Fifty ways you can make a difference

Feb 6 2009 The Journal

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BREAD BAKED MORE LOCALLY THAN YOU THINK

Some of the biggest brands available on supermarket shelves produce their bread in the region, employing hundreds of staff.

1. Allied Bakeries in Gateshead make Kingsmill, which then fills the shelves at our local shops.

2. Warburtons also have a bakery in Newburn, Newcastle, which supplies stores across the North East.

3. And Premier Foods' production and distribution of Hovis all takes place at its Westerhope site, also in Newcastle.

ALCOHOL

4. Production may have crossed the water to Gateshead, but Newcastle Brown Ale, brewed by Scottish & Newcastle, remains a source of Geordie pride.

5. If you're heading to have a pint pulled for you, keep an eye out for our home-grown real ales. Northumberland breweries at Wylam, Allendale, Geltsdale, in Cumbria, and Camerons Brewery in Hartlepool all produce their own tipples, available at pubs throughout the region.

SOFT DRINKS

6. Hexham-based Fentiman's produces a range of pop with comfortingly old-fashioned flavours, from the original ginger beer to Curiosity Cola, Seville Orange Jigger and Dandelion & Burdock. Most of the major supermarkets stock part or all of the Fentiman's range, as well as quality delicatessens, farm shops and National Trust outlets.

7. Global brand Abbey Well started out as a small family run Morpeth business, where it has been run since 1910. Parent company Waters & Robson was bought out by US soft drinks giant Coca-Cola last year, but Abbey Well remains a staunchly North firm, drawing from a 117m-deep artesian well beneath the Northumberland countryside.

8. For something a little cooler, try any of Polar Krush's crushed-ice drinks. The entire production takes place in Wansbeck business park, Ashington, Northumberland.

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