Coca-Cola soft drink

Brand origin and invention

Coca‑Cola was invented in Atlanta, Georgia in 1886 by pharmacist Dr. John S. Pemberton; the drink was first sold at Jacobs’ Pharmacy on May 8, 1886. (coca-cola.com)

Company formation and historical commercialization

The beverage was commercialized and rights were purchased and expanded by Asa G. Candler, who founded The Coca‑Cola Company as a Georgia corporation in the early 1890s to manufacture and advertise Coca‑Cola more widely. (investors.coca-colacompany.com)

Current ownership and headquarters

Today the Coca‑Cola brand is owned by The Coca‑Cola Company, a publicly traded global beverage corporation headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States; the company remains the ultimate owner and steward of the Coca‑Cola trademark and concentrate formula. (investors.coca-colacompany.com)

Manufacturing and distribution model

Coca‑Cola is produced and bottled in many countries worldwide through an extensive system of franchise bottlers and partners (the Coca‑Cola System). The company reports hundreds of bottling partners and production in more than 200 countries/territories; large independent bottlers produce the finished beverage locally in the markets where it is sold. (coca-cola.com)

Major bottlers / local production examples

Prominent examples of Coca‑Cola bottlers and franchise partners include Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners (Europe, Australia and Asia‑Pacific), Coca‑Cola HBC and Coca‑Cola FEMSA; these bottlers operate regional manufacturing and distribution networks under franchise agreements with The Coca‑Cola Company. (coca-colacompany.com)