Coca-Cola Co

The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational corporation established in 1892. It produces, sells, and markets soft drinks, including Coca-Cola, various non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as alcoholic drinks. The company's stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange(NYSE: KO) and is included in the DJIA, S&P 500, and S&P 100 indices.

Coca-Cola was created in 1886 by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton. When it was first introduced, the beverage contained stimulants from coca leaves and caffeine from kola nuts, which worked together synergistically. The names "coca" and "kola" inspired the product's name and led to its marketing as a "healthy tonic." Pemberton, who had been severely injured during the American Civil War, developed an addiction to morphine pain medication. During that period, cocaine was promoted as a remedy for opioid addiction, prompting him to create the beverage as a patent medicine aimed at managing his dependence.

In 1889, Asa Griggs Candler purchased the formula and brand for $2,300, subsequently incorporating the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1892. The company has utilized a franchised distribution system since 1889, primarily producing syrup concentrate, which is sold to various bottlers worldwide who operate within exclusive territories.