How an outside idea reaches a company, in its own words · checked 2026-10-29
How to sell an idea to The Coca-Cola Company
Has a submission portal
Coca-Cola takes ideas through its contact page, except on advertising, promotions or the formulas of its existing products, and nothing sent is confidential. It has bought Topo Chico, Honest Tea and Costa Coffee.
“Importantly, our policy prevents us from considering ideas or suggestions related to advertising and other marketing concepts, promotions or formula modifications to any of our existing products, or concepts that we have previously reviewed (“Prohibited Categories”).”
What you agree to by sending something
“Each year, our Company receives a large volume of ideas and suggestions and our experience has shown us that many of these have already been developed independently or considered in our system.”
“DO NOT SUBMIT INFORMATION THAT YOU WISH TO KEEP CONFIDENTIAL.”
What it says it looks for
“Please list all patents or patent applications or intellectual property rights that cover your submission.*”
What it has bought from outside
2017
Topo Chico from Topo Chico $220 million
“In 2017, the Coca-Cola Company purchased Topo-Chico for $220 million.” en.wikipedia.org
2008
Honest Tea (40% stake; remainder bought 2011) from Seth Goldman and Barry Nalebuff (founders) $43 million
“The Coca-Cola Company purchased a 40-percent stake of the U.S. company at $43 million in 2008.” en.wikipedia.org
2007
Glacéau (vitaminwater, smartwater) from Glacéau / Tata Group and founder J. Darius Bikoff $4.1 billion in cash
“On May 25, 2007, the company was acquired by the Coca-Cola Company for $4.1 billion in cash.” en.wikipedia.org
2019
Costa Coffee from Whitbread $4.9 billion
“It was acquired by Whitbread in 1995, then sold to The Coca-Cola Company in January 2019 in a deal worth $4.9 billion, and has grown to over 4,000 stores across 31 countries and 18,412 employees.” en.wikipedia.org
Other companies that take an invention or product idea
