Ethical Performance

Smoothie company pledges ethical future

Posted: 2010-07-02

Innocent, the British maker of the Smoothie drink, has tried to assure consumers that its ethical stance will continue, after Coca-Cola bought a majority share in the company.

Coca-Cola's move from an 18 to a 58 per cent stake has brought an immediate downgrading of Innocent by the Ethical Consumer Research Association. Innocent’s score fell from 8.5 to five out of 20 over concerns about Coca-Cola's record on water use in the Third World, trade union suppression in Colombia and the marketing of unhealthy products to children.

However, Innocent, which sells Smoothies in 13 European countries, has insisted that its commitment to environmentally acceptable packaging and ingredients would not be changed - though the company has never used fair trade or organic ingredients.

Richard Reed, a founder of the company, said that since Coca-Cola became involved in Innocent last year, 'they have been the hands-off investor they promised to be'. He said: 'They've helped whenever we've asked, haven't interfered and have been great people to work with.'

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