Different look for Taste North East England
Taste North East England, a consortium aimed at developing the region's food and drink sector, launches on Monday with a brand strategy and identity crafted by Newcastle-based Different.
Backed by regional development agency One North East, the consortium is made up of fine food group The Northumbria Larder, The North East Chamber of Commerce and Improve, the regional training skills council for the food and drink sector.
The consortium won the contract to deliver One North East's economic and business strategy for the region last year. It then put out a tender for the creation of a corporate identity and brand strategy.
Following a three-way unpaid pitch, Different scooped the task of producing an identity, branding and its implementation.
Different managing director, Ben Quigley said: "The marque serves two purposes - to identify the corporate body promoting the food and drink sector in the region, but also to work as a consumer-facing stamp of authenticity showing a product's roots in the North East.
"It's the fledgling [local food] companies that benefit most from this type of organisation."
The identity is set to be rolled out across the packaging of consumer food and drink brands, corporate literature, events, exhibitions and training materials, as well as a website.
One North East has apportioned £2million of funding for Taste North East England over the next four years, but this is expected to be supplemented by other 'commercial sources'.