Coca-Cola vs PepsiCo: Founders, CEOs and History
Coca-Cola was founded in 1892 by Asa Griggs Candler, John Stith Pemberton and is led by Henrique Braun. PepsiCo was founded in 1965 by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay and is led by Ramon Laguarta.
Company facts
Founders
Coca-Cola
Asa Griggs Candler
The founding of Coca-Cola is a historic and ironic story of a struggling pharmacist seeking a cure for his own pain, combined with the effective, aggressive marketing of a man who recognized the potential of the brand. The beverage was invented in 1886 by Dr.
John Stith Pemberton
John Pemberton is best understood as the inventor of Coca-Cola rather than the builder of The Coca-Cola Company. He created the original syrup in 1886, and the first servings reportedly averaged only about nine per day at Jacob's Pharmacy.
PepsiCo
Caleb Bradham
Caleb Bradham created "Brad's Drink" at his New Bern pharmacy in 1898, renamed it Pepsi-Cola and incorporated the Pepsi-Cola Company in 1902.
Donald M. Kendall
Donald M. Kendall led Pepsi-Cola and engineered its 1965 merger with Frito-Lay to form PepsiCo, which he ran as CEO until 1986.
Herman W. Lay
Herman W. Lay merged H.W. Lay & Company with C.E. Doolin's Frito Company in 1961 to form Frito-Lay, then joined Donald Kendall in the 1965 merger that created PepsiCo, where he served as chairman.
CEOs and their tenures
Coca-Cola
- Robert W. Woodruff1923–1954
President and Chairman (CEO)
As President and Chairman, Robert W. Woodruff guided The Coca-Cola Company
Source - Roberto Goizueta1981–1997
CEO
As CEO, Roberto Goizueta guided The Coca-Cola Company
Source - Neville Isdell2004–2008
CEO
As CEO, Neville Isdell guided The Coca-Cola Company
Source - Muhtar Kent2008–2017
CEO
As CEO, Muhtar Kent guided The Coca-Cola Company
Source - James Quincey2017–2026
CEO
As CEO, James Quincey guided The Coca-Cola Company
Source - Henrique Braun2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Former chief operating officer; succeeded James Quincey as CEO on March 31, 2026, with Quincey becoming executive chairman.
Source
PepsiCo
- D. Wayne Calloway1986–1996
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of PepsiCo from 1986 to 1996.
Source - Roger Enrico1996–2001
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of PepsiCo from 1996 to 2001.
Source - Steven Reinemund2001–2006
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of PepsiCo from 2001 to 2006.
Source - Indra Nooyi2006–2018
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018.
Source - Ramon Laguarta2018–present
Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer
CEO since October 2018 and Chairman since 2019. Led the Rockstar, Pioneer Foods, Siete and poppi acquisitions, the pep+ strategy, and the 2025-2026 North America cost and pricing reset.
Source
Timeline: Coca-Cola and PepsiCo side by side
1892Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola Company Founded
Asa Griggs Candler incorporated The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1892 after acquiring rights connected to John Pemberton's original formula.
1898PepsiCo
Pepsi-Cola Invented in North Carolina
Caleb Bradham formulated the original digestive cola syrup in his drugstore.
1899Coca-Cola
National Bottling Rights Granted
In 1899, Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead secured rights to bottle Coca-Cola across much of the United States. The deal looked less important than the fountain business at first, but it became the foundation of Coca-Cola's physical reach.
1915Coca-Cola
Contour Bottle Introduced
Coca-Cola introduced the contour bottle design in 1915 to make the product recognizable and harder to imitate. At a time when copycat colas were common, the bottle gave consumers a visual and tactile cue that they were buying the real product.
1919Coca-Cola
Company Sold for $25 Million
In 1919, the Candler family sold Coca-Cola to a group of investors led by Ernest Woodruff for $25 million. The transaction signaled that Coca-Cola had become a valuable national business rather than a regional success.
1928Coca-Cola
Olympic Sponsorship Begins
Coca-Cola began its Olympic sponsorship in 1928, linking the brand to international sport and public celebration. The partnership mattered because it gave Coca-Cola a platform that crossed language and national boundaries.
1965PepsiCo
Historic Merger of Pepsi-Cola & Frito-Lay
Donald Kendall and Herman Lay created PepsiCo, uniting snacks and soft drinks.
1975PepsiCo
Launch of the Pepsi Challenge
National blind taste tests shook Coca-Cola's market dominance and redefined advertising.
1985Coca-Cola
New Coke Reversal
Coca-Cola introduced New Coke in 1985 after taste tests suggested a sweeter formula could compete more effectively with Pepsi. Consumers rejected the change because the original product had emotional and cultural value beyond flavor.
1998PepsiCo
Acquisition of Tropicana ($3.3B)
Acquired chilled orange juice leader Tropicana to dominate morning beverages.
2001PepsiCo
Acquisition of Quaker Oats & Gatorade ($13.4B)
Acquired Quaker Oats, adding sports hydration pioneer Gatorade to the portfolio.
2008Coca-Cola
Muhtar Kent Becomes CEO
Muhtar Kent became CEO in 2008 during a period when emerging markets, bottler alignment, and category diversification were becoming more important.
2009Coca-Cola
Freestyle Fountain System Unveiled
Coca-Cola unveiled Freestyle in 2009, giving foodservice customers a fountain dispenser with more than 100 beverage choices.
2017Coca-Cola
Topo Chico Joins the Portfolio
Coca-Cola acquired Topo Chico in 2017, adding a premium sparkling mineral water brand sourced from Cerro del Topo Chico in northern Mexico.
2017Coca-Cola
James Quincey Becomes CEO
James Quincey became CEO in 2017 and accelerated the push toward a total beverage strategy. He emphasized revenue growth management, zero-sugar products, refranchising discipline, and fewer but stronger brands.
2018PepsiCo
Acquisition of SodaStream ($3.2B) & Ramon Laguarta Appointed CEO
Acquired SodaStream to pioneer eco-friendly dispensing; Ramon Laguarta took over as CEO.
2019Coca-Cola
Costa Coffee Acquisition
Coca-Cola completed the Costa Coffee acquisition in 2019, adding a coffee platform with retail stores, Costa Express vending, for-home formats, and ready-to-drink potential.
2021Coca-Cola
BodyArmor Full Acquisition
Coca-Cola acquired full control of BodyArmor in 2021 in a transaction valued at about $5.6 billion for the remaining stake. The deal deepened Coca-Cola's position in sports drinks, a category long led by PepsiCo's Gatorade.
2022PepsiCo
Strategic Distribution Alliance with Celsius ($550M)
Secured master global distribution for fast-growing energy brand Celsius.
2023Coca-Cola
$45.8B Revenue
In FY2023, Coca-Cola reported $45.8 billion in revenue, continuing its recovery from the pandemic-era decline in away-from-home channels.
2024Coca-Cola
$47.1B Revenue
In FY2024, Coca-Cola reported $47.1 billion in revenue, with organic performance supported heavily by price/mix and concentrate sales timing.
2025Coca-Cola
$47.9B Revenue and 65,900 Employees
In FY2025, Coca-Cola reported $47.9 billion in revenue and $13.1 billion in net income. Its 2025 Form 10-K listed about 65,900 company employees at year-end, down from about 69,700 in 2024 because of divestiture activity.
2025PepsiCo
poppi Acquisition and Elliott-Backed Plan
Closed the $1.95 billion poppi deal and announced a North America cost and pricing reset in December.
2026PepsiCo
Price Cuts on Core Snacks
Lowered prices on major Frito-Lay brands by up to 15% to recover US volumes.
Acquisitions
Coca-Cola
- BodyArmor2021$5.6B
- Fairlife2020Undisclosed
- Costa Coffee2019$5.1B
- Topo Chico2017$220M
- Innocent Drinks2013Undisclosed
PepsiCo
- poppi2025$1.9B
- SodaStream International2018$3.2B
- The Quaker Oats Company (including Gatorade)2001$13.4B
- Tropicana Products1998$3.3B
Questions about Coca-Cola vs PepsiCo
Who is the CEO of The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, Inc.?
The Coca-Cola Company is led by Henrique Braun and PepsiCo, Inc. is led by Ramon Laguarta. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Coca-Cola Company founded vs PepsiCo, Inc.?
The Coca-Cola Company was founded in 1892 — 73 years before PepsiCo, Inc., which was founded in 1965. The Coca-Cola Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger PepsiCo, Inc..
How many employees does The Coca-Cola Company have compared to PepsiCo, Inc.?
The Coca-Cola Company employs approximately 65,900 people, while PepsiCo, Inc. employs approximately 306,000. PepsiCo, Inc. has the larger workforce at 306,000 employees, compared to The Coca-Cola Company's 65,900. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, Inc. headquartered?
Both The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, Inc.?
The Coca-Cola Company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler, John Stith Pemberton. PepsiCo, Inc. was founded by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Coca-Cola Company or PepsiCo, Inc.?
The Coca-Cola Company has been operating for approximately 134 years, making it the more established of the two companies. PepsiCo, Inc. has been in operation for around 61 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Coca-Cola vs PepsiCo overview