Our company started in 1886 and grew with a purpose to refresh the world. This became refreshment not just in a physical sense but also in spirit, and not just to refresh people but also communities.
Today, we are a total beverage company. We’re present in almost every beverage category, and we have approximately 200 master brands. Over 700,000 people in our system help deliver those brands to customers and consumers every day.
The Coca-Cola Company purpose remains clear:
To refresh the world and make a difference.
This purpose is uniquely us. It’s why we exist, and it’s needed now, more than ever. It has been our north star during these last two historic years. It’s about how we refresh people in both body and spirit. It’s about how we refresh the planet and limit the footprint we leave behind. It’s about how our business system refreshes the communities we serve. It’s about how we and our bottlers refresh, inspire, and develop the people who work with us.
We're also clear on the vision for our next stage of growth.
Our vision is to craft the brands and choice of drinks that people love and enjoy, to refresh them in body and spirit. And done in ways that create a more sustainable business and better shared future that makes a difference in people’s lives, communities, and our planet. We will achieve this vision through bold and courageous innovation.
This has three connected pillars:
- LOVED BRANDS. We craft meaningful brands and a choice of drinks that people love and that refresh them in body and spirit.
- DONE SUSTAINABLY. We grow our business in ways that achieve positive change in the world and to build a more sustainable future for our planet.
- FOR A BETTER SHARED FUTURE. We invest to improve people’s lives, from our employees to all those who touch our business system, to our investors, to the broad communities we call home.
Achieving our vision also means nurturing a culture that makes it possible. Culture is multi-faceted, though it’s ultimately about the right behaviors for each situation. It’s an expression of who we are.
This is hard to define in its entirety. While there are many valuable aspects of our culture, we’re calling out two behaviors that make the biggest difference because they guide our actions and confirm the conscience we follow. They are:
- ACTING WITH A GROWTH MINDSET. This means taking an expansive approach to what’s possible. It’s the essential, animating force behind building a better future.
- BEING CLEAR ABOUT THE CONSCIENCE WE FOLLOW. Our world is dynamic. Our clarity of conscience means having the courage and the compass to do the right thing. We have a long history of acting with honesty and integrity. When we’ve fallen short, we’ve made corrections. People expect us to act as leaders.
This is the default in how we approach any situation, and it underpins our purpose. We start with facts, based in science. The reality of our success and scale is that we must lead, to be a force for progress and for good, and to use our voice when we can be most effective on the issues that impact our business.
Read more about our Purpose here.
Read James’ letter to the organization on our Purpose here.
With a comprehensive background in business strategy, sustainability, and corporate culture, I can delve into the concepts outlined in The Coca-Cola Company's mission statement.
Firstly, the article emphasizes the company's establishment in 1886 and its evolution into a global beverage giant with a profound commitment to refreshing not just the physical aspect but also the spirit of individuals and communities. This underlines their dedication to more than just providing drinks; it's about positively impacting people's lives and the environment.
The company's vision revolves around crafting beloved brands and drink options that offer both physical and spiritual refreshment. This vision is intrinsically tied to sustainability, focusing on a more environmentally friendly business model that fosters a better shared future for all stakeholders.
The three interconnected pillars—Loved Brands, Done Sustainably, For a Better Shared Future—essentially represent the company's core values and objectives. It encompasses crafting meaningful brands, pursuing sustainable growth strategies, and investing in initiatives that enhance lives, communities, and the planet.
Moreover, the article emphasizes the significance of culture within the company, highlighting specific behaviors crucial for maintaining their ethos. The two highlighted behaviors, "Acting with a Growth Mindset" and "Being Clear About the Conscience We Follow," serve as guiding principles. The growth mindset encourages an expansive approach to potentialities, fostering innovation and progress. Simultaneously, having a clear conscience signifies a commitment to honesty, integrity, and doing what's ethically right even in a dynamic world.
Furthermore, the company's stance on leadership and the use of their influence to champion pertinent issues that affect their business and society as a whole is evident. They stress the importance of using their scale and success as a force for good, backed by science-based facts and a commitment to integrity.
In essence, The Coca-Cola Company's narrative is a blend of purpose-driven business, sustainability, corporate culture, and ethical leadership, all intertwined to create a more meaningful impact on the world beyond just being a beverage provider.
