Coca-Cola reached 30 billion dollar brands last year: this year it’s added two more.
Billion dollar brands (those which pull in at least a billion dollars in sales every year) are everyday staples for millions of consumers: and reaching the mark is a milestone to be celebrated.
Coca-Cola, of course, is the original and ultimate billion-dollar brand, but the last two decades have seen plenty of others join the ranks.
There’s Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero and Fanta in the company’s traditional soda stronghold; but that’s been joined by brands such as fruit juice Minute Maid, Smartwater, sports drink Bodyarmor, RTD tea Fuze Tea and dairy giant Fairlife.
And now there’s two more. Fruit juice and smoothie maker Innocent has reached billion dollar status; as has Mexican dairy brand Santa Clara.
Both brands were scouted out by Coca-Cola over the last 15 years and acquired on the basis of their strong growth prospects: and they’re brands that the soft drink giant has built up into heavyweight contenders in their respective categories.
Innocent
Innocent started back in 1999 as a small British business: putting fresh fruit and veg as the cornerstone of its brand. The brand quickly built up a following with its light, bright, fun and friendly branding: embracing the potential of the premium juice category.
The brand built up a portfolio of on-trend drinks: from smoothies to juices to flavored sparkling water and coconut water.
Coca-Cola took an 18% stake of the company in 2009, then took full control in 2013.
And the brand has kept moving since then: Coca-Cola’s global reach and might has helped it continue to expand, while 2024 saw a strategic packaging refresh.
Innocent’s brand power was recently highlighted in Brand Finance’s annual rankings, topping the charts in the juice category.
Innocent joins Coca-Cola’s global Minute Maid brand in billion dollar status, alongside Indian fruit juice brand Maaza (which joined the ranks last year).
Santa Clara
Santa Clara is a historic Mexican dairy brand, founded in 1924 and which has recently celebrated its centennial.
The brand is focused on its pure, vapor-based ultra-pasteurized milk: which is fortified with Vitamins A and D; alongside ice cream and dairy products.
Coca-Cola acquired the brand in 2012; and sees plenty of potential for dairy to grow. In 2023, it boosted capacity at the Jalisco-based dairy plant by 30% with a $133m investment.
Santa Clara makes the cut for Time World’s Best Brands 2025, Mexico: the #2 in the milk category behind Lala.
Dairy is a relatively new area of innovation for Coca-Cola: but its experience with Fairlife (which became a billion dollar brand in 2024) and Core Power (the high protein milk shake which also boasts this status) has taught it there’s room for growth and demand for products which fit consumer needs.
And Santa Clara has proven to be the right fit for the Mexican market.
