Local thinking has opposition licked

Feb 17 2009 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

NORTH East support has seen an ice cream maker lick its opposition. Since it was born in 2000, Doddington Dairy’s luxury ice cream has continued to win admirers across the region.

Now their quirky range of flavours has been added to the snacks list at the Metro Radio Arena.

The deal, which first saw the specially-packaged products added to the arena freezers for the first time this winter, is potentially worth £10,000 a year to the family farm, based near Wooler, Northumberland.

It means the popular flavours, including Chainbridge Honey and Newcastle Brown Ale are now available at big venues The Sage Gateshead, the Journal Tyne Theatre, Northern Stage, and Alnwick Garden, as well as the region’s National Trust and English Heritage sites.

Owners Neill and Jackie Maxwell claim it is this support from local stockists, and popularity among North East families which has helped their business stay strong as the recession impacted on the region.

Mr Maxwell said: “It has meant the difference between the business succeeding or failing. We still do more than 75% of our business in the North East and we’re looking to see that grow.

“We live in a very quiet part of the world economically.

“Without local support, from local businesses – instead of buying from national producers – we wouldn’t be surviving.

“There’s not a lot of people in Northumberland, but if they make their support count, then local businesses work. That’s been shown with us.

“We’re a small business, but we’ve been able to secure the support of big organisations from the region, which has made a huge difference to us.”