Spot the multinational corporation pretending to be a nice friendly independent

[philmophlegm]

Which of the following lovely friendly companies is actually a front for an evil multinational?

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
Harris & Hoole coffee shops
Innocent Smoothies
PJ's Smoothies
Green & Black's chocolate
Teapigs tea
Sunshine Desserts



The answer is that to some extent, all of them are. (Well, except for Sunshine Desserts, which is where Reggie Perrin worked.)

Ben & Jerry's is part of Unilever. Harris & Hoole is 49% owned by Tesco (so probably an associate rather than a subsidiary, although I haven't checked the accounts). Innocent is a Coca-Cola subsidiary. PJ's is Pepsi. Green & Black's is Kraft. Teapigs is Tata.

I'll let you decide for yourself if this is a bad thing.

Comments

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

It's an equity investment rather than a loan I think. (Although from a quick look at Tesco's 2012 accounts and I can't find mention of it, possibly because it's not material.)

Looking at the pictures of the stores, I think I would have assumed that it was a large chain. They certainly don't look like the kind of independent cafes I tend to frequent. More the sort of big city chains that sell brown liquids with bizarre names ending in the letter 'o'. Their website also makes it look like a company backed by big money.

[steer.livejournal.com]

Yes, the question is certainly not whether they have the money from Tescos... that's sure, they've admitted it. They're well financed -- but unless you're the type who thinks that coffee is only good if made by a shoestring operation with no money then that's not an issue (is it?). The question is does this give Tesco any degree of control?

[I guess unless the reader objects fundamentally to Tesco making money -- which is not unreasonable.]