Not that Innocent? Smoothies trialled at McDonalds
Two yay or nays in one week? We really are bucking trends here this week at Hippyshopper (what with the new design and all, which I hope you like), but this story was one I felt I couldn't let go without hearing your opinions first.
Innocent drinks, famed for their pure and natural smoothies, ethical business principles and refreshingly sunny corporate disposition have gone to the dark side with a decision to trial their kids' drinks in McDonalds. The decision has predictably prompted a gnashing of teeth on the company's website, with some enraged readers citing the hypocrisy of teaming up with a company that has wrecked havoc in the Amazon while claiming to support the Rainforest Alliance, while others accused the company of helping provide more 'greenwash' for McDonalds.
Although others were more supportive, the brouhaha
today prompted an explanation from Innocent's co-founder Rich, who stressed that the decision is only a 'trial', and insisted that similarly heated debate had taken place at Fruit Towers over the last few months. He also re-iterated his own view that working with, rather than against, big businesses will help make the world a better place, and further their aim of 'getting more fruit into people'.
So what do you think about the decision? My initial reaction was 'oh here we go again, first the Body Shop go to L'Oreal, now Innocent have been taken in by Ronald McDonald's wicked grin', but I am all for integrating healthier, more sustainable principles into the mainstream, and wonder if those who disapprove aren't being a bit snobbish. People who alienate themselves and their ethical principles, trying to cultivate a 'green' image without allowing the less informed or priviledged a look-in are missing the point. And this initiative, if nothing else, will give children who don't have a say in the matter a chance to get some much-needed goodness into their bodies. But yes, it is still McDonalds which is a major psychological barrier. I feel your pain.
I'm all for it and I cannot believe some of the high-minded tosh I'm readig about Innoent selling their souls to the devil. Here is an opportunity for children to have a healthy drink while eating their burgers. McDonalds isn't going to go away and whether we like it or not, children eat there so let's just be sensible about this - do we want to deny them a healthy drink with their happy meal?
Posted by: deb | May 3, 2007 5:29 PM