The Coca-Cola corporation was successful throughout the world leading up the WWII, but when war broke out Coca-Cola found it's links with its subsidiaries severed. One of these was located in Germany where there was a trading ban preventing the imports which included Coca-Cola syrup. Max Keith, who was in charge in Germany, decided to create a new beverage with materials available in Germany. There included whey and pomance which Keith described as the "leftovers of the leftovers". During a brainstorming session the name for the new brand was decided. The team was told to us their imagination (Fantasie in German). One of the salesman, Joe Knipp, picked the name at that moment "Fanta".
Today may erroneously believe that the Nazis invented Fanta. It was invented by a German, Keith, who refused to join the Nazi Party despite pressure to do so. Keith was placed in charge of all beverage plants by the Nazi government, but refused to change the name and preserved the German branch of Coca-Cola despite the opportunity to earn large sums of money bottling under his own name.
Today Fanta is one of the worlds best selling brands with Orange as its most successful flavor. Brazil is currently the largest consumer of the beverage. Its fans include Pope Benedict XVI, whom it is said, consumes three to four cans a day and attempts to convert visitors.
-Professor Walter
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