Food and Drink North East (FADNE) is a community interest company (CIC) made up of local business owners and experts who understand the challenges the sector faces and are working together to solve them. A movement of like-minded people our aim is to build the North East’s reputation as a food and drink destination with heritage, sustainability, innovation and community at its heart.
Latest news & views
An open letter to regional local authorities
To whom it may concern, Food and Drink North East (FADNE) continues to consult companies across the region’s food and drink sector during this new phase of COVID-19 restrictions. Traders are being adversely affected during this already difficult time. As outdoor...
Campaign launched to champion North East food and drink offer
COVID-19 has dramatically affected the food, drink and hospitality sectors with many businesses struggling to see what their future looks like post-pandemic. As they begin to open up after lockdown we believe the time is the right is to support these invaluable regional assets at a time when they are at their most vulnerable.
FADNE’s Community Fund boosts vital work
More than £1,000 worth of fresh produce has been donated to vulnerable families and individuals using a Tyneside-based food bank, thanks to a new initiative celebrating the North East’s food and drink heroes. The milk, butter and eggs from regional producers has been...
Terry Laybourne’s North East food memories
I guess that my first food memories are from visiting my Nana’s house in Elswick as a 4 – 5 year old in what must have been around 1960. It didn’t seem so at the time but when I reflect back now it’s clear that there wasn’t much money around; it was by no means a...
Virtual Market goes from strength to strength
At the beginning of lockdown Food and Drink North East (FADNE) consulted hundreds of food and drink producers and merchants from across our region. Asking them how the COVID-19 crisis will impact their businesses. The results were startling, to say the least, with...
An Open Letter
Hello, My name is Jessie Jacobs and I am a Director at Food & Drink North East (FADNE). I am a social entrepreneur with eighteen years experience in charity leadership, local and national campaigns and a former senior parliamentary researcher. I am also, Tees...
For too long the North East’s food and drink sector has been overlooked. While other regions have flourished we have hidden in the shadows of our industrial past. We believe this region offers something truly unique and that it’s worth shouting about.
Steeped in an entrepreneurial history from the launch of Lucozade in 1927 through to iconic heritage brands such as Bero, Newcastle Brown Ale, Ringtons Tea and Primula Cheese.
Our region is recognised for its artisan producers such as Craster Kippers, Lindisfarne Oysters, acclaimed food growers as well as some of the best cheese and organic dairy in England.
We are now seeing an upsurge in craft producers and the growth of premium, entrepreneurial food and drink brands as well as progressive areas such as organic, ‘free from’ and Fairtrade as well as becoming a manufacturing hub and a leader in food and drink innovation.
We believe the time is right to come together. To engage this vibrant community. To focus our efforts, share knowledge and get the word out. To grow from the grassroots up.
Food and Drink North East is a community interest company (CIC) made up of local business owners and experts who understand the challenges the sector faces and are working together to solve them.
We’re not a fish – we’re the pond. A network that connects, enables and encourages collaboration across the region.
A movement of like-minded people who understand that when the tide comes in, all boats will rise.
Together we will build the North East’s reputation as a food and drink destination with heritage, sustainability, innovation and community at its heart.
Our work falls under four broad categories
Community
Taking a grassroots approach, we will work with local businesses across the sector to encourage collaboration and partnership, form a clear sense of regional identity and promote an ambitious food and drink offer that will help the North East compete both nationally and internationally.
Trade
We will launch an innovative trading hub that links food producers to buyers. Identifying, organising and facilitating trade missions to showcase the region’s food and drink credentials. Launching strategic partnerships that target specialist support to regional food and drink businesses.
Sustainability
We will lead the region’s contribution to the National Food Strategy Review. Creating cluster projects to promote growth, jobs and skills development. Forming cross-sector partnerships and a ‘good food business’ network to tackle the issues of food poverty, food waste and public health at a regional level.
Advocacy
We will become an independent industry voice, with influential cross-category representation and ‘fly the flag’ on behalf of the regional food and drink sector at a local, national and international level. Partnering and collaborating with other food movements to develop reciprocal relationships and share best practice.
“We discovered my grandfather’s recipe so my wife and I decided to try making his piccalilli. We shared the results with friends and family and the feedback was so great we knew we were onto something!”
Andrew Calder, Calder’s Kitchen
“As a mum of two running a small business is hard work – but I love it! Being a small batch chocolatier enables me to be creative as well as hands-on. It’s also incredibly rewarding when customers enjoy our chocolate!”
Zoe Robertson, Good Tempered Chocolate Co.
“Coming home to set up the first urban winery on Tyneside has been a dream come true. I’m one of the lucky ones who found their passion in life in winemaking and made it a reality. I’m so proud to share this with the people of the North East.”
Elise Lane, The Winery by Laneberg Wine
Add your voice to ours and together we can make meaningful change happen!
Currently, Food and Drink North East is entirely self-funded and resourced on the goodwill of our Board and partners.
FADNE is about ownership not membership. We're a growing community of over 500 individuals, businesses and organisations who are working towards the same vision.
Join us and help strengthen our voice and extend our reach both regionally and nationally. So that together we can make our work more effective and achieve the positive change our region needs.
Get in touch
Food and Drink North East
The Beacon
Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne and Wear
NE4 9PQ
T: 0739 4522 991
E: info@fadne.org
About us
Food and Drink North East is a community interest company (CIC). We aim to build a vibrant and engaged community that champions positive trade, promotes a sustainable circular economy and acts as a collective and inclusive voice for the region’s food and drink sector. Focussed on four strategic areas, our objective is to grow the sector’s contribution to the regional economy to 10% gross added value (GVA) by 2025.
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