Coca-Cola

Coke is it -- "it" being the world's #1 soft-drink company. The Coca-Cola Company owns four of the top five soft-drink brands (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite). Its other brands include Barq's, Minute Maid, POWERade, and Dasani water. In North America, it sells Groupe Danone's Evian. Coca-Cola sells brands from Dr Pepper Snapple Group (Crush, Dr Pepper, and Schweppes) outside Australia, Europe, and North America. The firm makes or licenses more than 400 drink products in more than 200 nations. Although it does no bottling itself, Coke owns 35% of Coca-Cola Enterprises (the #1 Coke bottler in the world); 32% of Mexico's bottler Coca-Cola FEMSA; and 23% of European bottler Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling.

Nike

Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, helped others succeed in times of war. NIKE, the world's #1 shoemaker, does more dominating than assisting, to capture a hefty share of the US athletic shoe market. It designs and sells shoes for a variety of sports, including baseball, cheerleading, golf, volleyball, hiking, tennis, and football. NIKE also sells Cole Haan dress and casual shoes, as well as athletic apparel and equipment. In addition, NIKE operates NIKETOWN shoe and sportswear stores, NIKE factory outlets, and NIKE Women shops. NIKE sells its products throughout the US and in more than 180 other countries. In 2006 NIKE veteran Mark Parker succeeded Bill Perez as president and CEO. It bought Umbro in 2008.