Bradham, Caleb (1867-1934), was an American pharmacist who invented the popular soft drink Pepsi-Cola , commonly referred to as Pepsi. Pepsi-Cola brands are available nearly throughout the world.
Caleb Davis Bradham was born on May 27, 1867, in Chinquapin, in southeast North Carolina . He attended the University of North Carolina and later enrolled at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His dream was to become a medical doctor. However, when his father went bankrupt and money ran out, Bradham had to leave school.
Bradham returned to North Carolina, where he briefly taught school in New Bern. He enrolled again at the University of Maryland, but this time to become a pharmacist . After graduation, he opened a drugstore, Bradham’s Pharmacy, in New Bern. The soda fountain in his store became a popular gathering place. People enjoyed the homemade beverages that Bradham mixed using different combinations of juices, syrups, and spices.
In 1893, Bradham created a beverage that turned out to be a big seller with his patrons. He believed the drink was healthy for people because it helped cure dyspepsia (indigestion). Unlike many soft drinks at the time, Bradham’s new drink was made without narcotics . The combination of vanilla, kola nut extract, sugar, and other ingredients quickly became a favorite. Customers fondly referred to it as “Brad’s Drink.” In 1898, Bradham changed the name of his popular drink to “Pepsi-Cola,” after he bought the name “Pep Cola” from a competitor who had gone out of business. As demand increased, he left his pharmacy to sell Pepsi-Cola full time.
In 1902, Bradham established the Pepsi-Cola Company to produce his Pepsi-Cola syrup for soda fountains. The company grew rapidly. Bradham soon began offering Pepsi-Cola in bottles and selling bottling franchises . By 1910, he had expanded to nearly 300 bottlers in 24 states. However, the company’s success did not last. Fluctuating prices for sugar following World War I (1914-1918) forced Pepsi-Cola to go bankrupt in 1923. The company’s assets were sold and later merged with Frito-Lay, Inc. The new combined company was named PepsiCo, Inc. Today, it is a major producer of beverages, snack foods, and other food products in the United States. After losing Pepsi-Cola, Bradham returned to his drugstore in New Bern. He died on Feb. 19, 1934.
