Lots of everyday consumables were developed for war, and commercialized once it was over. For instance, T-shirts came from World War I, Spam from World War II. Did you know that Fanta, the ’70s–’80s popular soft drink, was a Nazi-era German invention?
It began as an alternative to Coca-Cola when the Coke syrup was embargoed from import into Nazi Germany. In order to thwart the ban, Max Keith, chief of Coca-Cola Deutschland, created a new soft drink solely for German consumers, comprised of German ingredients, including whey and apple pomace. Keith called them the “leftovers of leftovers,” a kind of soft grappa, grape-based pomace. The name came from Keith’s urging that his team use their “imagination”—(Fantasie in German). Joe Knipp, a salesman, immediately coined the word “Fanta!”
The plant was effectively cut off from Coca-Cola headquarters during the war. When it was over, the Coca-Cola corporation regained control of the plant, formula and the trademarks to the new Fanta product—as well as the profits the plant made during the war.
Fanta was discontinued when the parent company was reunited with the German branch. Following the launch of several drinks by the Pepsi corporation in the 1950s, Coca-Cola competed by relaunching Fanta in 1955. The drink was heavily marketed in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
The 2017 PRINT RDA: Enter Now!
Enter the most respected competition in graphic design—now open to both pros and students—for a chance to have your work published, win a pass to HOW Design Live, and more. 2017 Judges: Aaron Draplin / Jessica Hische / Pum Lefebure / Ellen Lupton / Eddie Opara / Paula Scher. Student work judges: PRINT editorial & creative director Debbie Millman and PRINT editor-in-chief Zachary Petit. Deadline: April 1.
Draplin image: Leah Nash. Hische: Helena Price. Lupton: Michelle Qureshi. Scher: Ian Roberts.