to be accountable for those choices. “The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be take in their own naughtiness (evil).” (Proverbs 11:6) Our lives and the lives of those we love are dependent on our wise choices throughout the time we are given.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at
[email protected].

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One Response to “Things are not always as they seem”

  1. David says:

    I agree! Full Disclosure, I work for Pepsi (PepsiCo).

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