The delicious and refreshing product known as Coca-Cola® was created on May 8, 1886, in Atlanta, Georgia, by Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a local pharmacist.
Over the next few years, Dr. Pemberton sold portions of his business to various partners and in 1888, sold his remaining interest in Coca-Cola to Asa G. Candler, an Atlanta businessman. Mr. Candler, realizing the potential of the beverage, purchased the remaining shares from the other partners, by 1892 becoming sole owner of The Coca-Cola Company and the first president.
The first Coca-Cola bottling plant opened in 1899 in Chattanooga, Tennessee

The Coca-Cola system in North America offers more than 100 beverages across 25+ brands and more than 60 flavors.
The company's North America product offerings include: Coca-Cola® classic, Caffeine-free Coca-Cola® classic, caffeine-free Coca-Cola® classic, diet Coke®, diet Coke® with Lemon, Vanilla Coke®, diet Vanilla Coke®, Cherry Coke®, Barq's® root beer, Pibb® Xtra, Fresca®, Sprite®, diet Sprite®, Fanta®, Minute Maid® Fruit Sodas, Minute Maid® juices and juice drinks, Simply Orange%u2122, Disney Xtreme Coolers%u2122, Dasani®, Evian®, Dannon®, POWERADE®, Nestea®, Fruitopia®, KMX%u2122 energy drinks, and Seagram's Mixers®

There are approximately 80 authorized bottler ownership groups in the North America Coca-Cola system.
Coca-Cola Enterprises, the largest Coca-Cola bottler, was formed in 1986. Today, the bottler operates facilities and distributes Coca-Cola products across the United States and in Canada.
Other Coca-Cola bottlers in North America include Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, Swire Beverages and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, Inc.

Coca-Cola® originated as a soda fountain beverage in 1886 selling for five cents a glass. Early growth was impressive, but it was only when a strong bottling system developed that Coca-Cola became the world-famous brand it is today.
1894 A modest start for a bold idea
In a candy store in Vicksburg, Mississippi, brisk sales of the new fountain beverage called Coca-Cola impressed the store's owner, Joseph A. Biedenharn. He began bottling Coca-Cola to sell, using a common glass bottle called a Hutchinson.

Biedenharn sent a case to Asa Griggs Candler, who owned the Company. Candler thanked him but took no action. One of his nephews already had urged that Coca-Cola be bottled, but Candler focused on fountain sales.
1899The first bottling agreement
Two young attorneys from Chattanooga, Tennessee believed they could build a business around bottling Coca-Cola. In a meeting with Candler, Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead obtained exclusive rights to bottle Coca-Cola across most of the United States -- for the sum of one dollar. A third Chattanooga lawyer, John T. Lupton, soon joined their venture.
1900-1909 Rapid growth
The three pioneer bottlers divided the country into territories and sold bottling rights to local entrepreneurs. Their efforts were boosted by major progress in bottling technology, which improved efficiency and product quality. By 1909, nearly 400 Coca-Cola bottling plants were operating, most of them family-owned businesses. Some were open only during hot-weather months when demand was high.
1916 Birth of the Contour Bottle
Bottlers worried that Coca-Cola's straight-sided bottle was easily confused with imitators. A group representing the Company and bottlers asked glass manufacturers to offer ideas for a distinctive bottle. A design from the Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana won enthusiastic approval. The Contour Bottle became one of the few packages ever granted trademark status by the U.S. Patent Office. Today, it's one of the most recognized icons in the world - even in the dark!
1920s Bottling overtakes fountain sales
As the 1920s dawned, more than 1,000 Coca-Cola bottlers were operating in the U.S. Their ideas and zeal fueled steady growth. Six-bottle cartons were a huge hit starting in 1923. A few years later, open-top metal coolers became the forerunners of automated vending machines. By the end of the 192

By the time World War II began, Coca-Cola was being bottled in 44 countries.
1940sPost-war growth
During the war, 64 bottling plants were set up around the world to supply the troops. This followed an urgent request for bottling equipment and materials from General Eisenhower's base in North Africa. Many of these war-time plants were later converted to civilian use, permanently enlarging the bottling system and accelerating the growth of the Company's worldwide business.
1950sPackaging innovations
For the first time, consumers had choices of Coca-Cola package size and type-the traditional 6.5 ounce Contour Bottle, or larger servings including 10-, 12- and 26-ounce versions. Cans were also introduced, becoming generally available in 1960.
1960s New brands introduced
Sprite®, Fanta®, Fresca® and TAB® joined brand Coca-Cola in the 1960s. Mr. Pibb® and Mello Yello® were added in the 1970s. The 1980s brought diet Coke® and Cherry Coke®, followed by POWERaDE® and Fruitopia® in the 1990s. Today scores of other brands are offered to meet consumer preferences in local markets around the world.
1970s and '80s Consolidation to serve customers
As technology led to a global economy, retail customers of The Coca-Cola Company merged and evolved into international mega-chains. Such customers required a new approach. In response, many small and medium-size bottlers consolidated to better serve giant international customers. The Company encouraged and invested in a number of bottler consolidations to assure that its largest bottling partners would have capacity to lead the system in working with global retailers.
1990s New and growing markets
Political and economic changes opened vast markets that were closed or underdeveloped for decades. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Company invested heavily to build plants in Eastern Europe. As the century closed, more than $1.5 billion was committed to new bottling facilities in Africa.
21st Century %u2026
The Coca-Cola bottling system grew up with roots deeply planted in local communities. This heritage serves the Company well today as consumers seek brands that honor local identity and the distinctiveness of local markets. As was true a century ago, strong locally based relationships between Coca-Cola bottlers, customers and communities are the foundation on which the entire business grows.

Coca-Cola supports a variety of organizations under the Coca-Cola Youth Partnership banner that benefit the communities in which it operates. Amongst the programs are the Boys & Girls Club of America; the Children's Miracle Network; First Tee, a PGA program; Special Olympics; Step With It!; Valued Youth Partnership and the Tiger Woods Foundation.
The Coca-Cola Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm, was established in 1984 to support education programs including higher education, classroom teaching and learning, and international education.
In 2001, The Coca-Cola Company provided a three-year, $18 million grant to Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) to help the organization share the magic and power of reading with millions of youth across the United States. This grant was the largest single corporate contribution in RIF's history.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Coca-cola supports a wide range of community-based initiatives, with a principle focus on education and youth development. Because of the diverse needs of communities, coca cola also supports programs aimed at the arts & culture, civic & community service, the environment, as well as women and girls' development.

The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. - Last year, the company renewed and enhanced its sponsorship with the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y. As part of our sponsorship, we actively support the Apollo Performing Arts Center's educational outreach programs.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute - This long-standing partnership allows us to offer leadership development programs and opportunities to young Latino men and women.
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center - Supported by the entire Coca-Cola system (including The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola Bottlers, Coca-Cola Enterprises and The Coca-Cola Foundation), our support of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center spans a number of educational programs. One such program is the National College Museum Fellows Program, a development and implementation initiative designed to attract minority students to the field of Museum Administration.
Art of Harmony - The company introduced the Art of Harmony, an art competition for high school teens, in 1992, in New York, and it has spread to other U.S. cities . The program helps develop teens' artistic talent, financial incentives for higher learning and a chance for self-expression.
The company continues our partnership with key organizations and associations by investing millions of dollars each year to educate, encourage and empower aspiring future leaders of color.

E. Neville Isdell (photo)
Chairman, Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer
The Coca-Cola Company

Herbert A. Allen
President and Chief Executive Officer
Allen & Company Incorporated
(a privately held investment firm)
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Ronald W. Allen
Consultant to, Advisory Director, and former Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Cathleen P. Black
President
Hearst Magazines

Barry Diller
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
InterActiveCorp (IAC)

Donald R. Keough
Chairman of the Board, Allen & Company Incorporated

Donald F. McHenry
Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy and International Affairs at the School of Foreign Service,
Georgetown University

Sam Nunn
Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)

James D. Robinson III
Co-founder and General Partner,
RRE Ventures and President, J.D. Robinson, Inc.

Peter V. Ueberroth
Investor and Chairman, Contrarian Group, Inc. and Co-Chairman, Pebble Beach Company

James B. Williams
Chairman of the Executive Committee, former Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
SunTrust Banks, Inc.