In the beverage industry, in common with the majority of industries worldwide, firms are seeking alliances or even engaging in networks of strategic relationships - to complement or overcome shortcomings in internal resources, reduce risk and sustain competitive advantage. Thus, it is fundamental to gauge the impact of these alliances and networks, by adopting a relational perspective in the strategic analyses of these firms. The objective of this study is to contribute to recent research on strategic networks, by expanding and complementing traditional models of strategic analysis, by way of the development of new constructs which include the strategic relationships and networks established by firms. The focus here is on a specific type of network of alliances, precisely systems of business franchises or franchising. The object of this study is Coca-Cola´s network of franchisees in Brazil, where it is the soft drink market leader. It is important to remember that the mother company of the network´s central firm - The Coca-Cola Company - is the world leader in the soft drink industry, with operations in more than 200 countries. The study of this network was carried out using documentary investigation, participant observation and surveys. In the latter case a semi-structured questionnaire was applied to discover the perceptions of franchisee managers. The data was analyzed according to a theoretical framework, based on a review of the literature, and a tool for strategic analysis from a relational standpoint, used in the broader research of which the present study is a part. The results reveal new relational aspects, useful in the strategic planning of the firms studied, and which complement those identified by traditional strategic analyses - thus confirming the applicability of this model of analysis, and the importance of taking into account the implications of alliances/networks in these organizations´ strategic agenda. Especially relevant is the identification of relational opportunities associated with the integration of network partners to exploit synergies in cost and resource sharing, which can neutralize traditional, notably socio- economic, macro-environmental threats.