In 2008, Coca Coca Bottling Company engaged Summerhill Strategy to research stakeholders in the areas of energy-climate change and water. Coca Cola was interested in learning which stakeholders have the greatest impact and influence in these two sectors as well as identifying those that were open to discussing potential strategies in cooperation with Coca Cola.

Summerhill Strategy undertook the following for Coca Cola:

• Identified organizations involved in addressing energy-climate change and water conservation issues
• Creation of agreed-upon criteria
• Narrowed the focus to the Top 10 organizations
• Ranked influential academics with similar focuses
• Telephone interviews with key contacts
• Final report and recommendations

It was valuable for Coca Cola to use a knowledgeable third-party to identify the leading stakeholders in the energy-climate change and water areas. The resulting consultations helped deepen Coca Cola’s understanding of the environmental issues involved and their potential impact on corporate strategy and initiatives.