The deal is worth £30m

The deal is worth £30m

Global drink giant Coca-Cola has bought a minority stake in the UK fruit drink specialist Innocent, renowned for its ethical ethos through its smoothies.

The London-based company plans to invest the £30 million made in the deal into its European expansion, as it looks to build on the 13 countries in which it already sells more than two million smoothies each week.

Its founders said in a statement its "socially and environmentally aware" stance will not be compromised by the link with Coca-Cola.

Innocent said it chose Coca-Cola as an investor because "as well as providing the funds, they can help us get our products out to more people in more places".

Innocent currently employs 275 people with a turnover of more than £100m.