Why is the Coca-Cola logo red? Some claim that the red colour came from one of the company’s first advertisements, which featured Santa Claus wearing his famous red-and-white suit and holding a Coke bottle. But according to the Coca-Cola Company, its famous logo dates back to the very beginning of the brand itself. Over 130 years ago, Coca-Cola was sold in barrels at American drugstores and pharmacies. Alcohol was distributed in the same way. But while alcohol was taxed at the time, soft drinks were not. So, the Coca-Cola Company began painting its barrels red in order to help customs and tax officials distinguish them from barrels of booze. There’s also a scientific reason why so many logos are red. The Coco-Cola logo is a trademark of its time, yet has remained fashionable through generations. The hallmark for the branding of the drink is its placement inside a red circle. This design is made for easy decoration and advertising in restaurants and stores. You see a red disc icon on a shopfront, and you know that you’ll be able to get delicious, ice-cold Coca-Cola there. It became a promise in a way. Moreover, you won’t find this beverage’s famous hue in any Pantone colour registries, because it is actually a combination of three different shades of red.