Richard Reed (Innocent Drinks)

Barclays Accelerator - 69-89 Mile End Road London, E1 4UJ London
Mon, Apr 28, 2014, 6:00 PM (BST)

About this event

Richard is the founder of Innocent Drinks, Europe's number 1 smoothie brand. When Richard and his two co-founders Adam Balon and Jon Wright were thinking about starting a smoothie business, they went to a music festival in London. The trio sold their drinks from a stall and asked people to put their empty bottles in a 'YES' or 'NO' bin. What was the question? They asked people whether they thought the trio should quit their jobs to make smoothies. At the end of the festival the 'YES' bin was full and there were only three cups in the 'NO' bin. Today Innocent Drinks has over 70% market share in the UK. In 2009 The Coca-Cola Company acquired a minority stake in Innocent Drinks and in 2013 the stake was increased to over 90%. Innocent Drinks gives 10% of its profits to charity. Richard is known to have implemented a google-like working atmosphere at Innocent Drinks' offices, where people feel at home. He appeared in several high profile TV shows and documentaries, like the documentary with Peter Jones from Drangon's Den (UK's equivalent of Shark Tank). He is now a successful investor through his company JamJar Investments, where they invest in strong teams with an idea that consumers love.

Speaker

Richard Reed

Innocent Drinks

Richard is Ernst&Young's 'Entrepreneur of the Year', he won National Business Award for 'Small/Medium Business of the Year' and was awarded 'Orange Innovative Company of the Year'. Richard has built Innocent Drinks into Europe's number 1 smoothie brand, with 70% market share in the UK.