Coke celebrates 125 years

To celebrate 125 years of sharing happiness since the first Coca-Cola was enjoyed on 8 May 1886, The Coca-Cola Company is thanking everyone who has made refreshing the world since then possible with innovative, cultural events and exclusive collaborations throughout the year and around the globe.

“We would not have reached this milestone without those who love our brands, because everyone who has enjoyed a Coca-Cola in the past 125 years has played a part in helping us refresh the world,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company.

“Throughout this year, we want to celebrate by thanking the people around the globe who have made the brand what it is today. To our associates, customers, partners and everyone who loves Coca-Cola, we thank you.”

For the anniversary weekend, the Company plans to create and share moments of happiness in a way Coca-Cola always has – by bringing people together through music, art and entertainment.

On 7 May, Coca-Cola will host a special festival at Pemberton Place in Atlanta for employees and their families, where they will assemble Red Cross disaster relief kits and participate in a variety of arts activities.

That afternoon, the company will also host a 125th Anniversary Celebration Concert that will be streamed online as a live “thank you” to people around the world at www.Coca-Cola.com/125, with integration through social media including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Musicians from Somalia, New Zealand, Britain and the United States will come together to perform at the concert, including the Grammy award-winning singer and American Idol season one winner Kelly Clarkson.

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the concert will kick off with a performance by K’NAAN, including “Wavin’ Flag,” the Coca-Cola anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup that became a worldwide hit. The lineup also includes emerging talent One Night Only, Grammy-nominated pop star Natasha Bedingfield and R&B artist Ne-Yo. Admission to the live concert at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta is limited to Coca-Cola associates and their families.

Around the world, additional Coca-Cola celebrations and moments of thanks – advertising, photography and artwork – will be captured in a commemorative book, published by Assouline, as a reflection of the brand’s relevance in popular culture over the past 125 years. The books will be available at retail stores worldwide and at www.assouline.com with a digital version also available for download in the App Store for the Apple iPad.

To further mark this milestone, Coca-Cola will release limited edition packaging in select markets around the world. Worldwide, people can now enjoy the Coca-Cola heritage archives through the new Virtual Museum, an online 360-degree tour of the never-before-seen Coca-Cola archives, which can be found at www.theverybestofcocacola.com.

Additionally, this week a new Coca-Cola Heritage App will debut in the App Store. The application includes an interactive timeline and link to the Company’s frequently updated “Coca-Cola Conversations” blog.

While the company celebrates the history of its flagship brand for this anniversary, Coca-Cola also looks to the future through its 2020 Vision, its roadmap for winning together with its bottling partners.

“We have the privilege and responsibility of being a true partner with communities around the world, and The Coca-Cola Company is committed to helping build a better future,” said Kent. “We have achieved a lot in the past 125 years but are just getting started.”

As part of the 2020 Vision, the company plans to double its system revenue from 2010 to 2020 thus accomplishing in ten years what has taken the first 125. The company has also set sustainability goals as part of its commitment to being a good steward of the environment and a partner with communities around the world.

Coca-Cola was created on 8 May 1886 in Atlanta, Georgia by Dr. John S. Pemberton and first served at Jacob’s Pharmacy. On 8 May 2011, Coca-Cola marks its 125th anniversary.