Coca-Cola was invented in 1886 by Dr. John Pemberton and first sold in Atlanta. It grew rapidly under Asa Candler's ownership and marketing expertise from the late 1880s. By the 1920s, Coca-Cola had become a global brand through franchising to independent bottlers. The company diversified in later decades but refocused on its core beverage business in the 1980s. Coca-Cola continues to expand globally through marketing, product innovation, and acquisitions.