Coca-Cola
USA
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Coca-colanisation of the World Thirst No survey of world soda pops could ignore the presence of the 800 lb. gorilla in the corner of the room: Coca-Cola. Coke is a presence in all parts of the world, with an incredibly well-organized distribution network trucking in bottles of soda to the most remote cantinas and lonely vending machines, and modern efficient bottling plants located in strategic locations across the globe. In markets where Coca-Cola does not dominate the market directly, the company has bought up previously existing local beverage brands, such as Appletiser in South Africa, Inca Kola in Peru, and Thums Up and Limca in India. In many cases it is simply the devoted consumers of these local drinks that prevent them from being dissolved in favor of the better-advertised brands concentrated in the Coca-Cola stable. In other places, Coke has as yet been unable to mount a successful attack against some local favorite, such as Julmust in Sweden, Chinotto in Italy and Kvas in Russia. Here the company concedes somewhat, by inventing a new product similar to the stubborn indigenous drink in hopes of drawing away a portion of the market. At times the so-called "cola wars" between Coke and Pepsi can be compared to an epic smack-down between Godzilla and Mothra. While passersby are transfixed by the spectacles of these monsters huffing and puffing at one another, most of Tokyo is flattened. For the soda pop fan, we can only support and defend our favorite drinks from the clumsy tromping of the multi-national conglomerates. Worldwide Brands Created by Coca-Cola
Worldwide Brands Acquired or Partially Controlled by Coca-Cola
Made by The Coca-Cola Company |