Celebrating 125 years of Coca‑Cola in Great Britain

This year, we’re celebrating 125 years since Coca‑Cola was first served in Great Britain.

We’ve been serving Great Britain since 1900 and we’re proud to be part of every community where we operate – with 97% of Coca‑Cola products sold in the UK being made in the UK in partnership with our bottling partner, CCEP.

To celebrate this important milestone, we’re shining a light on one of our most important and longstanding partners: the iconic local corner shop bosses who serve our products.

Corner shops, and the “bosses” who run them, aren’t just an essential part of the Coca‑Cola system - they are a pillar of communities whose value goes way beyond the products they sell.

Not only do convenience stores account for £864 million worth of soft drinks sold each year all over the UK,  but our new research* has revealed that one in four Brits now depend on them more than any other retailer. That’s something to be celebrated.

That is why we have released a new portrait and docu-series celebrating the local corner shop Boss - bringing the people behind the counter into the spotlight.

Six entrepreneurial bosses and their families from across all corners of Great Britain have been immortalised by talented Gen Z photographer Serena Brown. Alongside this, director Ross Bolidai produced a series of moving mini-documentaries following the family dynamics, personal bereavement and community spirit felt by the retailers, pulling the curtain back on the people we see every day, but perhaps don’t really see.

Each story celebrates the commitment, heritage, know-how and personalities behind Britain’s corner shop counters – and their vital role across the communities they serve.

Having weathered recessions, a global pandemic and even world wars in some cases, the local bosses featured in the series exemplify the grit and resilience that has propelled them to become true business elites across Great Britain.

Coca‑Cola is committed to supporting local communities - with each boss from the series nominating a local cause to receive a five-figure donation.

Meet our local bosses – with their own unique, heart-warming stories below:

*The research was conducted by Opinium, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative UK adults. The data was collected between 21.02.2025 and 25.02.2025.