News & views

Held on the evening of Monday 20th October at The Forum Cinema in Hexham, Food and Drink North East’s exclusive Room With A View event tackled the important question of ‘What is our regional food identity?’ and explored what defines the North East’s food culture, how it can be celebrated, and the role it plays in building a thriving, resilient economy. 

Created in partnership between Northumberland County Council and Food and Drink North East (FADNE), Taste of Northumberland brings together producers, retailers, hospitality venues, and food lovers under one recognisable brand that champions the quality, provenance, and diversity of Northumberland’s local produce.

The exciting event, which will take place in Westminster, London in January 2026, has been announced on the annual British Food Fortnight, a celebration of the diverse and delicious food that Britain produces, and is a fantastic opportunity for local producers to shine on a national stage, building connections and opening doors for growth, as well as showcasing the creativity, quality and talent that make our region so special.

We’re delighted to announce the next in our exclusive Room With A View event series, taking place on Monday 20th October at The Forum Cinema in Hexham. This event’s theme is “What is our regional food identity?” – a vital question for anyone passionate about the future of our industry.

FD&H Live + NECTA will only return in 2026 with the active support of stakeholders across the region. This cannot be delivered by one organisation alone – it requires the whole ecosystem working together. To help us take this forward, we’ve created a short survey to capture your views, priorities and ideas. Your input will directly shape the future of FD&H Live + NECTA and ensure it reflects the needs of the people and businesses it exists to serve.

Food and Drink North East (FADNE) is delighted to announce a new media partnership with Appetite Magazine, the North East’s longest established food and drink publication, in a move that will look to amplify industry leaders’ voices, increase visibility of the work FADNE is doing, and drive continued support for the region’s thriving food, drink and hospitality sectors.

Food and Drink North East (FADNE) collaborated on this research by providing real world data from their Local Heroes initiative, which operated a regional food hub with an e-commerce website during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We’re thrilled to celebrate our Non-Executive Director, Terry Laybourne, who has just been awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City of Newcastle – a well-deserved honour recognising his decades of service to the region’s hospitality and culinary excellence.

FADNE partner and leading UK accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael has strengthened its tax offering in the North East with a series of senior tax appointments.