Coca-Cola’s secret formula is one of the food industry’s best-kept secrets. Few know its intrahistory. A former Coca-Cola employee allegedly tried to sell the formula to its direct competitor Pepsi, sparking an FBI sting operation.
The plan was devised by former Coca-Cola secretary Joya Williams, along with two accomplices, who allegedly kept documents containing the secret formula. There are also records of calls that they had in order for the purchase to be made in secret for an amount that would exceed 3 million dollars. Along with the sale of these documents, various trade secrets and product samples of the world-renowned company were also to be sold.
Surprisingly, the whole thing was stopped by the rival company, who found out about the operation and sent Coca-Cola a copy of the letter from the high-level employee offering the secret formula and product samples, as well as confidential information.
To catch the fraudsters, the FBI conducted an undercover operation where Joya Williams’ former boss posed as a worker, who would obtain more information about the sale of the secret formula.
She was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison on charges of conspiracy against Coca-Cola and was also fined 820,712 pesos (US$40,000).
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