The Coca-Cola Company and The Adelante Movement empower an emerging market of women entrepreneurs within the U.S. as part of the Company’s global 5by20 initiative

ATLANTA, March 4, 2015 – The Coca-Cola Company celebrates International Women’s Day, March 8, through its 5by20 initiative to advance women’s economic empowerment around the globe. In honor of International Women’s Day here in the United States, the Company is highlighting its progress through a partnership with The Adelante Movement, presented by Coca-Cola (Adelante).

Adelante (Move Forward!), founded by Nely Galán, is a grassroots movement designed to unite and empower Latinas in the U.S. economically through inspiration, motivation, training and resources on entrepreneurship. The organization is part of the Company’s 5by20 initiative that aims to empower 5 million women entrepreneurs across the Company’s value chain by 2020.

“Adelante is a valuable, pioneer partner not only on The Coca-Cola Company’s path to empowering 5 million women across the globe, but also here at home through its efforts to advance the Latina business community, who are the emerging market in the U.S.,” said Alba Adamo, Group Director of Hispanic Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company. “Adelante provides skills training to help Latinas make a positive impact on their local economies and their families’ future.”

The work of Adelante and its members are particularly important as both the Latina population and Latina-owned businesses continue to grow.

• The U.S. Latina population is expected to increase from 16.4 percent today to 25.7 percent in 2050.^[1]

• There has been a nearly 200-percent increase in Latina-owned businesses over the past decade.^[2]

• As of 2013, 1 in 10 women-owned businesses in the U.S. are owned by Latinas, with receipts totaling $65.7 billion.^[3]

Adelante trained thousands of women in 2014 alone in business, finance and marketing to support their entrepreneurial dreams, and expects to train more than 25,000 women over the next three years. The organization offers an online hub of business tools, in-person and online trainings, events in multiple cities each year and connections to Hispanic organizations across the country.

“Adelante is proud to be part of the 5by20 initiative and harness the Coca-Cola vision of establishing economically independent women among the Latina community in the U.S.,” said Galán. “Our work helps empower Latinas to take on leadership roles and ensures they are the best they can be, inspiring the next generation of Latina entrepreneurs and CEOs.”

For more information about 5by20 and to see success stories from The Adelante Movement, visit www.5by20.com and www.TheAdelanteMovement.com. Use hashtag #5by20 on social media to share how you are celebrating International Women’s Day.   

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, POWERADE, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia, Dasani, FUZE TEA and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

About The Adelante Movement

The Adelante Movement (Move Forward!), founded by Nely Galán, is a grassroots movement that empowers Latinas financially and entrepreneurially in the U.S. It encourages Latinas to play a leading role in American society, economics and politics and become an integral part of the national conversation, in order to provide their children with the future they deserve, as active citizens of this country. The Adelante Movement: Tour is a series of national empowerment conferences, supported by a digital community, presented by The Coca-Cola Company, that inform, mentor and inspire Latinas to take action. Join: www.TheAdelanteMovement.com.