Food and Drink North East, The Core, Newcastle Helix, Newcastle upon Tyne (2026)

15/10/2026

Calling all food, drink and hospitality producers in North Northumberland.

We're heading up to Wooler on Tuesday 20 October for an informal drop-in and networking morning, and we want to meet you.

If you grow it, make it, brew it, distil it, cook it or serve it, come along. Farmers, growers, artisan producers, makers, breweries, distilleries, cafés, restaurants, pubs and hospitality businesses - drop in, grab a coffee and say hello.

From this Autumn onwards, we're travelling to different locations across the North East to meet the people who make our food, drink and hospitality sector what it is and to talk about how we can support you.

No presentations, no agenda - just good conversation.

We want to hear what's going well in your business, what's holding you back, and where you think support could make a real difference.

It's also a chance to find out more about what FADNE does and how the North East Rural Growth Programme could help you grow.

How the morning works:

☕ 10am - 11.30am: Drop in any time for networking and light refreshments. Meet other local producers and businesses, and the FADNE team.

🤝 11.30am - 1pm: If you'd like a proper chat about your business, book a 30-minute one-to-one with one of us.
One-to-ones are first come, first served, so grab yours using the link in my bio.

Ad Gefrin is a fitting place to gather - a business built on Northumberland's heritage and ambition. I'm looking forward to seeing a good turnout of producers and hospitality businesses from across the area.

📅 Tuesday 20 October, 10am - 1pm
📍 Ad Gefrin, South Road, Wooler, NE71 6NJ

🔗 Booking link via the link on our Facebook homepage.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 (𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘚𝘈).

North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland National Park, Northumberland Small Business Service

06/10/2026

Brilliant North East producers, held back because they've never had a straight conversation with the people who do the buying.

On 14 October, we're fixing that. Meet The Buyer: Live 👇

📅 Tuesday 14 October, 9:00am - 4:15pm
📍 Brocksbushes Farm Shop, Northumberland NE43 7UB

At Food and Drink North East, our job is to connect every part of this region's food, drink and hospitality supply chain - from the farm and the kitchen table to the shop shelf, the wholesaler and the restaurant pass.

When producers and buyers understand each other, more of what we grow, make and pour here ends up on North East plates, and more of the value stays in our communities.

This event is that commitment in action.

It's a full day built around one simple idea - getting producers and buyers talking honestly.

In the morning, buyers from across retail, wholesale and foodservice will tell you exactly how they think, what makes them say yes, and what makes a pitch forgettable.

Then we open it up to the floor, and you get to put your own questions to them directly. I'll be facilitating that panel, so bring your toughest questions.

What you'll get from the day:

✅ Straight answers on what buyers look for in new products and suppliers
✅ A clear picture of how to approach retail, wholesale and foodservice
✅ Time with fellow North East producers on the same journey
✅ New connections across the supply chain
✅ A lunch made entirely from the regional larder - a proper celebration of what we produce here

In the afternoon, our current Beyond the Kitchen Table cohort take centre stage with a Producer Showcase and pre-booked 1-2-1s with buyers.

Who's it for?

Small-scale food and drink producers across the North East who are curious about selling into retail, wholesale or foodservice - whether you're just starting to explore it or you're ready to pitch tomorrow.

Places are limited, and conversations like these don't come around often.

👉 Register here: https://www.fadne.org/event/meet-the-buyer-live/

See you at Brocksbushes

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

06/10/2026

Join the FADNE team at the Business Gateshead Expo at the Northern Design Centre on Wednesday 7th October 2026!

The event will bring together businesses, support organisations and advisers from across the North East for a day of networking, learning and business growth.

We look forward to meeting founders and entrepreneurs from across the region.

Book your free place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-gateshead-expo-2026-tickets-1994941232930

24/08/2026

Perfect for busy business owners who are looking to grow, our fully-funded Beyond The Kitchen Table programme is for any ambitious artisan or SME that is looking to scale their business into B2B channels such as retail, wholesale, hospitality and foodservice

With a mix of short online modules and some face-to-face sessions, including a live Producer Pitch and a Meet The Buyer event, this programme is light-touch and flexible to fit around other commitments.

Limited places remaining and starting soon! Sign up for a space here: https://www.fadne.org/event/beyond-the-kitchen-table/

𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 (𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘚𝘈).

North East Mayoral Strategic Authority
Northumberland Small Business Service, Business Durham, Business Gateshead

20/08/2026

Join us on the morning of 28th September for our Product Development Workshop that brings together three speakers, an open room and structured time to work on your own product development challenges - supported by FADNE and the people in the session with you.

Each speaker is from a local business, offering three genuinely different perspectives on what product development looks like in practice - from early-stage producers to established manufacturers.

🔸 Jamie Pagett shares the Redhead's Mac 'N' Cheese journey - the transition from street food proposition into food service through frozen products, what that shift required commercially and operationally, and what he knows now that he wished he had known earlier.

🔸 Jane Williams explores how Davenport's Chocolates has used brand collaboration to drive innovation - working with Ad Gefrin, Hepple and others to create distinctive products that open new commercial channels.

🔸 Emil Stickland shares the Kocktail story - how they developed and refined their product, the decisions behind format, packaging and route to market, and what they know now that they wished they had known at the start.

Facilitated by Food and Drink North East (FADNE) and delivered as part of the North East Rural Growth Programme.

Limited spaces, sign up now: https://www.fadne.org/event/product-development-workshop/

📍 Pink Lane Bakery Workshop Space, Gosforth
🗓️ Monday 28th September
🕘 9am - 2pm

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 (𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘚𝘈).

North East Mayoral Strategic Authority
Northumberland Small Business Service, Business Durham, Business Gateshead

12/08/2026

Developing great food and drink products is one of the hardest things a business can do – and one of the most rewarding. Getting from idea to shelf, menu or market requires commercial thinking, the willingness to iterate and an honest understanding of what your product costs to make and what the market will bear.

That's why we've created a Product Development workshop that is tailor-made for North East food and drink businesses, full of practical insights, finding solutions and learning from three local businesses with genuinely different perspectives on what product development looks like in practice.

Facilitated by Food and Drink North East (FADNE) and delivered as part of the North East Rural Growth Programme.

Limited spaces, sign up now: https://www.fadne.org/event/product-development-workshop/

📍 Pink Lane Bakery Workshop Space, Gosforth
🗓️ Monday 28th September
🕘 9am - 2pm

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 (𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘚𝘈).

20/07/2026

Ready to take your food or drink business beyond the kitchen table?
Whether you're looking to get your products onto retail shelves, supply hospitality businesses or grow into wholesale, the Beyond the Kitchen Table programme is designed to help you get there.

Over 12 expert-led online modules, you'll learn about:
✔️ Retail readiness
✔️ Packaging & accreditation
✔️ Finance
✔️ Foodservice requirements
✔️ Selling into retail & wholesale

You'll also benefit from networking opportunities, a live Producer Pitch and a Meet The Buyer event.

Beyond the Kitchen Table is:
✨ Fully funded
📅 Running from August – October 2026
❗ With Limited places available

Complete the Expression of Interest form on our website, if you would like a space on the programme: https://www.fadne.org/beyond-the-kitchen-table/

𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 (𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘚𝘈).

North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Small Business Service, Gateshead Council, Business Gateshead, Durham County Council, Business Durham, Northumberland National Park, North East Enterprise Agency.

16/07/2026

Calling all micro and small food and drink producers! Our specialised training programme for busy business owners returns this summer! ☀️

If you are an ambitious artisan or SME that is looking to grow into B2B channels such as retail, wholesale, hospitality and foodservice, then the Beyond The Kitchen Table programme is for you!

Featuring 12 short online modules that you can study at a self-guided pace, as well as in-person opportunities for live pitching and to meet with buyers.

Beyond The Kitchen Table is fully-funded and will run from August 2026 - October 2026 as part of the North East Rural Growth Programme.

Find out more, and express interest: https://www.fadne.org/beyond-the-kitchen-table

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 (𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘚𝘈).

North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Small Business Service, Gateshead Council, Business Gateshead, Durham County Council, Business Durham, Northumberland National Park, North East Enterprise Agency.

07/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for FADNE's Pricing, Strategy & Profitability Workshops yesterday, our first workshops held as part of the North East Rural Growth Programme.

A special thank you to our brilliant guest speakers for sharing their experiences so openly, and to everyone who contributed to the discussions, asked questions and shared their own insights. The level of engagement throughout the day showed just how valuable it is to learn from one another.

It was fantastic to see so many food, drink and hospitality businesses come together and we hope everyone left with practical ideas, fresh perspectives and new connections to help strengthen their businesses.

You can visit the events page on the FADNE website to see more upcoming workshop dates on Product Development and Branding, Positioning & Storytelling. https://www.fadne.org/events/

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 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘈𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺.

02/07/2026

Sign up now for our Pricing, Strategy & Profitability Workshops on Monday 6th July. We have limited spaces remaining, but welcome any food, drink and hospitality businesses who would like to join us!

During the workshop sessions you will:
✔ Hear from industry-leading speakers
✔ Learn from local business expertise
✔ Engage with tailored, practical content
✔ Join in interactive discussions and networking

These workshops, delivered as part of the North East Rural Growth Programme, have been designed specifically for the food, drink and hospitality sector. You'll hear from local businesses that understand the realities of operating in the North East, take part in interactive discussions, and gain actionable ideas you can apply to your own business.

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 (𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘚𝘈).

North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Small Business Service, Business Durham, Business Gateshead

Food and Drink North East

15/10/2026

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

24/08/2026

20/08/2026

12/08/2026

20/07/2026

16/07/2026

07/07/2026

02/07/2026

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