The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company stands as a global beverage empire and one of the world's most recognizable brands, with a history spanning nearly 140 years. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1886 when pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton created a distinctive syrup sold at Jacobs' Pharmacy for five cents a glass, Coca-Cola has evolved into the world's largest beverage manufacturer and distributor, serving approximately 2.2 billion drinks per day across more than 200 countries and territories. The company's journey from a local soda fountain offering to a global icon represents one of the most remarkable brand-building success stories in business history.

Today, The Coca-Cola Company operates a diverse portfolio of more than 500 brands spanning multiple beverage categories. Beyond its flagship Coca-Cola products (including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar), the company's portfolio includes leading brands in sparkling soft drinks (Sprite, Fanta, Schweppes), water and sports drinks (Dasani, Powerade, BODYARMOR, smartwater, vitaminwater), juice and plant-based beverages (Minute Maid, Simply, fairlife), and coffee and tea (Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak, Fuze Tea). The company owns 30 billion-dollar brands and serves diverse consumer preferences through constant innovation while adapting to changing health and wellness trends—evidenced by 30% of its 2024 global volume coming from low- or no-calorie beverages.

The Coca-Cola Company operates through a unique business model that balances global scale with local execution. The company largely produces syrup concentrate, which is then sold to bottling partners throughout the world who hold exclusive territories. These bottlers produce the finished products from the concentrate, combined with filtered water and sweeteners, then sell, distribute, and merchandise Coca-Cola products to retail stores, vending machines, restaurants, and food service distributors. Together with bottling partners, the system employs more than 700,000 people worldwide, bringing economic opportunity to local communities while maintaining consistent quality and brand standards globally.

Financially, Coca-Cola demonstrates the strength of its market leadership and brand portfolio. The company reported $47.1 billion in revenue for 2024, with net income of $10.63 billion and organic revenue growth of 12%. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol KO since its 1919 IPO, Coca-Cola maintains a market capitalization of approximately $314.68 billion as of late 2024, making it the 37th most valuable company globally. The company's brand value alone was estimated at $106.45 billion in 2024, reflecting decades of marketing excellence and consumer loyalty. With approximately 79,100 employees worldwide and a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community impact, The Coca-Cola Company continues to refresh the world while adapting to evolving consumer preferences and market dynamics.

Looking forward, Coca-Cola is embracing digital transformation and artificial intelligence to drive future growth. In April 2024, the company announced a five-year, $1.1 billion strategic partnership with Microsoft to leverage cloud computing and generative AI across its operations, from supply chain optimization to marketing personalization. As a founding member of the MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium, Coca-Cola is applying AI to solve real-world challenges, including combating citrus greening disease that threatens orange juice production. With digital-first marketing strategies now consuming 65% of media spend and correlating with 12% organic sales growth, Coca-Cola demonstrates how a 138-year-old brand can successfully navigate the digital age while staying true to its mission of refreshing the world and making a difference.