Honest Tea stays true to its roots...

Honest Tea stays true to its roots as it grows

By Theresa Howard, USA TODAY

That began to change a year ago, with Coke's $43 million investment and option to buy it all by 2011. The deal brought more than cash to expand — it brought support and access to new markets.

"When you have a pure financial investment ... that's very distracting for management and often very bad for the brand," says Gary Hirshberg, 54, an Honest Tea board member and CEO of organic yogurt company Stonyfield Farm. "This makes happier employees, which makes a better-quality product, which makes a difference in tough times." [Read more @USA Today]

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