The Coca-Cola Company (KO)

Sector: Consumer Staples|Industry: Beverages - Non-Alcoholic|Market Cap: $269.37B|Employees: 79.1K


The Coca-Cola Company is a total beverage company that manufactures and sells nonalcoholic beverages globally. Its primary revenue streams come from the sale of concentrates and syrups to independent bottling partners and finished beverages to retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. The company holds a leading market position with strong brand recognition and a wide global distribution network.

  1. Filings
  2. Company Profile

Business Summary

The Coca-Cola Company, a Delaware corporation founded in 1892 and reincorporated in 1919, is a global beverage company offering a vast portfolio of brands across various categories, including sparkling soft drinks (e.g., Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta), water, sports, coffee and tea (e.g., Dasani, Powerade, Costa), juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverages (e.g., Minute Maid, Simply), and emerging beverages. With a presence in over 200 countries and territories, the company boasts 2.2 billion servings of its trademarked or licensed beverages consumed daily, out of an estimated 64 billion servings globally. Coca-Cola leverages a network of independent bottling partners, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers, along with its consolidated bottling operations, for a robust distribution system. The company's success is attributed to its diverse beverage portfolio catering to various consumer preferences and its effective execution strategies.

Competitive Advantages:

  • Strong brand recognition and loyalty
  • Extensive global distribution network
  • Sophisticated marketing capabilities
  • Skilled and dedicated workforce

Competitive Landscape:

The company operates in a highly competitive market, with key rivals including PepsiCo, Nestlé, Keurig Dr Pepper, and numerous regional and local players. The competitive landscape is characterized by factors like pricing, advertising, sales promotions, product innovation, and distribution strategies. The rise of e-commerce presents both opportunities and challenges, requiring the company to adapt to evolving consumer shopping habits while maintaining relationships with traditional retail partners.

Key Statistics

  • Employees: 79,100 (as of December 31, 2023)
  • Geographic Footprint: 200+ countries and territories
  • Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  • Founded: 1892 (Reincorporated in 1919)
  • Revenue (FY2023): $45.75 billion
  • Key Subsidiaries/Brands: Costa Limited, fairlife, LLC, BA Sports Nutrition, LLC (BodyArmor)

Leadership

  • CEO: James Quincey (Chairman of the Board)
  • CFO: John Murphy (President)
  • Global Chief Marketing Officer: Manuel Arroyo (Executive Vice President)
  • President, International Development: Henrique Braun (Executive Vice President)
  • Global Chief People Officer: Lisa Chang (Executive Vice President)
  • Global General Counsel: Monica Howard Douglas (Executive Vice President)
  • President, Europe Operating Unit: Nikolaos Koumettis
  • President, North America Operating Unit: Jennifer K. Mann (Executive Vice President)
  • President, Latin America Operating Unit: Bruno Pietracci
  • Global Chief Communications, Sustainability and Strategic Partnerships Officer: Beatriz Perez (Executive Vice President)

Key Financial Metrics

  • Annual Revenue (FY2023): $45.75 billion
  • Net Income (FY2023): $10.71 billion
  • Total Assets (FY2023): $97.70 billion
  • Number of Employees (FY2023): 79,100
  • Key Financial Highlights (FY2023): Net operating revenues increased 6% compared to FY2022, driven by concentrate sales volume growth and favorable pricing initiatives. Operating income increased 4% compared to FY2022. Gross profit margin increased to 59.5% from 58.1% in FY2022.

Products and Services

The Coca-Cola Company offers a diverse range of non-alcoholic beverages, categorized as follows:

  • Trademark Coca-Cola: This category includes Coca-Cola, Diet Coke/Coca-Cola Light, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, and their variations.
  • Sparkling Flavors: This encompasses a variety of flavored sparkling soft drinks, including Fanta, Fresca, Schweppes (in certain countries), Sprite, and Thums Up.
  • Water, Sports, Coffee and Tea: This segment includes brands like Aquarius, Ayataka, BODYARMOR, Ciel, Costa, Dasani, doğadan, FUZE TEA, Georgia, glacéau smartwater, glacéau vitaminwater, Gold Peak, Ice Dew, I LOHAS, Powerade, and Topo Chico.
  • Juice, Value-Added Dairy and Plant-Based Beverages: This category features brands such as AdeS, Del Valle, fairlife, innocent, Minute Maid, Minute Maid Pulpy, and Simply.
  • Emerging Beverages: The company continues to innovate and introduce new beverages in this category.
  • Alcohol Beverages (Outside the US and through a firewalled subsidiary in the US): The company has entered the alcohol beverage category with products like Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, Lemon-Dou, and Jack Daniel's & Coca-Cola.

Key Business Segments

The Coca-Cola Company operates through the following segments:

  • Europe, Middle East and Africa: This segment includes various operating units focused on regional and local execution.
  • Latin America: This segment includes various operating units focused on regional and local execution.
  • North America: This segment includes the U.S. and Canada.
  • Asia Pacific: This segment includes various operating units focused on regional and local execution.
  • Global Ventures: This segment includes Costa Limited, innocent, and doğadan, as well as fees from distribution coordination agreements with Monster Beverage Corporation.
  • Bottling Investments: This segment includes the Company's consolidated bottling and distribution operations.

FY2023 Revenue Breakdown:

  • Europe, Middle East & Africa: 16.2%
  • Latin America: 12.7%
  • North America: 36.6%
  • Asia Pacific: 10.3%
  • Global Ventures: 6.7%
  • Bottling Investments: 17.2%
  • Corporate: 0.3%

Business Strategy

The Coca-Cola Company's vision for growth revolves around three interconnected pillars: Loved Brands, Done Sustainably, and For a Better Shared Future. The company aims to refresh the world and make a difference through its brand portfolio and sustainable business practices.

Strategic Priorities:

  • Unlocking the potential of its brand portfolio across global, regional, and local levels
  • Developing a robust innovation pipeline with scalable initiatives
  • Enhancing consumer-centric marketing effectiveness and efficiency
  • Winning in the marketplace through data-driven revenue growth management and execution
  • Integrating sustainability goals into operations

Growth Strategies:

The company pursues growth through brand building, innovation, strategic acquisitions (e.g., BodyArmor), and expansion in emerging and developing markets. It continuously adapts to evolving consumer preferences and the changing retail landscape, including the growth of e-commerce, to maintain its market position.

Industry Context

The Coca-Cola Company operates within the global non-alcoholic beverage industry. Key market trends include evolving consumer preferences towards health and wellness, increasing demand for functional and sustainable beverages, and the rise of e-commerce and digital marketing.

Major Competitors:

The industry is highly competitive, with major players like PepsiCo, Nestlé, Keurig Dr Pepper, Danone, Suntory, AB InBev, Kirin Holdings, Heineken, Diageo, and Red Bull. The company also faces competition from regional and local brands, as well as private-label offerings from retailers.

Risk Factors

  • Unfavorable macroeconomic conditions: Global inflation, rising interest rates, and geopolitical instability can impact consumer spending and supply chain operations.
  • Intensified competition: Aggressive competition may lead to price wars, increased marketing costs, and difficulty in maintaining market share.
  • Supply chain disruptions: Shortages of raw materials, packaging, or transportation can interrupt product supply and increase costs.
  • Changing consumer preferences: Failure to adapt to evolving consumer preferences regarding health, taste, and sustainability can negatively impact demand.
  • Cybersecurity threats: Data breaches or system disruptions can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and operational disruptions.

Last Updated

2024-02-20

(Generated from latest 10-K filing)