soft-drink manufacturer and international conglomerate whose red sign is one the most recognized corporate symbols in the world; Coca-Cola invented May 8, 1886, by pharmacist John Styth Pemberton, in Atlanta, Ga.; product purchased by Asa G. Candler 1891, who built the enterprise into a national firm; sold originally as syrup to soda fountains; bottling franchises began about 1894; aggressive national sales force and marketing; worldwide advertising and marketing followed by 1920s; diversification into other products started 1960 with acquisition of Minute Maid orange juice; owns other soft drink lines; acquired Columbia Pictures 1982; marketing failure of new formula in 1985 resulted in return of original, named “Coca-Cola Classic”