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Our History

On May 8, 1886, Dr. John Pemberton served the world’s first Coca‑Cola at Jacobs' Pharmacy in Atlanta, Ga. From that one iconic drink, we’ve evolved into a total beverage company. 

More than 2.1 billion servings of our drinks are enjoyed in more than 200 countries and territories each day. And it’s the 700,000 individuals employed by The Coca‑Cola Company and 225+ bottling partners that help to deliver refreshment across the globe.

Coca‑Cola arrived in Canada over 120 years ago in 1896. In October 1905, the company applied to register the Coca‑Cola trademark in Canada and set up a small factory at 65 Bellwoods Avenue in Toronto. This was the first bottling facility outside the United States.

Together with our bottling partner,  Coca‑Cola Canada Bottling, we offer more than 250 drinks across 38 brands in Canada.

Today, the Coca‑Cola system in Canada operates in all ten provinces and employs over 5,700 people in more than 50 facilities across Canada.

People walking in front of a large red-brick building with Coca-Cola facade

A Rich History: Refreshing the World and Making a Difference

For more than 135 years, the Coca‑Cola Company has been a part of people’s lives at holidays, special events, and everyday occasions. From our iconic brands and advertising to our sustainability initiatives around the world, the Coca‑Cola company aims to refresh the world while making a difference.

Visit the Company’s History Page
Vintage colorful illustration of a hand holding a Coca-Cola bottle in front of a terrestrial globe

Coca‑Cola’s First Bottle

The contour bottle has been celebrated in art, music and advertising. Read the story of the collaboration that began in 1915 and turned into one of the most famous shapes in the world.

Explore the History of Coca‑Cola Bottle
Antique illustration of a Coca-Cola bottle

The Extraordinary Story of How Diet Coke Came to Be

In the summer of 1980, a Coca‑Cola planning manager named Jack Carew was tapped to lead a project that had been percolating within the company for two decades but never came to fruition – to introduce a “diet” version of Coca‑Cola.

Explore the 1982 Diet Coke Global Premiere
Antique black and white photograph of 1920's dance show with Diet Coke decoration