Coca-Cola has become one of the most recognizable brands in the world, but many people may not be aware of how large their corporate family really is.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss what companies does Coca Cola own and why it’s important to know about them when making consumer decisions.
We’ll examine how their extensive portfolio of products affects our daily lives from drinks to sports teams all over the globe.
So let’s explore which companies are owned by Coca Cola and discover all that lies behind this globally influential brand.
Who Owns Coca Cola?
Coca Cola Company is a publicly traded corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol KO. It is not owned by a single individual but by a mix of institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders.
The largest shareholder of The Coca-Cola Company is Berkshire Hathaway, the investment firm led by billionaire Warren Buffett. As of the latest filings, Berkshire Hathaway owns approximately 9.2% of Coca-Cola, making it the biggest single investor in the company. Buffett has long been a supporter of Coca-Cola, having held the stock for decades.
List of Major Shareholders
- Berkshire Hathaway Inc. – ~9.2%
- Vanguard Group – ~8%
- BlackRock Inc. – ~7%
- State Street Corporation – ~4%
- Other Institutional Investors & Mutual Funds – A significant portion of the shares are held by investment firms and index funds.
These firms do not “control” Coca-Cola directly but have significant voting power in corporate decisions.
Who Controls Coca-Cola?
The company is led by a Board of Directors and an executive management team. The Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola is James Quincey, who has been leading the company since 2017. The Board of Directors, which includes executives from major industries, oversees strategic decisions, financial policies, and corporate governance.
While Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is the largest shareholder, it does not directly manage Coca-Cola’s daily operations. Instead, the company is controlled by its leadership team, with shareholders influencing decisions through voting rights at annual meetings.
What Companies Does Coca Cola Own?
Here is a list of the major brands and companies owned by Coca Cola:
Company/Brand | Acquisition/Founding Details | Overview |
---|---|---|
Coca-Cola Bottling Company | Coca-Cola’s core bottling operation, working with independent bottlers globally. | Handles production, packaging, and distribution of Coca-Cola beverages worldwide. |
Minute Maid | Acquired in 1960 | One of the largest juice brands, offering orange juice, lemonade, and smoothies. |
Dasani | Launched in 1999 | Coca-Cola’s flagship bottled water brand, offering purified water with minerals. |
Smartwater | Acquired in 2007 (via Glacéau) | Premium bottled water with added electrolytes, marketed for hydration benefits. |
Powerade | Launched in 1988 | Coca-Cola’s sports drink brand competing with Gatorade, featuring electrolytes for hydration. |
Georgia Coffee | Launched in 1975 | A leading ready-to-drink canned coffee brand, primarily popular in Japan. |
Costa Coffee | Acquired in 2019 for $5.1 billion | One of the world’s largest coffeehouse chains with thousands of locations globally. |
Honest Tea | Acquired in 2011, discontinued in 2022 | Former organic tea brand known for lightly sweetened and unsweetened teas. |
Fuze Tea | Launched in 2012 | A blend of tea and fruit flavors, popular in Europe and Latin America. |
Sprite | Launched in 1961 | A globally recognized lemon-lime soda, second only to Coca-Cola in popularity. |
Fanta | Created in Germany in the 1940s | A fruit-flavored soft drink available in multiple flavors worldwide. |
Schweppes | Partial ownership in some regions | A brand known for tonic water, ginger ale, and other mixers. |
Fairlife | Acquired a majority stake in 2012 | A dairy brand offering ultra-filtered milk with higher protein and lower sugar. |
Topo Chico | Acquired in 2017 | A Mexican mineral water brand with a cult following in the U.S. and Latin America. |
Vitaminwater | Acquired in 2007 (via Glacéau) | A flavored enhanced water brand enriched with vitamins and minerals. |
Barq’s Root Beer | Acquired in 1995 | A classic American root beer brand known for its crisp, bold flavor. |
Gold Peak Tea | Launched in 2006 | A ready-to-drink tea brand offering sweetened and unsweetened varieties. |
BODYARMOR | Acquired a controlling stake in 2021 for $5.6 billion | A premium sports drink brand positioned as a healthier alternative to Gatorade. |
Topo Chico Hard Seltzer | Launched in 2020 | Coca-Cola’s expansion into alcoholic beverages, based on the mineral water brand. |
Monster Beverage (Stakeholder) | Holds ~19% stake | One of the world’s leading energy drink brands, competing with Red Bull. |
Coke Studio | Launched in 2008 | A global music platform promoting cultural collaborations and live performances. |
Glacéau Energy Brands | Acquired in 2007 | Parent company of Smartwater and Vitaminwater, focusing on enhanced hydration. |
AdeS | Acquired in 2017 | A plant-based beverage brand offering soy-based and nutritional drinks. |
Peace Tea | Acquired in 2007 (via Fuze Beverage) | A popular ready-to-drink tea brand marketed towards younger consumers. |
Relentless Energy Drink | Launched in 2006 | An energy drink brand competing in the European market. |
Burn Energy Drink | Acquired via partnerships in the 2000s | A Coca-Cola-owned energy drink available in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. |
Samurai Energy | Acquired in 2008 | An affordable energy drink brand targeted at African and Southeast Asian markets. |
Krating Daeng (Thai Red Bull Partnership) | Distribution partnership in Thailand | While not fully owned, Coca-Cola has a historical partnership for distribution in Thailand. |
Ciel | Acquired in 1996 | A bottled water brand popular in Mexico and Latin America. |
The Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Coca-Cola Bottling Company is responsible for producing, packaging, and distributing Coca-Cola beverages. While the company itself operates some bottling plants, it also works with independent bottlers worldwide, such as Coca-Cola European Partners and Coca-Cola FEMSA. These bottlers play a vital role in getting Coca-Cola products to consumers.
Minute Maid
Minute Maid is one of the leading juice brands owned by Coca-Cola. Established in 1945, the brand offers a variety of fruit juices, lemonade, and smoothies. The brand has expanded globally and includes other juice-based products like Simply Orange and Simply Lemonade under its portfolio.
Dasani
Dasani is Coca-Cola’s flagship bottled water brand. Launched in 1999, Dasani provides purified water with added minerals for taste. Coca-Cola also owns other water brands, such as Smartwater and Vitaminwater, catering to different consumer preferences.
Smartwater
Smartwater is a premium bottled water brand that emphasizes purity and added electrolytes for enhanced hydration. Positioned as an upscale water brand, Smartwater has gained a strong market presence, particularly in North America and Europe.
Powerade
Powerade is Coca-Cola’s answer to PepsiCo’s Gatorade. Launched in 1988, Powerade is an electrolyte sports drink designed for athletes. It has expanded with different variations, including Powerade Zero, which contains no sugar.
Georgia Coffee
Georgia Coffee is a popular ready-to-drink coffee brand under Coca-Cola, primarily in Japan and other Asian markets. It was introduced in 1975 and has since become one of the top-selling canned coffee brands in the region.
Costa Coffee
Coca-Cola acquired Costa Coffee in 2019 for $5.1 billion. Costa Coffee is one of the largest coffeehouse chains in the world, with thousands of locations globally. This acquisition marked Coca-Cola’s entry into the hot coffee retail market.
Honest Tea
Honest Tea is an organic tea brand acquired by Coca-Cola in 2011. The brand is known for its lightly sweetened and unsweetened tea products, appealing to health-conscious consumers. However, Coca-Cola discontinued Honest Tea in 2022 to focus on other beverage lines.
Fuze Tea
Fuze Tea is another tea brand under Coca-Cola, offering a blend of tea and fruit flavors. The brand is particularly popular in Europe and Latin America, where it competes with other iced tea products.
Sprite
Sprite is one of the most popular lemon-lime soda brands in the world. Originally introduced by Coca-Cola in 1961, Sprite has since become a global brand with multiple variations, such as Sprite Zero Sugar.
Fanta
Fanta is a fruit-flavored soft drink brand owned by Coca-Cola. Initially created in Germany in the 1940s, Fanta has grown into a globally recognized brand with flavors tailored to different markets.
Schweppes
Schweppes is a brand known for its tonic water, ginger ale, and carbonated mixers. While Coca-Cola owns the Schweppes brand in some regions, it competes with other beverage companies in different markets.
Fairlife
Fairlife is a dairy brand acquired by Coca-Cola, offering ultra-filtered milk with higher protein and lower sugar content. The brand has become popular for its innovation in the dairy industry and its commitment to sustainability.
Topo Chico
Coca-Cola acquired the Mexican mineral water brand Topo Chico in 2017. Topo Chico has a strong following, particularly in the U.S. and Latin America, for its naturally carbonated mineral water.
Vitaminwater
Vitaminwater, a flavored water brand enriched with vitamins and minerals, was acquired by Coca-Cola in 2007. It competes with other enhanced water products and remains a popular choice among health-conscious consumers.
Barq’s Root Beer
Barq’s Root Beer is a classic American soda brand that Coca-Cola acquired in 1995. It remains a staple in the root beer market, known for its crisp and bold taste.
Gold Peak Tea
Gold Peak Tea is another tea brand under Coca-Cola, offering a variety of sweetened and unsweetened tea options. The brand is particularly popular in the U.S., where it competes in the ready-to-drink tea market.
BODYARMOR
Coca-Cola acquired a controlling stake in BODYARMOR in 2021 for $5.6 billion. BODYARMOR is a premium sports drink brand that competes directly with Gatorade and Powerade. It is known for its coconut water-based hydration formula and endorsements from athletes like Kobe Bryant (who was an early investor).
Topo Chico Hard Seltzer
Coca-Cola expanded into alcoholic beverages with Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, launched in 2020. This brand is based on the popular mineral water and caters to the growing hard seltzer market.
Monster Beverage (Stakeholder)
While Coca-Cola does not fully own Monster Beverage Corporation, it holds a significant minority stake (about 19%). Monster is one of the leading energy drink brands globally, competing with Red Bull. Coca-Cola also distributes Monster products in various markets.
Coke Studio
Coke Studio is a global music platform produced by Coca-Cola. It originated in Pakistan and has expanded to multiple regions, including Africa and the Middle East. The platform promotes cultural music collaborations and live performances.
Glacéau Energy Brands
Along with Vitaminwater and Smartwater, Coca-Cola owns Glacéau Energy Brands, which focuses on enhanced hydration and wellness beverages.
AdeS
AdeS is a plant-based beverage brand acquired by Coca-Cola in 2017. While primarily known for soy-based drinks, AdeS also aligns with the growing demand for sports nutrition and health-conscious beverages.
Peace Tea
Peace Tea is a Coca-Cola-owned ready-to-drink tea brand that appeals to a younger demographic. It’s popular in gaming and alternative culture circles.
Relentless Energy Drink
Coca-Cola owns Relentless, an energy drink brand popular in the UK and parts of Europe. It competes with Monster and Red Bull in the high-energy beverage market.
Burn Energy Drink
Burn is another energy drink brand under Coca-Cola, primarily distributed in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. It is heavily associated with electronic music festivals and extreme sports sponsorships.
Samurai Energy
Coca-Cola owns Samurai, an energy drink brand primarily marketed in Africa and Southeast Asia. It is positioned as an affordable energy drink for emerging markets.
Krating Daeng (Partnership with Red Bull in Thailand)
While Coca-Cola does not fully own Red Bull, it has a historical partnership with Krating Daeng, the Thai version of Red Bull, for local distribution in some regions.
Ciel
Coca-Cola owns Ciel, a bottled water brand in Mexico and Latin America. It sponsors sports events and is marketed as a hydration solution for athletes.
Schweppes (Energy and Tonic Segments)
In certain regions, Coca-Cola owns the rights to Schweppes-branded energy drinks and tonic waters, which are often used as mixers in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
When Was Coca Cola Founded?
Many people may not know that Coca Cola was founded in 1886 in Atlanta, Georgia. Yes, that’s right, over 135 years ago!
The original recipe was concocted by John Pemberton, a pharmacist, and was originally marketed as a medicine.
Over the years, it has evolved into the beloved carbonated soda we know today. It’s fascinating to think about the long and storied history of such a familiar beverage.
Who is the CEO Of Coca Cola?
Coca Cola’s CEO is none other than James Quincey.
As the CEO of Coca Cola, he is responsible for overseeing the growth and success of the brand.
Under his leadership, the company has focused on innovation and diversification, ensuring that Coca Cola remains a relevant and beloved brand in today’s ever-changing market.
With a passion for sustainability and a commitment to giving back to communities, James Quincey is not just a CEO, but a leader dedicated to making a positive impact on the world.
What is the Net Worth of Coca Cola?
Coca-Cola’s net worth is around $265 billion as of August 2023.
This is not surprising considering the iconic status of the brand and its immense global popularity.
With a wide range of products and a strong reputation for quality, Coca Cola has built a dominant position in the market, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world.
From the classic soda that started it all, to the various juices, teas, and energy drinks that they now produce, the Coca Cola company continues to be a driving force in the beverage industry.
Where is the Headquarters of Coca Cola?
Coca-Cola headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
The Coca-Cola Company was first established in 1892, and since then, it has expanded globally to reach its customers in over 200 countries.
The headquarters also houses a museum called the World of Coca-Cola, which takes visitors on a journey through the history and production of this iconic brand.
It’s no wonder that Coca-Cola has come a long way to become one of the most recognizable brands in the world, with its roots firmly planted in the bustling city of Atlanta.
What is the Annual Revenue of Coca Cola?
Coca Cola annual revenue for the last 12 months ending June 2023 was $44.1 billion.
This figure is impressive to say the least, given the turbulent year we had due to the pandemic and its effect on businesses worldwide.
This goes to show just how resilient Coca-Cola is as a brand and organization, despite facing challenges during this difficult period in our lives.
How Many Employees Does Coca-Cola Have?
Coca-Cola employs over 700,000 people worldwide.
This number includes both full-time and part-time employees, each playing their own role in making sure that this iconic brand continues to be successful.
From its headquarters in Atlanta to factories around the world, Coca Cola’s immense workforce works diligently to ensure that the company maintains its position as an industry leader.
With such a large team behind it, it’s no wonder that Coca-Cola has become one of the most beloved brands in the world!
Conclusion
It’s amazing to think about just how far Coca Cola has come in its 135 years of existence.
From a small pharmacy in Atlanta, the company has grown to become an iconic global beverage brand with a total net worth of over $80 billion.
It owns several other companies that span various industries like beverages, food, sports teams, and entertainment destinations.
This impressive portfolio shows just what a powerful force Coca Cola is not only in the beverage industry but also in today’s global market.
FAQs
How Coca-Cola Can Reduce Waste?
Coca-Cola has implemented recycling programs, switched from single-use plastic packaging to recyclable paper materials, and is investing in renewable energy sources.
Why is it Called Coca-Cola?
Coca-Cola was originally named “Pemberton’s French Wine Coca”, which was derived from coca leaves and kola nuts. The name was later changed to “Coca-Cola”.
What is Coca-Cola Slogan?
The iconic slogan of the Coca-Cola company is “Open Happiness”.
What Does Cola Mean?
The term “cola” is derived from the kola nut, which is used to make the beverage. In Spanish, “cola” means tail or string, referring to the cola-nut fibers that grow along its branches.
What Makes the Coca-Cola Logo Unique?
The Coca-Cola logo’s simplicity and timelessness have helped make it a classic symbol that resonates with consumers all over the globe.
What was Coca-Cola’s Original Name?
Coca-Cola was initially named “Pemberton’s French Wine Coca”, which was derived from coca leaves and kola nuts.
Who are Coca-Cola’s Competitors?
Coca-Cola’s biggest competitors in the beverage industry are Pepsi and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.
What Type of Plastic Does Coca-Cola Use?
Coca-Cola typically uses PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic for its bottles and cans.