In 1893, the owner of a New Bern drugstore.

• Position: BRICKS&MORTAR

In 1893, the owner of a New Bern drugstore concocted a blend of carbonated water, sugar, pepsin, kola nut extract, vanilla and "rare oils" that, five years later, he renamed Pepsi-Cola. Born in a back room in 1902, the Pepsi-Cola Co. awarded its first bottling franchises--in Durham and Charlotte--in 1905. In 1910, there were 250 franchises in 24 states. Caleb...