In 1888, Asa Griggs Candler acquired the rights to a carbonated drink formula from chemist John Stith Pemberton for 2,300 dollars. This transaction provided the foundation for the Coca-Cola Company, which he established in 1892. Over the following decades, his business acumen transformed the enterprise into a central force in the nascent American beverage industry.
Early Enterprise and Coca-Cola
Born in Villa Rica, Georgia, in 1851, Candler entered the pharmaceutical trade before entering the beverage sector. Following his 1892 incorporation of the Coca-Cola Company, he utilized aggressive distribution strategies to expand the brand across the United States. By 1899, the company began exporting products to Cuba, followed by European markets shortly thereafter. He famously instituted a one-dollar contract model to authorize local bottling plants, an approach that accelerated regional production.
Civic Leadership and Infrastructure
Candler served as the 41st mayor of Atlanta from 1917 to 1919. During his administration, he managed the city's response to the Great Atlanta fire of 1917, which had decimated over 1,500 residential properties. His tenure focused on municipal stability, including balancing the city budget and personally financing critical water and sewage system upgrades. His contributions to the city's infrastructure are further marked by Candler Field, the location of the current Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
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Throughout his career, Candler commissioned significant commercial architecture, including the 17-story Candler Building in Atlanta, completed in 1906. Similar corporate properties were developed in New York City, Kansas City, and Baltimore. His philanthropic focus centered on education and healthcare, most notably contributing 7 million dollars to relocate Emory University to Atlanta. He also established the Candler Hospital in Savannah and donated over 50 acres of land in Druid Hills to create Candler Park.
Divestment and Later Years
In 1916, Candler transitioned away from the daily operations of the Coca-Cola Company. By 1919, he distributed the majority of his company stock to his children, who subsequently sold their interest to an investor consortium led by Ernest Woodruff. Candler suffered a stroke in 1926 and died in Atlanta on March 12, 1929. He is interred at Westview Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1851, Villa Rica, Georgia
- Died: 1929, Atlanta, Georgia
- Positions held: Mayor of Atlanta (1917-1919)
- Coca-Cola Company founded: 1892
- Purchase price of formula: 2,300 dollars
- Major university donation: 7 million dollars to Emory University
- Burial site: Westview Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What major infrastructure project bears his name in Atlanta?
Candler Field, which serves as the site for the current Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, was named for him.
How did he contribute to the development of Emory University?
He provided 7 million dollars in funding to facilitate the relocation of the university from Oxford, Georgia, to Atlanta.
Who led the acquisition of the Coca-Cola Company from his family in 1919?
The shares were sold to a consortium of investors led by Ernest Woodruff.
