A City of Makers - The Sunderland Connection

From Uganda to London, Tropical Wholefoods’ story stretches far and wide but one place sits firmly at the core: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. A coastal city in the North East of England, Sunderland is shaped by industry, resilience and a long tradition of making things.

People from Sunderland are known as Mackems, a name rooted in the phrase “make them”. Mackems were the makers, the builders, the doers, and the city itself is built on that identity. There is a deep pride in honest work, skill and getting things right; values that align naturally with our approach to ethical sourcing and responsible manufacturing.

Sunderland was where Tropical Wholefoods established its first factory in the late 90s, near the iconic Fulwell Windmill. Our factory is now based in Southwick, just a ten-minute drive from the beautiful Seaburn seafront and a short walk from the River Wear, which flows past Durham Cathedral before reaching into the North Sea at Sunderland. 

The city’s industrial past is defined by shipbuilding, coal mining and glassmaking; industries that made Sunderland a world leader during the 19th century. At its peak, Sunderland was the leading shipbuilding port, producing a third of the UK’s ships, a remarkable legacy that is often overlooked today. In addition, the first English stained-glass window was made in Sunderland in 674 AD for St. Peter’s Church, where The Venerable Bede lived and studied. Since 1986, Nissan’s Sunderland plant has been a powerhouse of British manufacturing and a cornerstone of the North East economy, proving the history of global connection and craftsmanship still runs through the city.

You might not expect Sunderland to have played a crucial role in the UK’s Fairtrade movement, but the North East has long been home to pioneering alternative trade organisations, including Shared Interest and Traidcraft in Newcastle and Gateshead respectively. Sunderland achieved Fairtrade City status in 2007, reflecting the city’s international outlook and its people’s understanding of their role within the global economy.

Within Tropical Wholefoods’ Sunderland factory, this commitment led to a landmark moment: the development of the world’s first 100% Fairtrade snack bar which is a milestone that was, and remains, a source of huge pride for our team and our partners.

Today, Sunderland is a place of contrast, where industrial heritage meets a modern, evolving identity. Tropical Wholefoods is proud to be part of the history and forward momentum of this city of makers.

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