Foundation of Cobega
On 10 August 1951, the limited company Cobega was established to manage the first Coca-Cola franchise in Spain after the Civil War. Santiago Daurella was the administrator and main shareholder and his wife, Pilar Franco and their four children, Mercedes, José, Victoria and Francisco Daurella Franco, held the remaining shares. Ten days later, Cobega signed a contract with Coca-Cola to bottle and distribute the drink, initially in Barcelona and its metropolitan area. On 25 November, the foundation stone was laid at the Cobega factory on Carrer dels Almogàvers in Barcelona.
1951
THE FACTORY IN LA VERNEDA
On 22 September, Cobega inaugurated its new factory on Carrer de Guipúzcoa in the La Verneda neighbourhood of Barcelona, the largest Coca-Cola production plant in Europe. It was a social event attended by Coca-Cola’s top management.
Learn more
1965
2 Hitos
Exclusive Franchise for Nespresso
DABA obtained the exclusive franchise to distribute Nespresso in Spain, the only country where the commercialisation was not directly handled by Nestlé. Initially, the deal was based on a verbal agreement obtained thanks to Cobega’s reputation for working with a major brand such as Coca-Cola. Finally, the written agreement between DABA and Nestlé was signed in November 1996.
1993
New Franchise in Guinea-Conakry
Coca-Cola authorised the Daurella family to take control of the company Societé de Production de Boissons non Alcooliseés de Guinée, S.A. (Bonagui), the bottling company in Guinea-Conakry.
1993
4 Hitos
Merger of Cobega
In June, four of the Spanish Coca-Cola bottling companies merged: Cobega in Catalonia (1951), Incasa in the Balearic Islands (1956), Arbega in Aragon (1959) and Olsbega in the Canary Islands (since 1978), all majority-controlled by the Daurella family. The new Cobega was created and became the largest bottling franchise on the Iberian Peninsula.
1997
First Nespresso Store in Spain
DABA opened the first Nespresso store in Spain, on Carrer de Folgueroles in Barcelona, three years before Nespresso opened its first boutique in Paris.
1997
Foundation of the Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company
On 25 November, the Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC) was created, the result of merging the Daurella group’s six African franchises, with Cobega as the majority shareholder with a 70 % stake and The Coca-Cola Export Company as a minority shareholder with 30 %. Alfonso Líbano Daurella was appointed president of the company.
1997
New Plant in Tenerife
On 19 November, the new Cobega plant was inaugurated in Tacoronte on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The new plant, together with the one in Ingenio, on the island of Gran Canaria, which opened in 2000, would be essential in the production supply for the Cobega Group’s African franchises.
1997
2 Hitos
Mega-Factory in Martorelles
At the end of the year, Cobega’s new central factory, between the towns of Martorelles and Montornés del Vallès, was opened. The giant factory, the second largest Coca-Cola bottling plant in southern Europe, occupied 500 000 m2 of land and had eleven filling lines.
2006
Entry into Algeria
The Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company acquired 75 % of Fruital Coca-Cola SPA, the bottler for central Algeria.
2006
2 Hitos
Acquisition of Begano
Cobega acquired 65 % of the shares of Begano (Bebidas Gaseosas del Noroeste, S.A.), the Galician Coca-Cola bottling company. Sol Daurella was appointed the new company president.
2012
Foundation of the Cobega Corporation
The Cobega corporation was created, the Daurella family’s business and financial holding company, separated from Cobega the Coca-Cola bottling franchise, which became one of the group’s investee businesses until its subsequent integration into Coca-Cola European Partners. The third generation of the Daurella family took over the new group, with Sol Daurella as chair.
2012
3 Hitos
Franchise in South Sudan
In partnership with the MAC Beverages group, ECCBC launched the United Beverage Company (UBC), the Coca-Cola franchise in South Sudan and the first foreign company to be set up in the new country.
2013
Foundation of Coca-Cola Iberian Partners
On 1 June, Coca-Cola Iberian Partners (CCIP) was formally created, the new Iberian bottler resulting from the merger of the eight franchise holders on the Iberian Peninsula: Cobega, Begano, Norbega, Casbega, Rendelsur, Colebega, Asturbega and Refrige. The Daurella family became the largest shareholder of the single bottler. The chairship of the board was given to Sol Daurella. With head offices in Madrid, CCIP consolidated its position as the sixth-largest Coca-Cola bottler in the world.
2013
New Cacaolat Plant
On 29 October, a new Cacaolat factory was inaugurated in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, an initiative led by Cobega and Damm, partners in the new Cacaolat Group.
2013
CREATION OF DAUFOOD
The Cobega Group once again diversified its businesses and created the Daufood company to manage the master franchise of Domino’s Pizza in Portugal. The US pizza chain entrusted the Daurella group with the opening and management of its franchises in Portugal, where it was not yet present.
2014
2 Hitos
Sale of Vífilfell
Cobega sold Vílfilfell, the Coca-Cola bottling franchise in Iceland, to Coca-Cola European Partners as part of the integration process of the European bottling companies.
2016
Foundation of Coca-Cola European Partners
On 28 May, in London, the legal incorporation of Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) was signed, the company resulting from the merger of Coca-Cola Iberian Partners, Coca-Cola Erfrischungsgetränke and Coca-Cola Enterprises. The world’s largest Coca-Cola franchise in terms of turnover was created, with more than 50 bottling plants and around 27 000 employees in 13 countries and listed on the New York, Amsterdam and Madrid stock exchanges. The Cobega Group was the largest single shareholder of CCEP and Sol Daurella was its chair.
2016
2 Hitos
Foundation of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
On 10 May, Coca-Cola European Partners became Coca-Cola Europacific Partners following the acquisition of Coca-Cola Amatil, the bottler for Oceania and Southeast Asia, with a licence to bottle and distribute Coca-Cola products in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and other small Pacific island states. The Daurella family maintained its majority stake. Sol Daurella was named chair and Damian Gammell, CEO.
2021
Launch of Vertuo
DABA launched a new Nespresso line on the Spanish market, called Vertuo, based on the innovative Cetrifusion extraction system.
2021
Entry into the Philippines
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, as the majority shareholder with 60 % and Aboitiz Equity Ventures purchased Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), the Filipino bottler of Coca-Cola products and the oldest franchise outside the American continent. With the Philippines, one of the largest markets in Asia, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ presence reached 31 countries and became the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the world, not only in terms of revenue but also by volume.
2024
