Coca-Cola Company (KO)
Email Confirmation
E. Neville Isdell
, CEO/Chairman of the Board/Director
Industry: Food and Beverage
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Company Information
E. Neville Isdell, CEO/Chairman of the Board/Director
One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30313
US
Map it ![]()
Phone: (404) 676-2121
Fax: (404) 676-6792
Latest news from Portfolio
-
The Young Turk at CokeDec 06 2007
-
Coke Names New C.E.O.Dec 06 2007
Portfolio.com Overview
WHERE THEY CAME FROM
Coca-Cola wasn't always the monolithic brand it is today. Its namesake drink began humbly in an Atlanta pharmacy. Its creator, Dr. John Pemberton, began selling the elixir, made out of kola nuts and coca leaves, as a cure for headaches and other ailments in 1886. But Pemberton was in ill health (his own potion couldn’t cure him), so had to sell off his fledgling enterprise. Another Atlanta druggist, Asa Candler, bought his company in 1891. Candler signed a bottling agreement in 1899, and by the 1920s, Coca-Cola was being bottled in 1,000 plants.
WHAT THEY DO
From Minnesota to Mumbai, the soft-drink company markets the American spirit. Some of its most popular products include Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Minute Maid, Nestea, and Dasani. In 2006, Coca-Cola raked in $24 billion in revenue, with 400 separate brands in more than 200 countries, via a network of thousands of franchised bottling plants.
WHAT THEY GOT RIGHT
Coca-Cola produces about 1.4 billion of the 52 billion beverages served worldwide each day. Credit that market share to the worldwide-expansion strategy of former owner Robert Woodruff and his decision, at the outbreak of World War II, to provide low-cost Coke to American servicemen around the globe. Eager to improve morale, General Dwight Eisenhower asked Coca-Cola to build bottling plants near battlefronts so that soldiers could have access to Coke, as something to remind them of home. By the end of the war, Coca-Cola had come to symbolize the American way.
Over the past 50 years, Coke would have made Candler proud through its consistent innovation in packaging, including aluminum cans, which became widely available in 1960, and plastic bottles, which were first used in 1977.
WHAT THEY GOT WRONG
What Coca-Cola got wrong can be summed up in two words: New Coke. Despite what $4 million in market research had predicted, the public disliked the taste of New Coke, introduced in 1985, so much that Coca-Cola received more than 40,000 letters complaining about the product. After only 87 days, Coke cried uncle and reintroduced the old formula. The performance of two other new products, C2 (which had half the sugar of regular Coke) and Coca-Cola Blak (coffee-flavored Coke), has also left the company with a bitter aftertaste.
The sudden death of C.E.O. Roberto Goizueta from lung cancer in 1997 hit the company and its stock price hard. Management’s missed opportunities didn’t help either: The company botched an attempt to acquire Gatorade in 2000 and came late to the lucrative bottled-water market.
WHAT’S NEXT
Coke has dipped back into the past for its future. C.E.O. Neville Isdell came out of retirement in 2004 to help rescue the lagging company, which was becoming known for an aversion to change and a less-than-spry group of board members. Rather than move Coke away from beverages, Isdell has focused on developing new energy drinks such as Tab Energy and Full Throttle. He has also shifted the company's attention toward bottled water and sports drinks, which have replaced carbonated beverages as big growth drivers in the industry. Through his strategies, Isdell has managed to level the slide in Coke's stock price but has yet to make it soar. -Liz Gunnison
Coca-Cola wasn't always the monolithic brand it is today. Its namesake drink began humbly in an Atlanta pharmacy. Its creator, Dr. John Pemberton, began selling the elixir, made out of kola nuts and coca leaves, as a cure for headaches and other ailments in 1886. But Pemberton was in ill health (his own potion couldn’t cure him), so had to sell off his fledgling enterprise. Another Atlanta druggist, Asa Candler, bought his company in 1891. Candler signed a bottling agreement in 1899, and by the 1920s, Coca-Cola was being bottled in 1,000 plants.
WHAT THEY DO
From Minnesota to Mumbai, the soft-drink company markets the American spirit. Some of its most popular products include Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Minute Maid, Nestea, and Dasani. In 2006, Coca-Cola raked in $24 billion in revenue, with 400 separate brands in more than 200 countries, via a network of thousands of franchised bottling plants.
WHAT THEY GOT RIGHT
Coca-Cola produces about 1.4 billion of the 52 billion beverages served worldwide each day. Credit that market share to the worldwide-expansion strategy of former owner Robert Woodruff and his decision, at the outbreak of World War II, to provide low-cost Coke to American servicemen around the globe. Eager to improve morale, General Dwight Eisenhower asked Coca-Cola to build bottling plants near battlefronts so that soldiers could have access to Coke, as something to remind them of home. By the end of the war, Coca-Cola had come to symbolize the American way.
Over the past 50 years, Coke would have made Candler proud through its consistent innovation in packaging, including aluminum cans, which became widely available in 1960, and plastic bottles, which were first used in 1977.
WHAT THEY GOT WRONG
What Coca-Cola got wrong can be summed up in two words: New Coke. Despite what $4 million in market research had predicted, the public disliked the taste of New Coke, introduced in 1985, so much that Coca-Cola received more than 40,000 letters complaining about the product. After only 87 days, Coke cried uncle and reintroduced the old formula. The performance of two other new products, C2 (which had half the sugar of regular Coke) and Coca-Cola Blak (coffee-flavored Coke), has also left the company with a bitter aftertaste.
The sudden death of C.E.O. Roberto Goizueta from lung cancer in 1997 hit the company and its stock price hard. Management’s missed opportunities didn’t help either: The company botched an attempt to acquire Gatorade in 2000 and came late to the lucrative bottled-water market.
WHAT’S NEXT
Coke has dipped back into the past for its future. C.E.O. Neville Isdell came out of retirement in 2004 to help rescue the lagging company, which was becoming known for an aversion to change and a less-than-spry group of board members. Rather than move Coke away from beverages, Isdell has focused on developing new energy drinks such as Tab Energy and Full Throttle. He has also shifted the company's attention toward bottled water and sports drinks, which have replaced carbonated beverages as big growth drivers in the industry. Through his strategies, Isdell has managed to level the slide in Coke's stock price but has yet to make it soar. -Liz Gunnison
Portfolio Articles
-
The Young Turk at Coke
Global challenges await Kent.Dec 06 2007 -
Coke Names New C.E.O.
Kent will take the reins in the summer.Dec 06 2007
News Feeds
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Opening Glance: Major beverage makers rise
AP
Jul 03 2008
-
Closing Glance: Major beverage stocks mixed
AP
Jul 02 2008
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Coca-Cola No. 2 exec takes over as CEO
AP
Jul 01 2008
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Muhtar Kent now Coca-Cola chief
Atlanta
Jul 01 2008
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Coca-Cola shares edge lower despite 'Buy' note
AP
Jun 27 2008
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Coca-Cola FEMSA completes Brazil franchise buy
AP
Jun 27 2008
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US mayors vote to phase out bottled water consumption
AP
Jun 23 2008
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Feeling thrifty, the thirsty reach for tap water
AP
Jun 17 2008
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Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling shares drop
AP
Jun 13 2008
-
Birmingham chosen to pilot Coca-Cola's newly shaped two-liter bottle
Birmingham
Jun 13 2008
Portfolio Blogs
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Coca-Cola Extends Marketing Partnership with Nascar Through 2017
Dec 07 2007
-
Internet Lawsuit: It's the Real Thing
Nov 20 2007
-
Fox's 50, Maybe Not so Nifty
Oct 16 2007
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Sudan Versus Coca-Cola
May 31 2007
Press Releases
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The Coca-Cola Company Announces Timing of Earnings Release and Investor Conference Call Jul-02-2008, 03:00PM EDT
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Executive Leadership Transition Finalized at The Coca-Cola Company Jul-01-2008, 07:30AM EDT
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Full Throttle(R) Energy Drink Gives Coffee a 'Kick' with Launch of New Full Throttle Coffee(R) Jun-27-2008, 12:00PM EDT
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NESTEA(R) Introduces Green Tea Products with More Antioxidants Jun-26-2008, 10:33AM EDT
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Seven Summits Research Releases Comments on KO, AMZN, UNH, ADBE, and GME Jun-13-2008, 10:36AM EDT
News From Around the Web
News
-
Jul 06 2008
-
Incumbent has new challenger
(Florida Times-Union)Jul 06 2008 -
Kenyan schools churn out talented football players
(The Standard, Kenya)Jul 05 2008 -
Jamie wants away from U's
(Evening Gazette)Jul 05 2008 -
To Do: Riverfront Rendezvous
(Stevens Point Journal)Jul 05 2008 -
Cola wars
(Daytona Beach News-Journal)Jul 05 2008 -
Strike Could Mean Cola Shortage
(NBC 7 San Diego (KNSD))Jul 04 2008 -
Around the state
(South Florida Sun-Sentinel)Jul 04 2008 -
Coca-Cola pays fraud settlement
(Calgary Herald)Jul 04 2008 -
Coca-Cola settles fraud lawsuit
(Baltimore Sun)Jul 04 2008
Blogs
-
[Open Thread] Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway
(Restrictor Plate THIS)Jul 04 2008 -
Top Six: Exports to Turkey
(Who Ate All The Pies)Jul 04 2008 -
Coca-Cola Racing Family Drivers Will Attempt To Give Millions a ‘Taste of Victory’ With Free 20-ounce Coke Zero
(NASCAR Ranting and Raving)Jul 03 2008 -
Looking for a Book to Read? A Movie to Watch?
(NRO: The Corner)Jul 03 2008 -
Coca-Cola Company to submit planning application for $300 million facility at Wexford, Ireland
(FinFacts Ireland)Jul 01 2008
Employees
Number of Employees: 90,500
Revenue per Employee: $386,732
Top Executives
Harry L. Anderson, Controller/Vice President/Chief Accounting Officer
Ahmet C. Bozer, President, Geographical
Gary P. Fayard, Executive VP/CFO
Robert P. Leechman, Other Executive Officer/Vice President
Dominique Reiniche, Geographical President
Donald R. Knauss, Geographical President/COO
Alexander B. Cummings, Jr., Geographical President
J. Alexander M. Douglas, Jr., Geographical President/Senior VP
Danny L. Strickland, Senior VP/Other Executive Officer/Chief Technology Officer
Irial Finan, Divisional President/Executive VP
Glenn G. Jordan S., Geographical President
Thomas G. Mattia, Senior VP/Other Corporate Officer
Geoffrey J. Kelly, Senior Executive VP/General Counsel
Joseph V. Tripodi, Senior VP/Other Executive Officer
Connie D. McDaniel, Vice President, Divisional
William D. Hawkins, III, Vice President/Other Corporate Officer
Jose Octavio Reyes Lagunes, Geographical President
Cynthia P. McCague, Senior VP/Other Corporate Officer
Board of Directors
Donald R. Keough, Director
Financials
Quarterly
Annual
| Income Statement | 04/2008 | 02/2008 | 10/2007 | 07/2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 2.32 Bil. | -369 Mil. | 2.6 Bil. | 2.46 Bil. |
| Gross Operating Profit | 5.06 Bil. | 7.7 Bil. | 5.08 Bil. | 5.27 Bil. |
| Operating Income before D & A (EBITDA) | 2.18 Bil. | 7.7 Bil. | 2.19 Bil. | 2.59 Bil. |
| Total Income Before Interest Expenses (EBIT) | 2.06 Bil. | 7.33 Bil. | 2.24 Bil. | 2.51 Bil. |
| Total Net Income | 1.5 Bil. | 1.21 Bil. | 1.65 Bil. | 1.85 Bil. |
| Basic EPS, Total | 0.64 | 0.52 | 0.72 | 0.8 |
| Diluted EPS, Total | 0.64 | 0.52 | 0.71 | 0.8 |
| BALANCE STATEMENT | 04/2008 | 02/2008 | 10/2007 | 07/2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and Equivalents | 6.2 Bil. | 4.09 Bil. | 4.62 Bil. | 4.36 Bil. |
| Total Assets | 14.89 Bil. | 12.1 Bil. | 12.1 Bil. | 11.91 Bil. |
| Total Liabilities | 15.59 Bil. | 13.22 Bil. | 15.57 Bil. | 15.25 Bil. |
| Total Capitalization | 26.29 Bil. | 25.02 Bil. | 21.26 Bil. | 20.57 Bil. |
| Cash Flow | 04/2008 | 02/2008 | 10/2007 | 07/2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Cash From Continuing Operations | 1.12 Bil. | 7.15 Bil. | 5.46 Bil. | 3.3 Bil. |
| Net Cash From Investing Activities | -557 Mil. | -6.72 Bil. | -4.61 Bil. | -4.05 Bil. |
| Net Cash From Financing Activities | 1.44 Bil. | 973 Mil. | 1.23 Bil. | 2.58 Bil. |
| Net Change in Cash & Cash Equivalents | 2.11 Bil. | 1.65 Bil. | 2.18 Bil. | 1.92 Bil. |
| Income Statement | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 9.24 Bil. | 7.23 Bil. | 7.26 Bil. | 6.74 Bil. |
| Gross Operating Profit | 19.61 Bil. | 16.86 Bil. | 15.84 Bil. | 15.22 Bil. |
| Operating Income before D & A (EBITDA) | 8.42 Bil. | 7.25 Bil. | 7.02 Bil. | 6.59 Bil. |
| Total Income Before Interest Expenses (EBIT) | 8.33 Bil. | 6.8 Bil. | 6.93 Bil. | 6.42 Bil. |
| Total Net Income | 5.98 Bil. | 5.08 Bil. | 4.87 Bil. | 4.85 Bil. |
| Basic EPS, Total | 2.57 | 2.16 | 2.04 | 2 |
| Diluted EPS, Total | 2.57 | 2.16 | 2.04 | 2 |
| BALANCE STATEMENT | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and Equivalents | 4.09 Bil. | 2.44 Bil. | 4.7 Bil. | 6.71 Bil. |
| Total Assets | 12.1 Bil. | 8.44 Bil. | 10.25 Bil. | 12.09 Bil. |
| Total Liabilities | 13.22 Bil. | 8.89 Bil. | 9.84 Bil. | 10.97 Bil. |
| Total Capitalization | 25.02 Bil. | 18.23 Bil. | 17.51 Bil. | 17.09 Bil. |
| Cash Flow | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Cash From Continuing Operations | 7.15 Bil. | 5.96 Bil. | 6.42 Bil. | 5.97 Bil. |
| Net Cash From Investing Activities | -6.72 Bil. | -1.7 Bil. | -1.5 Bil. | -503 Mil. |
| Net Cash From Financing Activities | 973 Mil. | -6.58 Bil. | -6.78 Bil. | -2.26 Bil. |
| Net Change in Cash & Cash Equivalents | 1.65 Bil. | -2.26 Bil. | -2.01 Bil. | 3.34 Bil. |
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