What Coca-Cola packaging innovation introduced a portable six-bottle carrier in 1923?

The six-pack carton was Coca-Cola’s packaging innovation that introduced a portable six-bottle carrier in 1923.

Coca-Cola’s early bottled distribution created a practical problem: consumers needed a convenient way to carry several glass bottles home. The company addressed this with a paperboard carrier that held six bottles together, making the product easier to transport and store.

The carrier also supported branding. A consumer could recognize the Coca-Cola name and bottle arrangement before opening the package, while retailers could display several bottles as one branded unit. The idea helped connect Coca-Cola’s package design with everyday household purchasing.

The six-pack carton should not be confused with the later metal can multipack or modern plastic packaging. Its significance was both logistical and promotional: it made bottled Coca-Cola more convenient while giving the company another surface on which to present its identity.