Food and Drink North East

22/06/2026

We're kicking off our events calendar for the North East Rural Growth Programme with a topic that impacts every food, drink and hospitality business: pricing for profitability.

Come along on Monday 6th July to one of our dedicated workshop sessions focused on understanding costs, improving margins and building sustainable growth.

With an incredible line-up of speakers including Terry Laybourne, 21 Newcastle; Toby Davison, North Shore Coffee; Neil le Flohic, Pink Lane Bakery and Sam Kellie, First & Last Brewery!

There are no lectures, no generic presentations and no theory for theory's sake. Instead, you'll hear live case studies and learn directly from business owners who have faced the same challenges as you, and take actionable ideas back to your business.

Places are limited, register now: www.fadne.org/event/pricing-strategy-profitability-workshop

📅 Monday 6th July
🕘 Two workshop sessions - AM and PM
📍 Newcastle Red Bulls: Kingston Park Stadium

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 North East Mayoral Strategic Authority 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 Northumberland County Council 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Northumberland National Park Food and Drink North East 𝘢𝘯𝘥 North East Enterprise Agency.

17/06/2026

FADNE NEWS: Caroline Bell of Acorn Dairy and Karen Park of Buston Oils and Buston Potatoes join Food and Drink North East’s Non-Executive Board of Directors

The appointments further strengthen the board’s expertise across agriculture, food production, sustainability, retail and local supply chains, reinforcing Food and Drink North East’s commitment to supporting businesses throughout the region’s food and drink ecosystem.

"Agriculture and food production need to be the foundations of our region’s food and drink economy and any future food strategy, and it is essential that our board reflects the depth and diversity of expertise that exists across the sector," says Chris Jewitt, CEO and founder of Food and Drink North East.

“Caroline and Karen each bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion for the North East food and drink industry. We are delighted to welcome them both to the Food and Drink North East board and look forward to the contribution they will make as we continue to strengthen the region’s reputation for food, drink and agricultural excellence."

Read more:

Food and Drink North East strengthens non-executive board of directors with two new appointments in June 2026.

11/06/2026

Lobby Your Local MP: A North East template to support the call for a 10% VAT rate on hospitality

This template is provided by Food and Drink North East (FADNE), the region’s farm-to-fork organisation, in support of the campaign.

We encourage members, their teams and the wider public to write to their MPs, and add your name to the petition at vatstheproblem.co.uk.

Get the template: https://www.fadne.org/lobby-local-mp-template-vat-rate-hospitality

Use this template, provided by Food and Drink North East, to email your local MP to support the call for a 10% VAT rate on hospitality

08/06/2026

FADNE NEWS: Food and Drink North East (FADNE) has announced the appointment of Shelley Johnson as Programme Manager.

Shelley Johnson joins FADNE to manage the organisation’s coordination, delivery and reporting of the Rural Growth Programme (RGP), a three-year initiative funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority designed to support food, drink and hospitality businesses in growth and resilience.

In this role, Shelley will act as the central point for programme performance, stakeholder coordination and reporting, while working closely with partners and businesses across the region.

Find out more: https://www.fadne.org/food-and-drink-north-east-strengthens-team-and-structure-with-new-programme-manager-appointment/

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 Northumberland County Council 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Northumberland National Park, 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 North East Enterprise Agency.

Food and Drink North East (FADNE) has announced the appointment of Shelley Johnson as Programme Manager of the Rural Growth Programme.

05/06/2026

Opinion: Reset, Not a Reshuffle by Chris Jewitt, CEO of Food and Drink North East

Why our hospitality sector is closing – and why the tax system has it backwards

"As part of my role at Food and Drink North East, I have the privilege of speaking to many, many business owners every week – small start-ups, agri-food enterprises, manufacturers, the entire farm-to-fork supply chain.

They’re all being absolutely hammered and have been for some time. Rising costs, tighter margins, harder decisions. But none are being hit as viscerally and as starkly as hospitality. You don’t have to take my word for it. Listen to the people living it."

🔹 Read the full opinion piece: https://www.fadne.org/opinion-reset-not-a-reshuffle/
🔸 Send a ready-to-use letter to your MP: https://www.fadne.org/lobby-local-mp-template-vat-rate-hospitality/
🔹 Sign the petition: vatstheproblem.co.uk

Why our hospitality sector is closing - and why the tax system has it backwards by Chris Jewitt, CEO of Food and Drink North East

05/06/2026

FADNE NEWS: Food and Drink North East (FADNE) has been appointed as a key delivery partner of the North East Rural Growth Programme (RGP), marking a significant milestone for both the organisation and the region’s thriving food and drink sector.

FADNE will help deliver the Rural Growth Programme, a three-year initiative funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, and lead on a dedicated food and drink support offer, providing tailored one-to-one advice, practical workshops, and valuable networking opportunities to food, drink and hospitality businesses across the North East.

Chris Jewitt, CEO of Food and Drink North East, welcomed the announcement, saying, “This is a huge benefit to Food and Drink North East and a clear demonstration of the trust and support in our organisation.

"It reinforces our ability to deliver meaningful, targeted support for food, drink and hospitality businesses across the North East. We’re excited to work alongside partners to help businesses grow, innovate and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.”

Find out more: https://www.fadne.org/food-and-drink-north-east-appointed-key-delivery-partner-for-rural-growth-programme/

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 Northumberland County Council 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 Durham County Council, Council, Northumberland National Park, Food and Drink North East 𝘢𝘯𝘥 North East Enterprise Agency.

FADNE has been appointed as a key delivery partner for the North East Rural Growth Programme, a three-year initiative.

04/06/2026

FADNE Event: Pricing, Strategy & Profitability Workshops - 6th July 2026

If you've ever wondered whether you're charging enough, making enough margin, or leaving money on the table, these practical, half-day FADNE workshops are for you.

🍺 Producers: Learn how to understand your true costs, price confidently, and build a strategy for growth with insights from businesses including First & Last Brewery.

🍽️ Hospitality operators: Discover how to cost dishes properly, engineer menus that perform, and improve profitability without compromising your offer.

These workshops are tailor-made by FADNE and designed to offer:
✅ Real business case studies
✅ Practical exercises
✅ Honest conversations
✅ Networking lunch with industry peers

Spaces are limited. FREE to attend and available only for businesses registered on the Rural Growth Programme (we can help you with that!). For more details and to register your interest please click the link below.

https://www.fadne.org/event/pricing-strategy-profitability-workshop/

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘚𝘈), 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 Northumberland County Council 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Northumberland National Park, Food and Drink North East 𝘢𝘯𝘥 North East Enterprise Agency.

Whether you are a producer trying to make your margins stack up or a hospitality operator looking to sharpen your offer, these sessions will give you the tools, the insight and the confidence to price for profitability.

22/05/2026

FADNE NEWS: Food and Drink North East celebrates the first successful outcome of its educational partnership with Newcastle University through a Pink Lane Bakery project.

The Research & Development Portal, hosted on FADNE’s website, connects North East businesses who have project ideas with undergraduate and post-graduate students at Newcastle University who are studying relevant disciplines, offering them an opportunity to work together on research, consultancy projects and enterprise challenges.

A team of third-year students have just completed an eight-month project for Pink Lane Bakery as part of their Food Innovation Consultancy module, which saw them work on strengthening customer engagement and operations to support growth, and carrying out primary data collection in the form of customer surveys which were underpinned by key marketing theories, site visits and interviews with staff.

Co-founder of Pink Lane Bakery, Neil Le Flohic, said, “Working with the students has been a genuinely insightful experience. Their research and recommendations challenged some of our thinking and introduced new ideas we hadn’t previously considered. We’re excited to explore several of their suggestions as we continue to grow.”

This represents a key milestone in FADNE’s commitment to fostering stronger links between industry and academia and in supporting , development and across the ’s sector.

Read more:

Food and Drink North East is proud to celebrate the first outcome of its R&D Portal and educational partnership with Newcastle University.

15/05/2026

FADNE NEWS: Food and Drink North East has been appointed as a key delivery partner for the North East Rural Growth Programme (RGP).

For the next three years, we will be leading on a dedicated food and drink offer, delivering tailored one-to-one business support, practical workshops, insight sessions, and valuable networking opportunities to businesses across the food, drink and hospitality sectors in the North East.

Whether you feel ready to access this support now or later, please register your interest via the form on our website so that we can keep you informed of support and events that could benefit your business.

Register now: www.fadne.org/rural-growth-programme

The North East Rural Growth Programme is funded by the North East Combined Authority with Northumberland County Council as lead delivery partner, and supported by Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Northumberland National Park, Food and Drink North East and North East Enterprise Agency.

15/04/2026

There is still time to complete our annual State of The Sector Survey!

Our annual Food and Drink North East (FADNE) State of the Sector survey plays a vital role in providing a “farm to fork” snapshot of the region’s agriculture, food, drink, manufacturing, and hospitality supply chain.

This survey delves into the challenges facing these industries, identifies gaps in support, and highlights the wants and needs of businesses across the sector.

Please take the survey, then share it with your connections, so that we can continue to get a true, accurate picture of how our industries look right now.

LINK:

Share your business insights, challenges and successes.