External Environment Analysis - The Coca Cola Company
External Environment Analysis - The Coca Cola Company
External Environment Analysis - The Coca Cola Company
School of Business
Graduate Programs
Amandeep Singh
Yash Patel
Michael Widjojo
Xipie
Ze
1
Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Capabilities 6
Core competencies 7
Competitive advantages 8
SWOT 21
Financial analysis 23
References 24
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INTRODUCTION
This paper analyzed the internal environment of Coca-Cola Company, the paper will analyze from
the following aspects. Resources, capabilities, core competencies, distinctive competencies, supply chain,
Each company and business has its own mission statement, culture, leadership style, which
compose the internal environment of and organization. Internal environment influence an organization’s
activities, and business decisions. With revenues of $35,119 million, Coca-Cola is one of the largest
beverage manufacturers globally. It is the largest provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks
and ready-to-drink teas. The company offers more than 3,500 products including diet and regular
sparkling beverages, and still beverages such as 100% juices, juice drinks, waters, sports and energy
drinks, teas and coffees, and milk and soy-based beverages. Of the approximately 55 billion beverage
servings of all types consumed worldwide every day, beverages bearing trademarks owned by or licensed
to Coca-Cola account for more than 1.7 billion (Data monitor, 2011). Coca-Cola is absolutely a leader
and the most recognized brand in beverage industry. However, the competition is still fierce, for example,
Pepsi Coca still cause threats for Coca-Cola, therefore, in order to maximize the sales, continue to inspire
its employees to maintain this edge, Coca-Cola need to make changes and effective business decisions
due to the change of business environment. Internal environment analysis is an effective way to deeply
analyze the company resources, competitive edges, supply chains, and financial reports, so that Coca-
Cola can make the maximum use of its resources and strengths, and make decisions to make up its
weakness.
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Recourses
Tangible resources
Companies use resources to create good and services. Recourses include tangible and intangible
recourses. Tangible recourses include company’s land, geographical location, infrastructure assets such as
buildings, information communication technology, physical networks and other equipment, as well as
access to raw materials, energy and other important inputs (Cater, 2009).
In 2016, the net income attributable to shareowners of the Coca-Cola Company is 6,527 million
dollars. The headquarter of Coca-Cola is located in Atlanta, GA. The complex includes about 2,000,000
square foot buildings including office, manufacturing, technical, and engineering facilities. Most of the
company's properties are located in the US. Coca-Cola has facilities for administrative operations,
manufacturing, processing, packaging, packing, storing and warehousing throughout the US and Canada.
As of December 2008, Coca-Cola owned and operated 29 principal beverage concentrate and/or syrup
manufacturing plants located throughout the world. In addition, Coca-Cola owns or holds a majority
interest in 118 principal beverage bottling and canning plants located throughout the world. These plants
are included in the Bottling Investments operating segment (Company Spotlight, 2009). The Coca-Cola
Company operates out of more than 200 countries and has about 275 Coca-Cola bottlers. The bottlers
allow the company the ability to manufacture and distribute their products to customers and producers
around the world. The Coca-Cola Company has strong fiscal resources. They use such recourses to
expand their market such as China, Russia, and India. Coca-Cola owns the modern caput office is divided
into four section including gross revenues, HR, selling and ICT. Each section is equipped with the
Intangible Recourses
Intangible recourses is also crucial for company, it includes patents, trademarks, knowledge, and
technology. As for intangible recourses of the Coca-Cola Company, the most important that must be
discussed is its brand value. The Coca-Cola Company always devoted to establish a strong and valuable
brand. Today, Coca-Cola is one of the most famous brand all over the world, it owns four of the world’s
top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brand including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite and Fanta.
Additionally, the company's portfolio includes 13 other billion-dollar brands, including Coca Cola Zero,
Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Minute Maid, Dasani, Aquarius, PowerAde, Sokenbicha, Georgia Coffee,
Simply glace au vitamin water, and Minute Maid Pulpy (Data monitor, 2011).
Besides, the Coca-Cola Company also has many technological resources. For example, the Coca-
Cola has the greenest bottle, which is more eco-friendly with higher recycle capableness. All stairs in the
production procedure is about to the full automated. Coca-Cola can speed up the production procedure, to
maintain the merchandise quality stable and unafraid working environment. Coca-Cola keep expand its
web of intercrossed engine truck. It non-merely helps Coca-Cola saves fuel costs but besides help cut
To remain competitive in the fast paced industry of beverages and continue expand the business
scale, the Coca-Cola Company really focus on its human recourses. Human capital includes all people
who work for Coca-Cola Company, their skills, experiences, expertise and credibility. In 2016, the
number of employees at Coca-Cola is about 100,600. And it ranked among the world’s top 10 private
employers with more than 700,000 system employees including its bottling partners.
Analysis of Resources
According to table 1, it is clear to see the both tangible and intangible recourses of the Coca-Cola
Company. The Property, plant and equipment is 10,635 million, 12,571 million and 14,633 million in
2016, 2015 and 2014. The Coca-Cola has a decrease in its property, plant and equipment assets in 2016.
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The total number of intangible assets also keeps decreased from 2014 to 2016. In 2016, the Coca-Cola
Company focus on equity method investment, and decrease other investment from 3,470 million to 989
million dollars.
USD $ in millions
Capabilities
Capabilities refer to how a company uses its resources to create the goods and services. As
mentions in Recourses part, the Coca-Cola Company is a leader in the beverage industry, and it has plenty
of recourses. Coca-Cola has strong fiscal resources, which make the company to do investment and
expand the market. If a business has no capital, or lack of funds, no matter how good the plan, no matter
how good the project, it is a dream. Adequate funding is one of the important guarantees for business
operations. Coca-Cola has adequate fiscal recourses to constructs substructure and staff preparation; even
they will face a huge loss due to failure plan. Moreover, with strong fiscal resources, Coca-Cola Company
has adequate funds to operate the marketing plan, for example, advertisements, campaigns, and
promotions, according the research, Coca-Cola advertisement budget in 2011 range to $ 3.2 billion. With
such huge investment on advertisement, the Coca-Cola will increase their brand reputation. For example,
Coca-Cola used to have “Share a Coke” Campaign, It debrands the traditional Coke logo, and replacing
"Coca-Cola" from one side of a bottle with the phrase "Share a Coke with" followed by a person's name.
Coke sold more than 250 million named bottles and cans in a nation of just under 23 million people. The
campaign has since made its way around the world, reaching more than 70 countries (Jay, 2014). This
campaign provides customization service for customers, which can increase sales in short time, and also
Coca-Cola keeps thousands of talented and experienced employees. Because Coca-Cola applies the
scheme of talent localization successfully. Each clip they enter a new market they recruit a batch of local
staff in order to increase the ability to understand new markets, so the ability to perforate new markets is
unusually fast.
Core Competencies
advantage and in turn enhance its bargaining power (Datamonitor, 2011). The strong brand is one of the
Coca-Cola owns and operates 29 principal beverage concentrates and/or syrup manufacturing plants
located throughout the world. In addition, it has a partial or controlling ownership interest in 118 principal
beverage bottling and canning plants located globally. The company also owns bottled water production
and still beverage facilities, as well as a facility that manufactures juice concentrates. The company's large
scale of operation allows it to feed upcoming markets with relative ease and enhances its revenue
generating capacity. It is hard to enter into a new market and gain market share. However, the strong
brand of Coca Cola makes an enormous competitory advantage. Coca-Cola has large quantity of loyalty
customers, Coca-Cola can shorten the clip to come in the market and easy derive a larger market portion
in new markets.
Besides, the unique formula of Coca Cola is one of its core competencies. This belongs to Coca-
Cola's unique basic resources, and it is also the prerequisite for the existence and development of Coca-
Cola. Coca-Cola's core competence cannot be separated from its mysterious formula, which has been kept
for 120 years since 1886 in Atlanta, the United States. As of 2000, less than 10 people knew the secret of
Coca-Cola, and Coca-Cola has been providing partners with semi-finished products in trade. The licensed
manufacturer only can get the technology and method to make Coca-Cola's product, not the recipe.
Competitive Advantages
The four criteria test shown in Figure 3 is used to determine whether or not the resources and
capabilities of Coca-Cola are core competencies and can be a source of competitive advantage.
Capability Imitate
Chart Interpretation:
The brand image of Coca is very valuable. There could be hardly any person around the world that
hasn't heard the name of Coca Cola. Ever since it beginning as world's leading name in cold drinks, Coca
Cola has created a strong brand image irrespective of age, sex and geographical locations. Millions of
people around the world would like to choose Coca-Cola as the first choice of soft drink. According to
Samedi (2012), “Brand image is an important factor influencing Coca Cola sales. The brand has the
privilege to be known all around the world as they have built their image on a universal value, happiness.
The brand is perceived by consumers as a part of daily life and of their life style. Coke is this globalized
product that has the same taste customers are looking for, and which give the same pleasure of
refreshment during break together.” Therefore, the Coca has a significant brand value. However, because
there are many soft drink company exist in the market, it can be substitute by other companies such as
Pepsi and Dr.Pepper. And due to the valuable brand image, the Coca has an average returns in
performance implications.
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Due to the scale of the Coca, the distribution system has numerous legal and managerial departments
and sections, all independent of each other, and it does not own or control all of it bottling partners
worldwide. There is a chart shows how Coca-Cola distribute products to the market.
From the chart, the company first authorize the bottler company to produce the bottle Coca, then
it distribute products to different retailers such as supermarket and grocery, and at last, these retailers sell
products to consumers. In this system, it increased the value of the company but it is not rare, because
there are many retailers exist in the market. In addition, it is not hard to imitate the process and can be
substituted easily. However, the firms distribution system is one of the most well planned and executed
compared to all other drinks of the same category. It has such an impact on consumers and is so
successful that even wholesalers and distributers need the product for their business’ success (Lucius and
Sophia, 2015).
The innovation of the Coca-Cola is important. Because of intense competition, the company
need the new product to increase the profit. Innovation at Coca-Cola includes far more than new
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beverages. Each year, the company develops, tests and launches breakthrough packaging, equipment,
merchandising, distribution models, and programs that enhance and refresh both its business and the local
communities it serves around the world (Journey, 2017). And because of the innovation, the company can
satisfy customers and increase the value. Due to there are many competitors in the market, so the
innovation is not rare. However, as different companies have different technologies, so it is costly to
The company has a strict request about the product & service quality, according to the principle
of company, the global nature of their business requires that the Coca-Cola system has the highest
standards and processes to ensure consistent quality across their entire value chain – from concentrate
production to bottling and product delivery (Coca-Cola, 2012). And due to the strict request, the company
manage the service under the Coca-Cola Operating Requirements, and this system help identify and
mitigate risks and drive improvements. And based on the request, it will increase the value for the
company. However, it is not difficult for other companies to provide good quality to customers, so it is
not rare and costly to imitate. And for the system, it can be substituted at any time because the industry is
developing rapidly. In order to obtain more profits, the company should change their management
frequently.
Because of the intense competition in the industry, the company need an efficiency marketing
strategy. Therefore, Coca-Cola announced that for the first time, all Coke Trademark brands will be
united in one global creative campaign: “Taste the Feeling.” This new marketing strategy will bring to life
the idea that drinking a Coca-Cola – any Coca-Cola – is a simple pleasure that makes everyday moments
more special. While Coke’s award-winning “Open Happiness” campaign leaned heavily on what the
brand stands for over the last seven years, “Taste the Feeling” will feature universal storytelling with the
product at the heart to reflect both the functional and emotional aspects of the Coca-Cola experience (Jay,
2016). And with the new strategy, the company can increase the profits and sales. However, the
marketing strategy for Coca is not rare and hard to substitute, for example, the current marketing strategy
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adopted by PepsiCo Inc. is definitely one that caters to its global standing. Since Pepsi came out at a time
when Coke or Coca Cola already had a head start in the market, its market strategy and business plan
began with differentiation - an attempt to establish its product as one that is unique in taste and quality (
Essays, 2013). Therefore, different beverage companies have different marketing strategies. And the
Introduction
The main purpose of this report is to understand the value chain analysis of Coca Cola. The report
will be explaining all the different aspects which are involved in value chain analysis of coca-cola that are
given below:
Value chain analysis is actually a tool which is used to analyze the internal activities of the
organization. This tool is a strategy tool which is used by all organizations. The main purpose of the
strategy tool is to identify that which activity of the organization is valued most and which activity of the
organization should be improved in order to achieve a competitive advantage. Value chain analysis is also
said to an Analytical Framework that helps in identifying and recognizing the business activity which can
create or establish a competitive advantage along with a value to the business. The concept of value chain
analysis can be better understood with the help of an analytical Framework diagram that is represented
below:
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About Coca-cola:
Coca Cola is a carbonated soft drink manufacturing company which was invented in late 19th
century. the company produces concentrate which is sold to a licensed bottler of Coca-Cola across the
entire world. In the entire world, Coca-Cola is largest manufacturers and producers of beverages. The
Inbound Logistic:
Water is the most important and essential ingredient for all the products which are manufactured by
the company Coca-Cola. There are many significant challenges which are faced by Coca-Cola
occasionally mostly in assessing this specific raw material. Company is using corn syrup which is of high
fructose extensively and this raw material is usually purchased from the suppliers that are based in United
States and different other countries and import that stuff delivered with the help of trucks. There are
many other ingredients that are equally important to the company but are sourced internationally. For
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example, orange juice as the concentrate of the orange juice is directly source from Southern hemisphere
specifically Brazil and Florida. For the purchase of international inbound logistics, they are facilitated
with the help of trucks and ships. The diversity is valued by Coca-Cola among its suppliers (Dudovskiy,
2015). In the year 2013, around 952 million dollars were spent on the diversified suppliers which was
Operations:
The Coca-Cola company has many different operational segments and are operating into 7 important
North America
Latin America
Asia Pacific
Europe
Corporate
Bottling Investments
Coca-Cola company is not a single entity from the managerial or legal perspective. The company is
mainly manufacturing and selling concentrates, syrups, bases of beverages to its partners of bottling that
helps in maintaining the ownership of the brand and also applies and develops new marketing
strategies. The bottling partners or the entities which do not belong to the Coca-Cola Company does the
manufacturing, merchandising and packaging and also help in distributing the final product to their
Even the coca-cola company also follow the operating cycle for their production. There are various
segments keep in mind while doing operations like the company manages the raw material and forward it
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through work in progress where the water is mixed with the sugar, syrup and carbon dioxide and get its
form
The company also follows the cyclic inventory in their supply chain management it involves
inventory which typically moves faster in the supply chain management and also known as cycle stock.
This inventory is typically used in the situation when the demand of product is usually high. The products
are typically moves to the suppliers or manufacturers and ultimately reach to the customers. The demands
for these kinds of products are usually high and management considers these products on a serious note as
these products bring efficiency in the overall economic value of the organization. The major examples of
these products involve Coca-cola, sprite whose demand is typically and relevantly high.
Outbound Logistic:
The company is selling its products in around 200 countries across the world and justifiably claimed
to make its operations as World's largest distribution system of beverages. The distribution channels
which is used by the company consists of different operations like distribution operations that are
operated and are controlled by the company, independent wholesalers, distributors, bottling partners and
retailers. There are around five biggest bottling partners that account for around 33% of the total unit
volume sales in the year 2014. Furthermore, the outbound logistics of company are managed through a
manual distribution system that is across Africa with more than 2500 manual distribution businesses that
are independent and are employing 11000 individuals (Company, 2016). Under given are the top five
Sweden, Luxembourg.
Mexico
Colombia.
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The beverages sales which is belonging to the portfolio of Coca-Cola amounted around 28.6 billion-
unit cases in the year 2014, 28.2 billion-unit cases in the year 2013 and 27.7 million-unit cases in the year
2012. The sales volume in the home country of the company that is United States accounted for around
19% of the total volume of sales in the year 2014 (Bhasin, 2017). There were 31% of the total sales which
was occurred outside the United States specifically in Japan, Mexico, Brazil and China.
The marketing strategy which is applied by Coca-Cola is Integrated Marketing strategy that utilizes
sales promotion events and experiences, advertisement and elements of public relation of the market mix
in an amalgamated manner. The marketing message of the brand is linked with enjoying life, being happy
and leading a Lifestyle that is very active (Trefis, 2016). The largest states of marketing of Coca-Cola
company are directed by amalgamating four most popular drinks that include Coca-Cola, Coca Cola zero,
Coca Cola life and diet coke into the concept of one brand, this helps in providing more choices to the
Services:
The customer service practices of the Coca-Cola company are maintained with the help of online
chat with the agent that is virtual in official website of the company and is dedicated to its service phone
of the customers (Harrison, 2017). The company's website has a feature of comprehensive FAQs that
mainly covers all the major and important aspects of their products in a very descriptive manner. The
website of the company also addresses many different ranges of the rumors that are directly or indirectly
Conclusion:
The report was mainly about the value chain analysis which is conducted by Coca-Cola
company. There are many important things which are included in the value chain analysis. The main
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function of value chain analysis is to establish the factors that can create value for the company and also
help in building or achieving the competitive advantage. Some of the most important aspects of value
chain analysis is the inbound logistics, outbound logistics, operations of the company, marketing and
sales service provided by the company and other services which are privatizing the brand of the
company. The report has explained all of these aspects in a detailed manner so that one can have a better
Company
Expansion
The Weighted Competitive Strength Assessment compares The Coca Cola Company with its
closest competitors using some of the key success factors and strength measures in the Beverages industry
business. The following is the weighted competitive strength assessment charts; this lists the strength
As from charts above, is to be said that Coca Cola is still the beverage industry leader. The Coca-Cola
Company greatest strength are ‘Brand Image’ – as nominated number 5 for the world most valuable brand
with $56,4 billion brand valuation. (Badenhausen, 2017). Then the following are ‘Financial Position’,
‘Advertising’, ‘Market Share’, ‘Distribution’, and ‘Geographical Expansion’. Though the competition in
industry beverage is massive, The Coca Cola Company still can maintain its largest market share with the
market cap $182.9 billion and sold for more than 200 countries. (Forbes,2017)
Pepsi company leads in ‘Product Range’, due to Pepsi’s smart move in 1990s-2000s to diversify
their product in food industry by having big names in their brand portfolio such as Lays, Quaker Oats,
Tropicana, etc. In fact, from Pepsi Co sales $62.8 billion are 52% from food and 48% from beverages.
(Pepsi Co, 2017). It is true for what people said that Pepsi Co is a beverage company that changing to
Monster beverages leads in ‘Customer Loyalty’. Despite having big competition in energy drink
industry with its biggest competitors, Monster still be able to maintain their market share at 39%
(Compared to Red Bull 43%). (Mitchell, 2015). That all is due to its smart moves to target in very
specific market which are mostly extreme sports like BMX, Moto GP, Snowboarding, MMA. It creates
brand resonance from those customers in some way to always have Monster energy drink whenever they
Though the Coca-Cola Company is the leader in beverage industry with owning 4 biggest
beverage brand such Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Fanta. The Coca-Cola Company could improve and
expand in ‘Product Range’, which means entering the food industry just like what their competitor Pepsi
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Co did. Pepsi Co beat The Coca Cola Company in sales for the first time in 2009 and keep going on until
today which Pepsi co has $62,7 billion compared to The Coca Cola Company $41,8 billion. With addition
the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage industry that keep going down with the trend that changing to healthier
beverage options, it seems logical for The Coca Cola Company to diversify their portfolio to food
industry.
Overall, The Coca-Cola Company is the largest and leading beverage company with more than
500 brands and sold more than 200 countries. However, The Coca-Cola Company should have broader
SWOT Analysis
The Charts above will identify overall strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats of The Coca-
Cola Company.
Strength Weakness
Customer Loyalty
Opportunities Threats
because of behavioral
Tropicana
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Financial analysis
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