Ben Gilbert

Here's something crazy.

I think a lot of people associate McDonald's and Coca-Cola, both big American companies, both historically American, a lot of Americana in each.

Until listening to this episode, I didn't really think about the fact that Coke has a 60-year head start on McDonald's in going global.

And so I read in a couple places that when McDonald's was opening in new countries, the employees would camp in Coca-Cola offices and use Coca-Cola's relationships to get a foothold in the country when they were opening.

It's like this unofficial partnership that they have.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And lastly, Coke sales teams are prohibited from selling syrup to restaurants for less than McDonald's pays, even if it means they're going to lose the business to Pepsi.

It is sort of this rule at Coca-Cola that no one gets a lower price per unit volume than McDonald's.

Wow.

Big customer.

So back to the 60s.

In 1960, a few other things happen.

The first 12-ounce aluminum cans are introduced of Coca-Cola in the United States.

Yes.

A little precursor to what was to come four decades later with non-soda drinks.

But this is sort of weirdly the only thing that they have other than soda for a long time.

Ben, you found out Coke had the chance to buy it, right?

Yes, they did.

Made a giant mistake not buying it.