Innocent smoothies sells (part of) its soul to Coca-Cola

Posted: April 7, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Business, Free Range, Interesting | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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Innocent smoothies which were part funded by Branson are to sell a minority stake in thier business to soft drink giant and type company Coca-Cola.

The deal is said to be around the £30m mark and is to fuel further expansion and branding into mainland Europe.

Concerned that the cash investment from Coca – Cola may effect their current cult following, in a statement

“We’re excited by this minority investment as it enables us to do more of what we are here to do – get natural, healthy products to as many people as possible,” Richard Reed said.

“All the money is coming into the business to fund our European expansion and the founders will continue to lead and run the company.

“We will be the same people, in the same offices, making the same products in the same way.”

“Every promise that Innocent has made – about making only natural healthy products, pioneering the use of better, socially and environmentally aware ingredients, packaging and production techniques, donating money to charity and having a point of view on the world – will remain

We have seen similar deals like this take place recently

Pret A Manger, which claims to avoid additives and tries to buy organic, sold a third of its business to McDonald’s in 2001.

Green & Black’s, the organic and fair trade chocolate and ice-cream maker, was bought by Cadbury Schweppes in 2005.

So why is it these niche company’s have to accept money from the big boys and more importantly the boy boys that are doing the complete opposite to what they believe it? Put simply money talks, It is all well and good having principles but if it doesn’t fuel your business then it needs to come from somewhere.

Why would Coca-Cola want to do this deal? – well times are changing and people are more health minded so its really a matter of if you can’t beat them – Join them !!

Lisburn farmers market farce

Posted: April 4, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Belfast, Business, Do something Now is good, events, Free Range, Government, Interesting, politics, Retail | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Those of you that have been following @beanandgone on twitter today will know what this is all about.  Those of you that do no follow them or have never heard of Bean and Gone…… allow me to tell you.

Andrew Gribben formerly of Creativ Coffee has gone back into the Coffee business but this time is roasting his own beans, eventually he hopes to have his own micro factory – expertly crafting the finest beans and selling them to coffee lovers across the world by means of the interweb and (hopefully) locally in his purpose built coffee store where you will be able to watch the beans being roasted that you are enjoying and be part of the roasting process.

He also plans to turn the coffee world upside down by being one of the first companies in the UK and Ireland to offer a ‘managed coffee service’ to retailers, letting him take care of the coffee beans, machines and staff training and letting the retailers get on with whatever they are retailing.

Today Bean and Gone were at the Farmers Market in Lisburn for the second time, and for the second time they were not actually allowed to sell coffee (a coffee company not allowed to sell coffee, that’s crazy) but they were allowed to give ‘free samples’ of the coffee and do what they set out to do in the first place…. Sell coffee beans and gauge customer reaction to the blend.

Great ! well no, there was in fact another Coffee supplier (Javaman) on site, but like last month they were allowed to co exist with one selling beans and the other coffee ……. Until Mr JavaMan (I think thats his real name) made a complaint that people where taking the free coffee sample and not actually buying any of his coffee ……. boo hoo.

Lisburn city council, ever being diplomatic and supporting free trade and all that, decided that rather than allow the market to trade like markets are supposed to, they would tell Bean and Gone to stop at once with this free samples carry on and concentrate on selling beans …………..

OK there are a number of things wrong with this

1.   All the other stalls are allowed to give free samples

2.  Without a sample, you could sell any old crap

3. What the F£$%

The council continued with

There are not enough customers to justify two people doing the same thing

1. The council should do more to advertise the event

2. If there is only one person allowed to do one thing, then that person has the monopoly, surely this is not in line with European free trade blah blah blah

3. Fact :- If you have a monopoly then you can charge whatever you want !!!!, hardy good for you and me – the consumer

4. Fact :- Quality is never as good if you don’t have a direct competitor.

I have spoken to a number of people today who have agreed that this dictatorship from Lisburn Council is totally unacceptable and something should be done about it.  I was at the first farmers market and the 2nd and it’s been the same traders each time, therefore there is no choice and there is no variety, quite frankly I don’t think i’ll go back – why would I?, I have seen all it has to offer !

St Georges market is Belfast is a fantastic market where you can simply come in, pitch, pay and trade – if the guy next to you is selling the same thing then you had better hope your product is better and better value for money – other wise you are going to be wasting your time – this is surely what markets are all about ! You pay you money and you take your chance, it is true grass roots entrepreneurial ship and retailing at its very best.

The national market traders body says :

Markets can be the quickest way to get started, and although it is not the easiest way to make a living it can be lucrative and rewarding.

In the end, your success will depend to a large extent on your own judgement and initiative.

They also say

Markets are a great asset to any town or city.

A huge range of products, a bustling atmosphere and traders who are experts in what they sell –
what more could you want?

Lisburn ! It’s time to sort this out and get in line with the other markets around Europe – open the market up to many traders and then you will see the people coming and more importantly quality stalls with quality products.

I know many followers of Bean and Gone have taked the time today to write to local government – lets hope something is sorted for the next one !

Russell

Restaurant Review : Mourne Seafood Bar – Belfast

Posted: January 31, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: Belfast, Do something Now is good, Free Range, Restaurant Reviews, Retail | 2 Comments

imagesMourne seafood Bar in Belfast is tucked away from the main street in bank street, one of Belfast many famous entree ways now facing the wrath of the bulldozer as Castle Court shopping centre attempts to expand to a ridiculous size.

I had been promising to take my wife back to Mourne Seafood Bar since she gave birth (pregnant women can’t eat seafood!) to our daughter in March last year.

You can’t book for lunch so the three of us (myself, wife and baby Hannah) headed down at around 2o’clock – The restaurant is set behind a small fish counter where you can go and buy the same fish they will serve in the restaurant, this is also were a lot of the prep work goes on in full view of the public. There was a large queue up to and past the counter. At first I thought the queue was for the counter but no it seems that even during this recession people still can’t get enough of Mourne seafoods excellent offering.

We queued for around half an hour, slowing edging toward actually getting a table when I discovered that this was not actually the queue for getting a table, this was a queue to get into the waiting area to wait to get a table ! crazy, but I did promise Lyndsey that this is where we would eat so queue some more we did. Besides, I figured if all these people were happy to queue then there must be something worth waiting for.

The service was excellent when we finally got to our table, the staff here always know a fair bit about whats on the menu, well trained, friendly and helpful – even more importantly to us – they were very child friendly and prepared some salt free mash for the little’n.

We decided that rather than go for main courses we would get a medley of starters which comprised of.

2 Portions of lightly dusted squid with salad and dips
Fish fingers
Prawn Risotto
Garlic Chips and mash.

The fish fingers are made up of fresh cod, tossed in breadcrumbs – served very hot. incredibly simply and tasty, The squid was good – but a little undercooked for my liking, Squid is one of fav fish dishes and I’m fussy about it ! The Prawn Risotto was simply divine, one of the nicest risotto’s I have had with plenty of prawns through it. Chips were hand cut and the mash was really creamy.

Everything at Mourne Seafood Bar is fresh and locally caught, what you are eating was more than likely in the sea not 24 hours before hand and that is what makes it so good. The restaurant is fairly small seating around 40 people with a further 35 upstairs in the evening. It has a great feel and vibe to it inside with a big old bar and chalk boards scattered around the place with info and stories about upon.

The Costs.
Prawn Risotto £6.50
Squid (£6.50) x 2 £13.00
Fish Fingers £7.50
Champ £2.75
Chips £2.75
Water £1.55
Orange £1.55
Guinness £2.85

TOTAL for 2 people for Lunch :- £38.45
 so by no means a cheap lunch but I would say close to being worth it. Lyndsey enjoyed it and our 10 month old daughter Hannah loved the cod !

Rusky Rates
Service, Helpful, friendly and knew the menu, the only downfall here was that she didn’t check how we were getting on : 8/10
Food, All prepared fresh and hot, served in good time, Squid undercooked for my liking : 8/10
Vibe : A good feel to the place, the owner’s care very much about you enjoying your visit : 9/10
Value for Money : £40 for lunch – It was a nice meal but we only got some starters and most of the mains are over £15. At these tough time’s there is defiantly better value out there so : 6/10
Choice : A good selection on the menu for all tastes, there is even some non fish dishes for any non fish lovers in your party. 9/10

Total score 40/50

Free Range, is hard and expensive, is it worth it?

Posted: March 6, 2008 | Author: | Filed under: Free Range | Leave a comment

I have been trying to buy free range and organic since i bought my own house in 2004, and I have to say It is very difficult, ok recently thanks to Jamie Oliver and Hugh River Cottage man to presence of free range products has increased but so has the price,

I can buy 18 free range eggs with the dirt still on in my from my local farmer for £1.60
My local Tesco is selling 6 free range eggs in a fancy box for £1.98, now im no genius but that is just pure robbery

So is it worth it, the answer is YES, for example the free range eggs have a very yellowy and bigger roke, the free range chicken is soft tender and juicy opposed to dry tasteless battery chickens.

But for me the answer is to BOYCOT Tesco and buy local, Since I have started buying all my meat from my butcher and my eggs from the farm down the road, and get better cuts of meat and i am convinced it is cheaper to!

Tesco in my opinion and im no doctor have a lot to answer for and I don’t think they are set on putting the customer first, If this was the case they would not make billions of profit every year and maybe just settle for 1 billion but give us cheaper stuff

I think they are greedy, over powered and to big!