Coca-Cola vs Target: Founders, CEOs and History
Coca-Cola was founded in 1892 by Asa Griggs Candler, John Stith Pemberton and is led by Henrique Braun. Target was founded in 1902 by George Dayton and is led by Michael Fiddelke.
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.
Target
George Dayton
George Draper Dayton became a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company, one of the largest department stores in Minneapolis, in 1902, and became sole owner and president within a year, renaming it the Dayton Dry Goods Company.
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
He played a pivotal role in driving volume growth and implementing revenue growth management (RGM) strategies across emerging markets, significantly boosting international margins.
Source
Target
- Robert J. Ulrich1994–2008
Chairman and CEO
Under Ulrich Target grew into the second-largest US discount retailer, built its design-partnership model with designers such as Michael Graves, and added the Super Target format. He retired as chief executive in 2008 and was succeeded by Gregg Steinhafel.
Source - Gregg Steinhafel2008–2014
Chairman, President and CEO
Steinhafel resigned in May 2014 after the data breach and the poor results of Target Canada, which the company closed in 2015 after losses. Brian Cornell succeeded him later in 2014.
Source - Brian Cornell2014–2026
Former Chairman and CEO
Cornell's tenure ended amid a stock and sales slump, with revenue declining for three consecutive fiscal years (from $107.412 billion in FY2023 to $104.780 billion in FY2025) even as the omnichannel infrastructure he built began paying off in the following qua…
Source - Michael Fiddelke2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Fiddelke inherited a company coming off three straight years of revenue decline. His first two quarters as CEO delivered growth: Q1 FY2026 net sales rose 6.7% and Q2 FY2026 net sales rose 5.3% to $26.5 billion, with comparable traffic up 3.6%.
Source
Timeline: Coca-Cola and Target 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.
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.
1902Target
Dayton Company is founded
George Dayton becomes a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company in Minneapolis in 1902, then sole owner in 1903, renaming it Dayton Dry Goods Company -- the business that eventually becomes Target Corporation.
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.
1962Target
First Target store opens
The first Target discount store opens in Roseville, Minnesota.
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.
2000Target
Company becomes Target Corporation
Dayton Hudson changes its name to Target Corporation as the discount chain becomes the center of the company.
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.
2013Target
Target Data Breach
Target discloses a data breach affecting more than 40 million customer payment cards during the holiday shopping season, becoming one of the most-cited cybersecurity failures in US retail history.
2014Target
Dermstore Acquired
Target acquires online beauty retailer Dermstore to expand its e-commerce beauty business; it sells the unit to THG for $350 million in 2021.
2015Target
Target Exits Canada
Target announced in January 2015 that it would close all of its Canadian stores, ending an expansion that began in 2013.
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.
2017Target
Target acquires Shipt and Grand Junction
Target acquires same-day delivery platform Shipt for about $550 million and transportation-technology startup Grand Junction, accelerating omnichannel fulfillment.
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.
2020Target
Stores become fulfillment hubs
Target's store-based fulfillment model becomes central to digital growth during the pandemic period.
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.
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.
2025Target
Michael Fiddelke named next CEO
Target announces that Michael Fiddelke will succeed Brian Cornell as CEO effective February 1, 2026, after 22 years rising through the company including as CFO and COO.
2026Target
FY2025 revenue is reported
Target reports FY2025 revenue of $104.780B and net income of $3.705B, the third consecutive year of revenue decline.
2026Target
Q1 FY2026 sales rebound
Target reports Q1 FY2026 net sales growth of 6.7% and comparable sales growth of 5.6% under new CEO Michael Fiddelke.
2026Target
Q2 FY2026 growth and raised outlook
Target reports Q2 FY2026 net sales of $26.5B (+5.3%), comparable sales growth of 3.8% and raises full-year guidance to about 5% sales growth.
Acquisitions
Coca-Cola
- BodyArmor2021$5.6B
- Fairlife2020Undisclosed
- Costa Coffee2019$5.1B
- Topo Chico2017$220M
- Innocent Drinks2013$320M
Questions about Coca-Cola vs Target
Who is the CEO of The Coca-Cola Company and Target Corporation?
The Coca-Cola Company is led by Henrique Braun and Target Corporation is led by Michael Fiddelke. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Coca-Cola Company founded vs Target Corporation?
The Coca-Cola Company was founded in 1892 — 10 years before Target Corporation, which was founded in 1902. The Coca-Cola Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Target Corporation.
How many employees does The Coca-Cola Company have compared to Target Corporation?
The Coca-Cola Company employs approximately 65,900 people, while Target Corporation employs approximately 415,000. Target Corporation has the larger workforce at 415,000 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 Target Corporation headquartered?
Both The Coca-Cola Company and Target Corporation are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded The Coca-Cola Company and Target Corporation?
The Coca-Cola Company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler, John Stith Pemberton. Target Corporation was founded by George Dayton.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Coca-Cola Company or Target Corporation?
The Coca-Cola Company has been operating for approximately 134 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Target Corporation has been in operation for around 124 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 Target overview