The Coca-Cola Company, American corporation founded in 1892 and
today engaged primarily in the manufacture and sale of syrup and
concentrate for Coca-Cola, a sweetened carbonated beverage that is a
cultural institution in the United States and a global symbol of American
tastes. The company also produces and sells other soft drinks and citrus
beverages. With more than 2,800 products available in more than 200
countries, Coca-Cola is the largest beverage manufacturer and
distributor in the world, one of the largest corporations in the United
States, and one of the most successful brands in marketing history.
Headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia.
The drink Coca-Cola was originated in 1886 by an Atlanta
pharmacist, John S. Pemberton (1831–88), at his Pemberton Chemical
Company. His bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, chose the name for the drink
and penned it in the flowing script that became the Coca-Cola trademark.
Pemberton originally touted his drink as a tonic for most common
ailments, basing it on cocaine from the coca leaf and caffeine-rich
extracts of the kola nut; the cocaine was removed from Coca-Cola’s
formula in about 1903. Pemberton sold his syrup to local soda fountains,
and, with advertising, the drink became phenomenally successful. By
1891 another Atlanta pharmacist, Asa Griggs Candler (1851–1929), had
secured complete ownership of the business (for a total cash outlay of
$2,300 and the exchange of some proprietary rights), and he
incorporated the Coca-Cola Company the following year. The trademark
“Coca-Cola” was registered in the U.S. Patent Office in 1893.
Coca-Cola Co., U.S. corporation known for manufacturing the
syrup and concentrate for the soft drink Coca-Cola, the most
popular branded drink in the world. Coca-Cola was invented as a
tonic by an Atlanta, Ga., pharmacist, John S. Pemberton (1831–
88); it included cocaine (removed in 1905) and caffeine-rich
extracts of the kola nut. Another Atlanta pharmacist, Asa Griggs
Candler (1851–1929), acquired the formula and in 1892 founded
the Coca-Cola Co., which he built into a commercial empire.
Candler saw the product as syrup to be combined with
carbonated water at a soda fountain; he did not anticipate the
success of the bottled product, and as a result bottling
operations were run by franchisees. After World War II the
company began to manufacture other beverages, and in the early
21st century its product line included root beer, bottled water,
juices, and sports drinks. Its corporate headquarters are in
Atlanta.
Criticize
Since the early 2000s, the criticisms over the use of Coca-Cola products as well as the company
itself, escalated with concerns over health effects, environmental issues, animal testing,
economic business practices and employee issues.[81] The Coca-Cola Company has been faced
with multiple lawsuits concerning these various criticisms.
The Coca-Cola Company produces over 3 million tonnes of plastic packaging each year
including 110 billion plastic bottles.[83][84][85]
The company has been referenced as "the worst plastic polluter in the world" pumping out
200,000 plastic bottles a minute.[86] Problems also arose in places such as Samoa where Coca-
Cola switched away from reusable glass bottles to one time use plastic bottles. Residents of
Samoa have seen an increase in plastic pollution since this switch has been made. Alternatives
to plastic such as aluminum have also been overlooked with Coca-Cola releasing a new plastic
bottle slightly bigger than a can size.[87]
The magazine Forbes has labeled Coca-Cola as the world's most polluting brand.[88] The
company's global chief executive stated that "Coca-Cola has no plans to reduce its use of plastic
bottles"[83] and opposes bottle bill legislation,[89] as consumers prefer the plastic bottles that "reseal
and are lightweight". They also contribute to plastic waste producing up to three million tons of
plastic packaging a year including over 110 billion plastic bottles.[citation needed]
In 2018, Coca-Cola pledged to use 50% recycled materials in its packaging and to recycle the
equivalent of 100% of its packaging by 2030.[90] That same year, the company started to sell
reusable bottles in Brazil, which customers could return to the point of sale for a discount of
subsequent purchases. The initiative was expanded to several other South American countries
by 2022.[91] In 2019, the company's Swedish branch marked the first to fully transition to
recyclable bottles
Sports[edit]
Coca-Cola sponsored the English Football League from the beginning of the 2004–05
season (beginning August 2004) to the start of 2010–11 season, when the Football
League replaced it with NPower.[citation needed] Along with this, Coca-Cola sponsored the Coca-Cola
Football Camp, that took place in Pretoria, South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[citation needed]
Other major sponsorships include the AFL, NHRA, NASCAR, the PGA
Tour, NCAA Championships, the Olympic Games, the NRL, the FIFA World Cups, Premier
League and the UEFA European Championships.[citation needed] The company partnered with Panini to
produce the first virtual sticker album for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and they have collaborated
for every World Cup since.[140] Each fall, Coca-Cola is the sponsor of the TOUR Championship by
Coca-Cola held at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. The Tour Championship is the
season ending tournament of the PGA Tour.[citation needed] In the Philippines, it has a team in
the Philippine Basketball Association, the Powerade Tigers.[citation needed]
In 2017, Major League Baseball signed a multi-year deal with Coca-Cola to be the official soft
drink, replacing Pepsi. Nineteen MLB teams (Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue
Jays, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Seattle
Mariners,[141] New York Mets, Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia
Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red
Sox, Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox ) have Coca-Cola products sold in
their ballparks.
Since the season of 2019 is the title sponsor of the Uzbekistan Super League in football, and this
league is officially called Coca-Cola Uzbekistan Super League. Coca-Cola has also sponsored
the Overwatch league since season two. They also sponsor all major Overwatch tournaments
such as the world cup .[142] In February 2020, Coca-Cola became the title sponsor for the
eNASCAR iRacing series.[143][144] In October 2018, Coca-Cola started sponsoring the Formula
1 team McLaren with several 1 year deals being signed since then.
NewJeans Named Coca-Cola's
New Global Ambassador
BRANDS
Coca-Cola India unveils ‘Coke Tables’ campaign
with Diljit Dosanjh in Punjab
