The recent BBC report on the closure of Fentimans’ Hexham office has understandably struck a chord across the town.
For decades, the botanically brewed drinks brand has been part of Hexham’s story. It has carried the town’s name far beyond Northumberland, turning a local business into a product recognised around the world. The loss of local jobs is therefore more than a business update. As residents and MP Joe Morris have said, it is something that will be deeply felt.
But while this marks a difficult change in Fentimans’ local presence, it is not the end of the story. In many ways, it is a reminder of just how far a North East brand can travel, and how much power there still is in products with a real sense of place.
Founded in 1905 by Thomas Fentiman, the company began with a simple but distinctive idea: botanically brewed drinks made using a traditional fermentation process. More than a century later, that heritage remains central to its appeal. Its glass bottles, vintage-style labels and flavours such as Curiosity Cola and Rose Lemonade have become instantly recognisable, not only in the UK, but in countries across the world.
From Hexham to the World
Fentimans is one of those rare brands that takes its hometown with it.
It is exported to more than 40 countries and stocked in premium retailers, bars and hotels across Europe, North America and Asia. For a company with roots in Northumberland, that is no small achievement.
There is something quietly powerful about seeing a brand from the North East turn up thousands of miles from home. I still remember picking up a bottle of Fentimans while travelling, on a boat far from the UK, turning it over and seeing “Hexham, Northumberland” on the label.
It was a small moment, but it stayed with me. A familiar name in an unfamiliar place. A reminder that local brands can carry more than flavour. They can carry identity, memory and pride.
That is the real strength of businesses like Fentimans. They are not just products. They are ambassadors for the places that shaped them.
A Difficult but Familiar Shift
The BBC’s reporting also highlights the harder reality behind the headlines. AG Barr’s decision to close the Hexham office, with 29 redundancies, reflects a wider pattern across the food and drink industry.
Consolidation, centralisation and the drive for efficiency have become increasingly common, particularly after acquisitions. For local communities, those decisions can be painful. Jobs are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are families, routines, friendships and local spending power.
At the same time, larger companies often argue that these changes are necessary to support long-term growth. AG Barr has said that integrating Fentimans into its wider operations will help support the brand’s future expansion. For a business with global ambitions, access to larger distribution networks and operational scale can make a significant difference.
That does not make the local impact any less real. But it does show the tension many heritage brands face as they grow: how to protect their roots while competing on a much bigger stage.
British Brands with Global Appeal
Fentimans’ story also sits within a much wider national picture.
The UK food and drink sector remains one of the country’s strongest export performers. Recent industry data shows that UK food and drink exports exceeded £24 billion in 2024, with further growth expected into 2026.
Premium soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages are among the categories attracting international attention. Around the world, consumers are increasingly drawn to brands with authenticity, provenance and a strong story behind them.
That is exactly where Fentimans has always had an advantage.
Its appeal is not only about taste. It is about heritage, craft and character. It is about the feeling that the product has come from somewhere real, with a story worth telling. In a global market full of generic brands, that kind of identity matters.
British branding still carries weight internationally, especially when it is connected to tradition and quality. For regional businesses, that creates a real opportunity.
The Opportunity for the North East
The closure of the Hexham office is undeniably a loss for the town. It represents the end of a chapter in Fentimans’ local story, and for those directly affected, the impact will be personal.
But it does not erase the brand’s roots. Nor does it erase what Hexham helped create.
If anything, Fentimans’ continued global recognition proves that powerful brands can grow from regional places. They do not need to begin in London, Manchester or a global headquarters. They can start in towns like Hexham, shaped by local people, local character and local ambition.
For Hexham and the wider North East, the challenge now is to keep nurturing the next generation of businesses with that same potential. Businesses that are proud of where they come from, but bold enough to reach far beyond it.
Because if a botanically brewed drink from Northumberland can end up in the hands of someone halfway across the world, still proudly carrying the name of Hexham on its label, then the story of regional British brands is far from over.
In fact, it may only be getting started.