Coca Cola 2003 Annual Report Download - page 4

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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
The Coca-Cola Company is the largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of nonalcoholic beverage
concentrates and syrups in the world. Finished beverage products bearing our trademarks, sold in the United
States since 1886, are now sold in more than 200 countries and include the leading soft drink products in most of
these countries. In this report, the terms ‘‘Company,’’ ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us’’ or ‘‘our’’ mean The Coca-Cola Company and
all subsidiaries included in our consolidated financial statements.
Our business is nonalcoholic beverages—principally carbonated soft drinks, but also a variety of
noncarbonated beverages. We manufacture beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as some finished
beverages, which we sell to bottling and canning operations, distributors, fountain wholesalers and some
fountain retailers. We also produce, market and distribute juices and juice drinks and certain water products. In
addition, we have ownership interests in numerous bottling and canning operations.
We were incorporated in September 1919 under the laws of the State of Delaware and succeeded to the
business of a Georgia corporation with the same name that had been organized in 1892.
Our Company is one of numerous competitors in the commercial beverages market. Of the approximately
50 billion beverage servings of all types consumed worldwide every day, beverages bearing our trademarks
(‘‘Company Trademark Beverages’’) account for more than 1.2 billion.
We believe that our success depends on our ability to connect with consumers by creating brands they love.
It further depends on the capacity of our people, together with our bottling partners, to find new and appealing
ways to deliver those brands to thirsty people everywhere. Our Company has adopted an approach to its business
that is based on the following strategic priorities:
• Accelerate carbonated soft-drink growth, led by Coca-Cola
• Selectively broaden our family of beverage brands to drive profitable growth
• Grow system profitability and capability together with our bottling partners
• Serve customers with creativity and consistency to generate growth across all channels
• Direct investments to highest-potential areas across markets
• Drive efficiency and cost effectiveness everywhere
The Company’s operating structure includes the following operating segments, the first five of which are
also sometimes referred to as strategic business units:
• North America
• Africa
• Asia
• Europe, Eurasia and Middle East
• Latin America
• Corporate
This structure is the basis for our Company’s internal financial reporting. The North America segment
includes the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. During the first quarter of 2002, the Egypt Region was
reclassified from the Europe, Eurasia and Middle East segment to the Africa segment.
At the date of this report, the heads of the strategic business units are as follows: Donald R. Knauss (North
America), Alexander B. Cummings, Jr. (Africa), Mary E. Minnick (Asia), A.R.C. ‘‘Sandy’’ Allan (Europe,
Eurasia and Middle East) and Jos´
e Octavio Reyes (Latin America). See ‘‘Item X.—Executive Officers of the
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