The Coca-Cola system contributes $85 billion to the U.S. economy and supports nearly 1 million jobs, according to a new independent study commissioned by The Coca-Cola Company, which paired the findings with plans for $10 billion in U.S. infrastructure investments from 2026 through 2030.
The study, conducted by Steward Redqueen for the second time, measured the 2025 contributions of the Coca-Cola system, comprising the company’s U.S. operations and its network of 61 independent bottling partners, as the company marks 140 years and a portfolio of approximately 200 brands spanning sparkling soft drinks, waters, coffee and tea, juices, dairy and plant-based beverages.
Key findings
- The system contributes $85 billion to U.S. gross domestic product, approximately $10 million in economic activity every hour.
- It supports nearly 1 million jobs, including direct system jobs, jobs supported by purchased goods and services, and jobs at the retailers and restaurants where its beverages are sold.
- The system spends approximately $37 billion with American suppliers, supporting farmers and businesses that source ingredients, produce packaging and transport beverages.
- Together with The Coca-Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, it contributes $177 million to U.S. community programs, including $60 million in education and economic empowerment.
- Some 98 cents of every dollar spent on its beverages stays in the U.S. economy through local sourcing, employment, production and distribution.
Economic contributions exceed $1 billion in 25 states, with the system’s production network spanning more than 70 production facilities and hundreds of distribution centers in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The $10 billion buildout
The planned 2026-30 investments cover new or expanded production, distribution and office facilities, with previously announced projects in communities including Rancho Cucamonga, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Indianapolis; Birmingham, Alabama; Coopersville, Michigan; St. Cloud, Minnesota; Orlando, Florida; and Webster, New York. Pieces of that pipeline are already visible, from Coca-Cola Consolidated’s $35 million glass bottling line in Indianapolis to Coke Florida’s $84 million Orlando distribution center opened this summer.
“This assessment reinforces what we see every day: the Coca-Cola system is deeply rooted in America and continues to deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve,” said John Murphy, president and CFO of The Coca-Cola Company. “Through a strong production network, local jobs, supplier partnerships and community investments, we are building on more than a century of impact while reinforcing the resilience of our system and communities across America.”
The system operates through independent bottlers, from the first Coca-Cola bottling operation established in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1899 to Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, established in 2017. Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest U.S. bottler by consumer reach, operates in 14 states.
“We live and work in the same communities we serve, so the impact of our business is personal,” said Dave Katz, president and COO of Coca-Cola Consolidated. “That connection is what makes our impact real and what has allowed our business to grow alongside communities for generations.”
The Coca-Cola Company’s U.S. portfolio includes Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Sprite, Gold Peak, Powerade, Dasani, smartwater, BodyArmor, Minute Maid, Simply and fairlife.
Related: Coke Florida Opens $84M Distribution Center In Orlando