Frequently Asked Questions
Most Common
Coca‑Cola did not create the legend of Santa Claus. But Coca‑Cola advertising did play a big role in shaping the jolly character we know today.
Before 1931, there were many different depictions of Santa Claus around the world, including a tall gaunt man and an elf —there was even a scary Claus.
But in 1931, Coca‑Cola commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to paint Santa for Christmas advertisements. Those paintings established Santa as a warm, happy character with human features, including rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and laughter lines.
Sundblom drew inspiration from an 1822 poem by Clement Clark Moore called “A Visit from St. Nicholas” —commonly known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
In May 1886, Dr. John S. Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia, created the syrup for Coca‑Cola.
He carried a jug of the new product down the street to Jacobs' Pharmacy in Atlanta. There, it was sampled, pronounced "excellent" and placed on sale as a soft drinks fountain drink for five cents a glass.
Dr. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, suggested the name "Coca‑Cola" and penned the flowing script that is famous today.
To learn more about working for Coca‑Cola, or to view our latest job openings visit our Careers page.
Alternatively, you can also browse job vacancies through our LinkedIn page.
Company
To learn more about working for Coca‑Cola Company, or to view our latest job openings visit our Careers page.
Alternatively, you can also browse job vacancies through our LinkedIn page.
Our mission is to create value for you, our shareowners, over the long term. We are pleased to have you as a shareowner and grateful for the confidence you have demonstrated by entrusting us with your investment.
Information for shareowners, can be found here.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/investors/shareowner-information
At Coca‑Cola, we believe profitability is important, but not at any cost. We care about people and the planet, and we are actively working toward solutions that benefit us all.
This includes efforts to:
Reduce plastic waste
Manage our water use responsibly
Support women’s empowerment and advancement around the world
Promote diversity, inclusion and equality in our workplace
Aid our local communities in times of need
Find more information in our latest business and sustainability report.
The World of Coca‑Cola is a museum, located in Atlanta, Georgia, showcasing the history of The Coca‑Cola Company and its brands.
World of Coca‑Cola at Pemberton Place® celebrated its Grand Opening on May 24, 2007. It’s the only place where you can explore the fascinating story of Coca‑Cola® – the world’s best-known beverage brand.
Spend the day interacting with multiple exhibits, learning about the storied history of the iconic beverage brand, and sampling more than 100 different beverages from around the world.
More information about the World of Coca‑Cola experience, including specific information regarding location, parking, pricing, hours of operation, exhibits, and more can be found on our website.
Coca‑Cola and its nearly 225 independent bottling partners employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Due to the strength of this unique system, we are able to create global reach with local focus. While many may view us as “Coca‑Cola”, our system operates through multiple local channels, and our bottling partners work closely with customers to execute localized strategies developed in partnership with our company. Customers then sell our products to consumers at a rate of 1.9 billion servings per day.
Ties to the Community
Our bottling partners are your neighbors and friends. Coca‑Cola’s success rests on the foundation of a commitment to the people who buy products, the people who sell them and the local communities that our employees and the employees of our partners call home. By hiring and operating locally, our bottling partners are investing in their communities, alongside Coca‑Cola customers and consumers.
Global Reach
While Coca‑Cola is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company and its bottling partners hire and employ people across the world in a wide variety of roles. We hire locally in the communities we operate in, as well as utilizing a highly motivated and mobile workforce for some roles, allowing employees to gain valuable international experience and to work closely with people from different countries, cultures and beliefs. We believe in the power of diversifying our workforce at every level, and we have made great strides in the areas of equal opportunity, women’s empowerment, LGBTQ+ rights, and much more.
To learn more about working for The Coca‑Cola Company, or to view our latest job openings visit our Careers page.
Rigorous scientific research is essential to support our innovation efforts, but also ensures we offer products that are safe and meet global regulatory requirements, and allows us to address questions of public health and consumer interest.
We agree that research transparency and integrity are important. That’s why in 2015 we committed to posting all our funding for well-being scientific research and partnerships, going back to 2010. This list can be found here.
Whether it is the research we fund independently or when we work in partnership, our company associates and others with whom we engage are required to adhere to the highest level of scientific integrity and to align with our research principles. For the latest updates on our approach to stakeholder engagement and scientific research, please visit our Transparency in Partnerships page.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/content/dam/journey/us/en/policies/transparency/index.htm#main
History
In May 1886, Dr. John S. Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia, created the syrup for Coca‑Cola.
He carried a jug of the new product down the street to Jacobs' Pharmacy in Atlanta. There, it was sampled, pronounced ""excellent"" and placed on sale as a soft drinks fountain drink for five cents a glass.
Dr. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, suggested the name ""Coca‑Cola"" and penned the flowing script that is famous today.
Read the full story of the birth of Coca Cola.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/company/history/the-birth-of-a-refreshing-idea
Coca‑Cola did not create the legend of Santa Claus. But Coca‑Cola advertising did play a big role in shaping the jolly character we know today.
Before 1931, there were many different depictions of Santa Claus around the world, including a tall gaunt man and an elf —there was even a scary Claus.
But in 1931, Coca‑Cola commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to paint Santa for Christmas advertisements. Those paintings established Santa as a warm, happy character with human features, including rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and laughter lines.
Sundblom drew inspiration from an 1822 poem by Clement Clark Moore called “A Visit from St. Nicholas” —commonly known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
To avoid confusion with copycat brands, The Coca‑Cola Company asked the Root Glass Company in Terra Haute, Indiana, to create a package that was “so distinctive that it could be recognized by touch alone and so unique it could be identified when shattered on the ground.”
The result was the iconic Coca‑Cola bottle inspired by the curves and grooves of the gourd-shaped cocoa bean, an ingredient the designers originally thought was in the product.
One of the most famous shapes in the world is the iconic contour fluted lines of the Coca‑Cola bottle. Renowned as a design classic and described by noted industrial designer, Raymond Loewy as the “perfect liquid wrapper,” the bottle has been celebrated in art, music and advertising.
Read the full story of Coca‑Cola’s contour bottle.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/the-history-of-the-coca-cola-contour-bottle
We began building our global network in the 1920s. Our global growth expanded during World War II when Coca‑Cola President Robert Woodruff believed that every American service man and woman should have a Coke at their disposal, no matter where they were or the cost to the company. Woodruff’s vision during this critical period in American history helped establish Coke as a global corporation by introducing the product to different markets.
Now operating in more than 200 countries and producing over 200 brands, our system has successfully applied a simple formula on a global scale: provide a moment of refreshment for a very little amount of money -- a billion times a day.
Learn more about the history of The Coca‑Cola Company.
With so many items, events and collectors, how does someone get started creating their own personal collection? You can:
Find current collectibles at the Coca‑Cola store online, the Coca‑Cola Store at the World of Coca‑Cola in Atlanta, or the Coca‑Cola Store in Las Vegas or Orlando.
For vintage collectibles, you may wish to consult The Coca‑Cola Collectors Club, a non-profit, grass-roots organization run by collectors.
Learn more about starting your collection.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/starting-your-private-coca-cola-collection
Packaging
Misinformation continues to spread about the recyclability of beverage caps. The closures used on Coca‑Cola bottles are 100 percent recyclable from a technical standpoint and highly recycled. They are made from high-density materials selected for their compatibility with most recycling systems.
Most recyclers use a float/sink process where PET bottles sink and the closures and labels float. For this reason, and to minimize litter, we recommend that consumers recycle their beverage bottles by putting the cap back on before placing in a recycle bin. Like the PET plastic used in our bottles, there also are end markets for the material used in the caps, such as paint pails and battery casings.
We introduced PlantBottle™, the world’s first fully recyclable PET plastic bottle made partially from plants, in 2009.
We replaced up to 30% of the petroleum used to make PET plastic bottles with material from sugar canes and other plants. The result? You’d have to take nearly 1 million vehicles off the road to achieve the same reduction in CO2 emissions that PlantBottle™ has achieved since 2009.
Plus, we’ve made our PlantBottle™ technology available to competitors with the goal of helping find a solution to our planet’s packaging problem.
Drinks
We may be The Coca‑Cola Company, but we know not everyone drinks soft drinks. That’s why we offer many options for every taste and need.
If you like organic tea, sparkling water, coconut water, milk, ready-to-drink coffee or juice, we have it all and more.
For more information on our products, visit Brands
Since it debuted in the U.S. 12 years ago, Coca‑Cola Zero has refreshed hundreds of millions of people with its real Coca‑Cola taste and zero calories. Now, the brand has a new name, new look, and even more delicious taste.
Through in-house innovation and extensive market testing, the no-calorie fan favorite delivers an even better-tasting recipe and goes by the name Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar. The new and improved recipe tastes like a Coke, but with zero sugar and zero calories. Coke Zero Sugar hit store shelves nationwide in August 2017.
The company continues to create new beverages and evolve its recipes and Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar represents our product innovation. It joins a roster of nearly 250 other delicious reduced-and no-sugar beverages offered in the U.S.
No. Coke Zero Sugar is a zero-sugar, zero-calorie cola. Sugar alternatives are used in place of sugar in many foods and drinks to provide people with a reduced, low, or no sugar and calorie option. Because sugar alternatives provide a sweet taste with few or no calories, they can help people manage their calorie intake.
We believe that a balanced lifestyle is key to successful weight management. We use sugar alternatives in some of our products because we know that many people want the choice of great tasting beverages with less sugar and fewer calories. All our beverages can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced lifestyle.
Coca‑Cola actively works to reduce sugar in our products; invest in sugar alternatives; and offer smaller packages, like mini-cans, to help beverage lovers control their portion sizes.
We reformulated 400 of our products to reduce sugar in 2018 alone.
Today, some 40% of our beverages —some 1,100 drinks —have low-to no-sugar.
In 2019, we are on track to reduce sugar in more than 500 drinks around the world.
Today, some 40% of the company’s sparkling brands come in small packages—250 mL (8.5 oz.) or less.
Ingredients
Caffeine is an ingredient found in many beverages and foods, such as coffee, tea, colas and chocolate. It is one of the ingredients that helps give Coca‑Cola its unique great taste.
How much caffeine is in Coke? How much caffeine is in Diet Coke?
People are often surprised when they learn that the amount of caffeine in Coke or Diet Coke is much less than in the same-sized coffee. Coke’s caffeine content is 34mg for a 12-oz can, and Diet Coke caffeine content is 46mg. That’s three to four times less than coffee! The same-sized coffee, in this case a 12-oz cup, has 140mg or more.
Do you have caffeine-free soft drinks?
We know not everyone likes caffeinated drinks or wants them all the time. That’s why we offer a range of caffeine-free beverages, so people can make the choice for themselves and their families.
Some are caffeine-free versions of our classic Coca‑Cola beverages. Others are naturally caffeine-free, like our juices and waters. Did you know? Sprite and Fresca soft drinks are also caffeine-free.
Enjoy these popular caffeine-free drinks:
Caffeine-Free Coca‑Cola, Caffeine-Free Diet Coke and Caffeine-Free Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar
Seagram’s Ginger Ale, Diet Ginger Ale, Tonic and Seltzer
Sprite and Sprite Zero
Fanta, Fanta Grape and Fanta Zero Orange
Juices like Simply and Minute Maid
How can I tell if there’s caffeine in my drink?
We include caffeine information in multiple places including caffeine content near the Nutrition Facts label on our cans and bottles.
Is caffeine bad for you?
Caffeine is known to be safe when consumed in moderation. Every day, millions of people enjoy food and beverages with caffeine, including coffee, tea and soft drinks. Because caffeine has been consumed for centuries, we know a lot about it. It is widely studied, and how much we use in our drinks is known to be safe.
We know not everyone likes caffeinated drinks or wants them all the time though. That’s why we offer a range of caffeine-free beverages, including Caffeine-Free Coca‑Cola, Caffeine-Free Diet Coke, Sprite and Fresca soft drinks so you can make the choice for yourself and your families.
If you are concerned about the effects of caffeine, speak to your doctor.
How much caffeine is too much?
Caffeine is known to be safe when consumed in moderation. Scientists and health authorities generally say that moderate caffeine intake is about 400 mg/day for most healthy adults. They advise a lower intake for pregnant women. This is much more than is found in a 12oz can of Coca‑Cola. We recommend that anyone with questions about caffeine intake speak with their doctor.
Is caffeine addictive?
Caffeine is a mild stimulant, and if you have it regularly and then stop abruptly, you may experience some minor effects. But most of us can reduce or eliminate caffeine from our diets without serious problems.
Many people around the world enjoy consuming caffeine every day, in beverages like coffee, tea and soft drinks. People are often surprised to learn that Coca‑Cola actually contains much less caffeine than in the same amount of coffee.
We know that not everyone drinks caffeine and not everyone wants to drink it all the time, so we also offer a range of caffeine-free beverages, including [insert local caffeine-free example] so people can make the choice for them and their families.
If you have questions about caffeine, we recommend you contact your doctor.
Artificial sweeteners (sometimes called sugar alternatives) can replace sugar in foods and drinks to give you a sweet taste but with few or no calories. They are often several hundred times sweeter than sugar. So compared to sugar, only a little is needed for the same sweet taste.
We use sugar substitutes because while sugar in moderation is fine, too much sugar isn’t good for anyone. We know people have concerns about eating or drinking too much sugar. That is why we’re taking action should you want less of it. This includes reducing sugar in more than 500 drinks around the world.
Do you use artificial sweeteners?
Yes. We are always rethinking many of our recipes to give you options with less sugar and fewer or no calories. To do this, we use a range of artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes, like Stevia leaf extract and aspartame. Each has its own unique taste and is often several hundred times sweeter than sugar. So compared to sugar, only a little is needed for the same sweet taste.
*While sugar also has 16 calories per teaspoon, you don't need as much aspartame to get the same sweet taste you love.
Which artificial sweeteners does The Coca‑Cola Company use?
We use a number of different sugar alternatives in our drinks, including:
Acesulfame potassium
Brand names - Sweet One®, Sunett®
Calories – 0
Sweetness - 200x sweeter than sugar
Aspartame
Brand names - Nutrasweet®, Equal®
Calories – 16 calories per teaspoon*
Sweetness - 200x sweeter than sugar
Stevia leaf extract
Brand names - Truvia®, PureVia®
Calories – 0 calories per teaspoon
200x to 400x sweeter than sugar
Sucralose
Brand names - SPLENDA®
0 calories per teaspoon
600x sweeter than sugar
Why does The Coca‑Cola Company use artificial sweeteners?
We want to give you choices, so you can decide what’s right for your lifestyle and diet. We offer more than 800 beverages in the U.S. Of these, 250 are reduced- or no-sugar.
We want to give you great-tasting choices with fewer or no calories. We also use sugar substitutes because they are confirmed safe by the FDA and thoroughly tested in scientific studies.
Can drinking soft drinks with sugar alternatives make you fat?
No. Sugar alternatives are used in place of sugar in many foods and drinks to provide people with a reduced, low, or no sugar and calorie option. Because sugar alternatives provide a sweet taste with few or no calories, they can help people manage their calorie intake.
We believe that a balanced lifestyle is key to successful weight management. We use sugar alternatives in some of our products because we know that many people want the choice of great tasting beverages with less sugar and fewer calories.
All our beverages can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced lifestyle.
Can low-calorie or zero sugar drinks can make you crave other sweet things?
Many people enjoy sweet tastes from time to time, and that’s normal. The sweet taste of [Coca‑Cola Light / Diet Coke] is an important part of what makes it unique. We believe that when all the research is taken into account, it shows that sugar alternatives used in drinks like [Coca‑Cola Light / Diet Coke] do not increase people’s appetite for sweet things.
It’s important to us to make sure that we offer a wide range of beverage choices that suit different tastes and lifestyles.
Learn more about our brand portfolio and what's in our products
https://www.coca-cola.com/ie/en/sustainability/in-our-products
Environment
The accumulation of marine debris and its effect on the global marine ecosystem is a hot topic –and Coca‑Cola aims to be part of the solution. From our perspective, it is unacceptable that packages –including Coca‑Cola packages –end up in the wrong place, in our oceans and waterways or littering communities.
No one can solve this issue alone, but together we can make a big change. That's why we work with partners around the world to reduce plastic waste, clean up existing waste and improve recycling.
Since the 1970s, we’ve been working with communities and organizations on local cleanup efforts, litter reduction and recycling campaigns.
To learn more about our packaging innovations, please visit our article on Coca‑Cola 100% Plant-Based bottle or view the Sustainable Packaging page.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/100-percent-plant-based-plastic-bottle
https://www.coca-cola.com/ie/en/sustainability/sustainable-packaging
Coca‑Cola partners with hundreds of stakeholders across the country, at both a local and global level, and across many different functions. Our stakeholders include bottling partners, suppliers, consumers, customers, industry partners, governments and NGOs.
Achieving More Together
Partnerships are core to our business and enable us to achieve more together. We can progress faster and with more impact by working with stakeholders who can bring their expertise and know-how to help create a better world. Our approach to stakeholder engagement is focused on transparency, inclusiveness, consistency and accountability. Our engagement involves many local and global organizations across multiple areas: environmental protection, social and economic improvement, industry initiatives involving some of our biggest competitors, and programs working hand-in-hand with communities where we can make a difference. Input from a diverse range of stakeholders helps to advance and further evolve our sustainability goals. Consistent and open communication is key.
To learn more, please visit our Partnerships page.
At Coca‑Cola, we have a responsibility to use water as respectfully and efficiently as possible. We put water protection plans in place so our presence doesn't harm communities' vital water resources.
We return 100% of the water we use around the world to communities and nature. We achieved that goal in 2015 and plan to maintain it as the business grows.
In 2017, our water savings improved for the 15th consecutive year—up 15% since 2010. That’s a 29.3% improvement since 2004 when we started reporting water savings throughout our global system.
By 2020, we aim to save 25% more water in manufacturing operations compared with a 2010 baseline.
To learn more about our work in the water conservation space, please visit the Water Stewardship page.
https://www.coca-cola.com/ie/en/sustainability/water-stewardship
Community
The Coca‑Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca‑Cola Company. Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 billion in grants to support sustainable community initiatives —from water to women’s empowerment, from community recycling to wellbeing—around the world.
Priority Areas
Empowering women: economic empowerment and entrepreneurship
Protecting the environment: access to clean water, water conservation and recycling
Enhancing communities: education, youth development and other community and civic initiatives
History
In 1984, Roberto Goizueta, then Chairman and CEO of The Coca‑Cola Company, established The Coca‑Cola Foundation. Over the past three decades, The Foundation has grown from a local foundation into a global philanthropic organization.
Since its inception, the Foundation has supported learning inside and outside the classroom. However, addressing critical community challenges and opportunities is an evolving process. In 2007, the Foundation broadened its support to include global water stewardship programs and community recycling programs. Today, our strategies align with the Company’s sustainability platform and include women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship. In 2021, The Coca‑Cola Foundation contributed $109.2 million to approximately 350 organizations globally.
Learn more about the Coca‑Cola Foundation
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/social-impact/coca-cola-foundation
Each day, our corporation receives a large number of sponsorship requests from individuals and organizations supporting worthwhile causes. We carefully review each request to see how they align with our community commitments and marketing strategies. Unfortunately due to the high demand, we cannot fulfil every request.
The Coca‑Cola Foundation, accepts proposals for a variety of initiatives, programs and events. All requests for community support in the form of grants or sponsorships for consideration by The Coca‑Cola Company, The Coca‑Cola Foundation or any of its affiliated regional foundations must be submitted through our online application system. Those proposals meeting specific guidelines, and further our strategic goals and objectives, will be considered for funding.
Learn more about The Coca‑Cola Foundation.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/social-impact/coca-cola-foundation
5by20® is The Coca‑Cola Company’s global goal announced in 2010, to enable the economic empowerment of 5 million female entrepreneurs across our value chain by 2020 —from fruit farmers and artisans to recyclers and retailers. Together with our partners, including the Coca‑Cola Foundation, we are pleased to report that as of the end of 2020 we surpassed our goal, enabling over 6 million women across 100 countries to provide business skills training, mentoring networks, financial services and other assets to help women’s lives and businesses.
There is overwhelming evidence that achieving equality and empowerment for women has broad ripple effects that are good for society. As pillars of their communities, women invest a sizable portion of the income they earn on the health and education of their children and in their local economies, creating a tremendous economic impact.
What’s Next?
The Coca‑Cola Company remains committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates. As a system, we acknowledge that while we have surpassed our goal to enable the economic empowerment of more than 6 million women entrepreneurs, the challenges that face female entrepreneurs across the world are still enormous and solving them would require a collective effort.
Internally, our goal is to mirror the diversity of the communities in which we operate. We aim for 50% of our global The Future of Economic Empowerment 5by20: A Decade of Achievement 21 leadership team to be made up of women. Toward that end, our Global Women’s Leadership Council, launched in 2008, will continue to advocate for women in global leadership positions and cultivate our pipeline of female talent.
Externally, our efforts will focus on expanding our current programs and engaging in collective industry efforts. Amidst the global impacts caused by COVID-19 pandemic, these initiatives will seek to train and retrain, build networks and mentorships, and support access to financing.
As the impact of our continuing efforts multiplies with each passing year, we expect to reach many more women and underprivileged populations in developing and industrialized economies.
More information
To learn more about 5by20 and our work to empower women, visit Womens Empowerment.
Read the 5by20 report to learn more about ""A Decade of Achievement.""
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/shared-future/women-empowerment
Visit our website to learn more about our community investment priorities – Protecting the Environment, Empowering Women and Enhancing Local Communities. We encourage you to submit a formal application for funding consideration should you see a potential alignment opportunity. Once received, we will contact you directly if we have questions or require additional information.
There are many types of requests for community support in the form of grants or sponsorships for consideration by The Coca‑Cola Foundation or The Coca‑Cola Company.
The following list are areas that are not generally supported:
Individuals (For scholarship information, visit The Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation website.)
Organizations that discriminate based on race, color, sex, gender identity and/or expression, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability..
Religious endeavors
Political, legislative, lobbying or organizations
Programs focused heavily on nutrition, weight loss and/or physical activity
Movie, film or television documentaries
Website development
Concerts or other entertainment events
Beauty contests, fashion shows or hair shows
Fraternal organizations and related events
Local sports or athletic teams
Travel or organized field trips
Family reunions
Marketing sponsorships or cause marketing or advertising projects (For marketing sponsorship requests, visit the Contact Us section)
U.S. based local schools, including charter schools, pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools or high schools
U.S.-based organizations that do not have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code, or the equivalent
Organizations formed outside the U. S. that do not have a charitable equivalency status under the laws and provisions of their respective government
To learn more about what the Coca‑Cola Foundation does, click here.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/shared-future/coca-cola-foundation
To apply for a donation, click here.
The Coca‑Cola Scholars program is an achievement-based scholarship for graduating high school seniors which recognizes students for their ability to lead and serve, as well as for their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. The Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation exists to bring better to the world through investment in exceptional high school students who are dedicated to leadership, service, and action that positively affects others.
Impact
Coca‑Cola Scholars can be found in every corner of the globe, in education and business, nonprofits and the arts, building better machines, creating cures, leading revolutions, dreaming new futures and researching the past in ways that change our tomorrows.
More than 6,150 Coca‑Cola graduating high school seniors have received more than $69 million in scholarships from the Coca‑Cola Scholars Program.
Each year, the Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation sends 150 bright, young innovators, leaders and game-changers into their lives beyond high school with a head-start toward achieving their goals.
More information
For more information about the Coca‑Cola Scholars Foundation, including information about scholarship applications, please visit https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/.
Shareowner services
Our stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KO.
Shares can be purchased through a Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan sponsored and administered by Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Details about the Computershare Investment Plan, including any fees associated with the Plan, can be viewed and printed from Computershare’s website.
The Company normally pays dividends four times a year, usually April 1, July 1, October 1 and December 15. Shareowners of record can elect to receive their dividend payments electronically or by check in the currency of their choice. You can select your desired payment method by accessing your account online through Investor Centre at www.computershare.com/coca-cola or by contacting Computershare at 888-COKESHR (888-265-3747) or 781-575-2653 for details.
If your shares are registered directly in your name with the Company’s registrar and transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered a shareowner of record with respect to those shares. If your shares are held in a brokerage account or bank, trust, or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares.
If you are a beneficial owner of shares (e.g., you own shares through a bank or brokerage account) and have specific questions about your stock ownership, it will be necessary to contact your bank/broker directly for assistance.
If you are a shareowner of record and your account is registered at Computershare, our Registrar and Transfer Agent, you may contact them by phone, email or postal mail with specific questions about your stock ownership:
Phone:
U.S. Toll-free 888-COKESHR (888-265-3747) or 781-575-2653
For hearing impaired: 800-490-1493
Email:
coca-cola@computershare.com
(personal account information should not be sent via e-mail)
Website:
www.computershare.com/coca-cola
Mail:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 505000 Louisville, KY 40233
If sending correspondence by overnight mail:
462 South 4th Street, Ste 1600 Louisville, KY 40202
Representatives are available by telephone from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, to assist you with the following:
Account consolidation
Account Information
Address Changes
Direct Registration (DRS)
Dividend Information
Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan
International Currency Exchange for dividend payments and sale proceeds
Electronic Delivery of Communications
Registration changes
Replacement of lost, stolen or destroyed certificates
Stock transfer
Be sure to keep your account at Computershare current. Abandoned property laws in the United States require you to keep your account information current to avoid shares and/or funds from being turned over to the state of your last known residence. The Coca‑Cola Company is required to follow these abandoned property regulations.
To avoid your account being deemed abandoned or lost:
Cash your dividend checks in a timely manner. Uncashed checks over a specified period of time could result in the uncashed funds and in some cases, your shares, being turned over to the state of your last known residence. Some states may even liquidate your shares when they receive them.
Keep your account current. Access your account online or vote your proxy. Ensure that Computershare has your correct address on file. If any of your statements or dividend checks are returned to Computershare as undeliverable, The Coca‑Cola Company may be required by law to turn over your uncashed checks and your shares to the state of your last known residence. You can change your mailing address at any time by logging on to your shareowner account at www.computershare.com/coca-cola.
Please note, if you reside outside the U.S., your shares and/or funds would be turned over to Delaware, our state of incorporation.
To prevent property from being turned over to the state, cash your checks promptly, keep your address current and vote your proxy (voting materials sent each spring). Even if you haven’t moved and your statements are delivered quarterly, according to some states, your account could be deemed abandoned if you have not accessed your account or contacted Computershare within three years.
If your dividends and/or shares are turned over to the state, it will be necessary to contact the state directly and file a claim, which can be a lengthy process.
Account access at www.computershare.com/coca-cola can be used to update your account and to obtain additional account information. You may also contact Computershare by telephone at 888-265-3747 or 781-575-2653 for assistance.
Shareowners of record may complete stock transfer forms online at www.transfermystock.com. Once the forms are completed online, you will receive instructions for printing, signing, and returning the forms to Computershare for processing. For help completing the transfer forms or additional information on transferring shares you may contact Computershare at 888-COKESHR (888-265-3747) or 781-575-2652.
If you are a beneficial owner of shares (e.g., you own shares through a bank or brokerage account) and have specific questions about your stock ownership, it will be necessary to contact your bank/broker directly for assistance.
Shareowners of record may complete stock transfer forms online at www.transfermystock.com. Once the forms are completed online, you will receive instructions for printing, signing, and returning the forms to Computershare for processing. For help completing the transfer forms or additional information on transferring shares you may contact Computershare at 888-COKESHR (888-265-3747) or 781-575-2652.
If you are a beneficial owner of shares (e.g., you own shares through a bank or brokerage account) and have specific questions about your stock ownership, it will be necessary to contact your bank/broker directly for assistance.
Shareowners of record may access their accounts via the Internet to obtain share balance, conduct secure transactions, request printable forms and view current market value of their investment as well as historical stock prices. To log on to this secure site and request your initial password, go to www.computershare.com/coca-cola and click on "Create Login."
Shareowners of record as of July 27, 2012 were entitled to a two-for-one stock split payable August 10, 2012. Shareowners of record were sent notification of the shares received as a result of the split.
View stock split summary here.
Our common stock has split 11 times since its listing in 1919. The history of stock splits by record date is as follows:
View stock split summary here.
Today most shares are kept in paperless fashion and shareowners have the option to conveniently convert all valid certificates to Direct Registration. The Direct Registration form of ownership allows registered shareowners to maintain their shares in book-entry form without the need of a physical certificate. The shareowner retains full ownership of the shares without the responsibility of holding the actual certificate.
There are advantages to having your shares in DRS. The primary benefits are that it:
saves you the burden of storing your certificate(s) in a safe place, i.e.safe deposit box or vault;
eliminates the risk of potential loss thus avoiding the significant costs involved in replacing any lost, stolen, or destroyed certificates;
eliminates the risk of fraudulent transfer of certificates;
saves the costs associated with the issuance and delivery of physical stock certificates;
makes your stock transactions faster and easier;
saves you the inconvenience of delivering stock certificate(s) to your broker for sale or safekeeping; and
allows for shares to be moved electronically to your brokerage account.
If you would like to take advantage of the convenience of having all shares held in DRS/book-entry form, you can mail your certificates to:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 505000
Louisville, KY 40233
If sending certificates by overnight mail:
462 South 4th Street, Ste 1600 Louisville, KY 40202
It is recommended that stock certificates be mailed certified or registered mail and insured for 3 percent of the current market value. This is the cost to replace the certificates if they are lost. Do not sign your stock certificates. Include written instructions indicating you would like to deposit your stock certificate(s) into DRS/book entry form. All shareholders shown on the account must sign the written request. The certificate shares will be added to your account and an account statement will be mailed to your address of record.
If you are a registered shareowner and wish to receive correspondence, including the Notice of Annual Meeting, account statements and tax forms, via email instead of postal mail, please go to www.computershare.com/coca-cola for instructions on how to enroll in electronic delivery. As a thank you, The Coca‑Cola Company and American Forest will plant a tree on your behalf at no cost to you.
If you are a beneficial owner of shares, and hold your shares through a broker or brokerage account, it will be necessary to contact your broker for assistance in enrolling in electronic delivery.
You can send us an email at shareownerservices@coca-cola.com, call or write us at:
The Coca‑Cola Company Shareowner Services
P O Box 1734
Atlanta, GA 30301404-676-2777
For more shareowner information, visit the Shareowner Information page.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/investors/shareowner-information
Contact Investor Relations
Corporate Offices
The Coca‑Cola Company
One Coca‑Cola Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia 30313
(404) 676-2121
Institutional Investor and Analyst Inquiries:
Tim Leveridge
Vice President and Investor Relations Officer
T +01 404.676.7563