Our Mission

There are currently over 825,00 people working in the food and drink sector in the North East of England. Yet the sector only contributes 1.8% of Gross Added Value (GVA) to the regional economy.

This region is home to some of the most innovative and well known food brands in the UK. Yet although we have our undoubted success stories many are working in silos and find it difficult to access the help and advice they need to succeed and grow.

 

 

This coupled with a lack of identity and several attempts to redefine the North East as one homogeneous place failed to take into account a region that is fiercely proud of celebrating its tribal differences from Teesside, Wearside, Tyneside and Northumberland.

As a consequence, a victim of reinvention, the ‘food identity’ of the North East has struggled to make sense of itself. We believe that by working together can we change this. Our challenge is the bring together experts in this sector and develop a five-year strategy that will help build the North East’s reputation as a food and drink destination with heritage, sustainability, innovation and community at its heart.

 

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Current sector contribution (GVA)

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Sector contribution (GVA) by 2025

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. Our overall objective is to grow the sector’s contribution to the regional economy to 10% gross added value (GVA) by 2025.

We are developing a five-year food and drink strategy for the North East of England. Our goal is to identify and make the positive change our region needs to succeed. Join us and make sure your voice is heard.