New food and drink business launched by Teesside wine retailer to support local restaurants

A Teesside food and drink company is set to launch following a delay caused by the country’s lockdown.

Urto Food & Beverage Co, founded by the owner of organic wine retailer One Day Wednesday, was initially conceived during the UK’s first lockdown in 2020, and is now set to launch as hospitality and non-essential retail stores open their doors.

The company will provide food and drink products to local independent restaurants, venues and shops, starting with artisan ice creams and wines.

It will operate under the banner of MIFB Limited, with founders Keith Miller, Steve Gordon and his father Graham Gordon running it alongside the One Day Wednesday brand.

Steve commented: “It’s great getting Keith and dad involved. We all wanted something extra to do with our time, and we all wanted to be involved with things we’re fans of.

“We’re all fans, in one way or another, of good food, good wine, good eateries and independent businesses.

I’m personally a firm believer that independent businesses are going to grow in importance in local communities, the lockdowns and the pandemic are only going to accelerate that.

Graham said: “We’re already in discussions with other manufacturers for other lines that will complement our core of ice cream and wine.

“We are most of the way there with a great independent distillery, and getting into talks with a great looking independent condiment manufacturer.

“Getting our AWRS (Alcohol Wholesalers Registration Scheme) approval in the later part of 2020 was a really important step to showing we’re serious.”

Keith added: “We can’t wait to get out and start meeting owners, operators and staff of the independent restaurants and shops on Teesside.

“We feel that quality products and a point of difference are going to be important to operators in a post-pandemic economy, especially to take advantage of the pent up demand.

“Overall our patch is probably north of York up to the Borders on the East coast and as far West as the Pennines, but we’re initially going to get to work locally.

“We’ve already had expressions of interest from some great restaurant owners and operators and we can’t wait to get behind them and get the Teesside economy pumping again.”

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