THE COCA-COLA COMPANY                    Media Relations Department
                                         P.O. Box 1734, Atlanta, Georgia 30301
NEWS RELEASE                             Telephone:  (404) 676-2121


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                    CONTACT:  Ben Deutsch
                                             (404) 676-2683



          ROBERT L. NARDELLI CHOOSES NOT TO STAND FOR REELECTION

                      TO COCA-COLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS


     ATLANTA,  Jan. 6, 2005 -- The  Coca-Cola  Company said today that  Director
Robert L. Nardelli, citing increasing demands on his time as Chairman, President
and CEO of The Home  Depot,  has  decided  not to stand  for  reelection  to The
Coca-Cola Company's board of directors.  His term will expire on April 19, 2005.

     Commenting on his decision,  Mr. Nardelli said: "Due to increasing  demands
on my time at The Home Depot, I have decided not to stand for re-election to The
Coca-Cola  Company  board of directors  in 2005.  I have  enjoyed the  wonderful
opportunity of serving on the board over the past few years,  and value the rich
experience  of being part of such a  distinguished  group of  directors.  I wish
Neville  Isdell and his team  continued  success in  positioning  The  Coca-Cola
Company for the future."

     Neville  Isdell,  chairman  and  chief  executive  officer,  said:  "We are
tremendously  grateful to Bob for his service to our Company.  Both our board of
directors and our Company have benefited  greatly from his wise counsel.  At the
same time, we understand and  appreciate the demands a dynamic  company like The
Home  Depot  places  on its  leadership.  We are  fortunate  that as an  Atlanta
neighbor,  we will be able to remain  close to a leader  who has  become a great
friend of The Coca-Cola Company."



     Mr. Nardelli has served as a director of The Coca-Cola  Company since 2002.
The Company has no immediate plans to fill the vacated board seat.

     The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage  company.  Along with
Coca-Cola,  recognized as the world's  best-known  brand, The Coca-Cola  Company
markets  four of the world's top five soft drink  brands,  including  diet Coke,
Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages,  including diet and light
soft drinks,  waters,  juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks.
Through the world's  largest  distribution  system,  consumers  in more than 200
countries enjoy the Company's  beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion  servings
each day. For more  information  about The Coca-Cola  Company,  please visit our
website at www.coca-cola.com.


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