A P r o u d Vi r g i n i a T r a d i t i o n Since 1926 •
OF NORTHERN
CULTURAL & HISTORICAL ICONS
PRESERVATION
NECK
northern neck foundation board of
Stephanie Johnson
Director Community Outreach*
Native
directors
King George
Business Development
Native
Savannah carabin
Director
King George
Operations Richmond County Native
Director Multidisciplinary Westmoreland Native *Founder of the Save Northern Neck Ginger Ale Facebook Group Member #5 Director Joining early 2023 Northern Neck Native
Kathy morse clarke
Director
CHIP JONES
MISSION STATEMENT
COMMUNITY-BASED VALUES
To promote the preservation of Northern Neck cultural and historical icons such as Northern Neck Ginger Ale through stewardship, leadership, and community engagement.
OUR MOTTO “Create. Not for the money. Not for the fame. Not for the recognition. But for the pure joy of creating something and sharing it.” ~ Ernest Barbaric
www.savennkga.org
NNKGA History
Dating back to 1926, Northern Neck Ginger Ale (NNKGA), originally known as "Carver's Ginger Ale", was proudly crafted and produced in Montross, Virginia (Westmoreland County).
In 2001, Coca-Cola purchased the NNKGA recipe from the Carver family and shifted production to their plant in Sandston, VA.
Citing an aluminum can shortage at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Coca-Cola ceased production of NNKGA in July 2020. In October 2020, the company announced that the discontinuation would become permanent. (The Virginian Pilot, 2020)
"Arthur E. Carver III, owner of Northern Neck Bottling Co., stands on the bottling line at his ginger ale bottling plant in Montross, Va., in this 1999 file photo. Carver, a third-generation bottler, has been selling his two ginger ales, Northern Neck Ginger Ale and Carver's Original, to local customers for years. Now he's trying to take them and his company to a wider market." (AP
Arthur E. Carver, III
Northern Neck Bottling Co.
Photo/Richmond Times-Dispatch, Lawrence Latane, File) (LAWRENCE LATANE / Associated Press)
Counties Communities 78,000+
Residents
A short drive from the mid-Atlantic metropolitan areas, one can truly step back in time and experience the road less traveled. From Northern Virginia and points west, begin your driving tour along State Route 3. Steeped in history, it’s a land where generations of watermen continue to harvest rockfish, blue crabs, and the ever-famous Virginia oyster from the waters surrounding the peninsula. Family-owned produce farms are still flourishing, so don’t pass up an opportunity to stop at one of our many roadside stands and farmers markets to meet our local producers…they are all part of the experience.
www.northernneck.org 5 16
THE STRATEGY TO SAVE NNKGA
our plan: to save...
STEP 1: The Northern Neck Foundation (NNF) is formed and dedicated to the preservation of Northern Neck cultural and historical icons.
STEP 2: An online survey /petition is created to ascertain community support.
STEP 3: The Northern Neck localities are provided with a Resolution template for formal adoption that recognizes and attests to the cultural icon status of NNKGA.
STEP 4: Elected officials at the local, state, and national levels are engaged to garner support.
Northern neck ginger ale
STEP 5: The Save Northern Neck Ginger Ale Advisory Council is formed. The group consists of strategically selected individuals whose careers, talents, connections, and skills can guide the NNF Board of Directors.
STEP 6: The NNF seeks official 501(c)(3) non-profit status.
STEP 7: Enlist the assistance of the Virginia [Economic & Tourism Boards] to facilitate a negotiation between the CocaCola Company and the NNF. Incentive Coca-Cola to donate the brand and production rights to the NNF to ensure its perpetuity and stimulate economic growth in our community.
U ltim a t e Go a l Production of NNKGA is resumed on the Northern Neck through contract with a local bottling company.
A grassroots movement
PROGRESS
formal resolutions
On December 6, 2022, the King George County, VA Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in support of the Save Northern Neck Ginger Ale movement. The Board of Supervisors of Westmoreland County, VA, the original birthplace of Northern Neck Ginger Ale, followed suit on December 12, 2022.
The Town of Warsaw and Richmond County have added adopting similar resolutions to their respective agendas in January 2023.
Congressional support
On December 13, 2022, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) penned an open letter to Mr. James Quincey, Chief Executive Officer of the Coca-Cola Company. In response to King George County and Westmoreland County adopting resolutions and Senator Kaine's letter, interest in the "Save Northern Neck Ginger Ale" Facebook group spiked with an 11% growth in membership.
Analysis
conducted an online survey to determine
1,167 RESPONDENTS 6 COUNTRIES 23 STATES 81% HAVE DIRECT TIES TO THE NORTHERN NECK Interactive Map | Please visit www.savennkga.org/survey-map SURVEY & PETITION
Market
The NNF
the desired outcome of Northern Neck Ginger Ale's return.
64% 61% 0 cases 21 1-5 cases 523 6-10 cases 380 11-20 cases 53 20+ 102 The percentage of survey takers that would rather see a local business own/operate/produce Northern Neck Ginger Ale instead of Coca-Cola Said Northern Neck Ginger Ale has been a staple in their home since they were a child or since before they could remember Respondents were asked how many 12-packs of 12oz cans of Northern Neck Ginger Ale would they purchase if there was one last production AND how much they would pledge to purchase per month if production was brought back regularly. The responses are as shown: 0 cases 21 1-5 cases 523 6-10 cases 380 11-15 cases 53 16-20 cases 102 21-50 cases 54 51+ cases 33 ONE TIME PRODUCTION REGULAR PRODUCTION Average (sans outliers*): 12.27 Mode: 10 Range: 0-100000000 Average: 2.91 Mode: 2 Range: 0-40 *outliers were 3 responses over 500 with no pattern 62% Said they want to see Northern Neck Ginger Ale return with a taste true to the original Carver recipe(Pre-2001), 21.4% said they were not partial to the Carver recipe or Coca-Cola recipe. Individual INTEREST WANT TO HELP CANVASS THE COMMUNITY 140 164 WOULD BE INTERESTED IN INVESTING 40 WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE MISSION FINANICALLY
1 2 500 400 300 200 100 0
a scale of 1 to 5, how would you feel about only being able to purchase Northern
Ale from a small business such as a locally owned grocery store/IGA/market or restaurant exclusively?
stores
where respondents
see Northern
sold:
County
Store
Get
Zip
Collectibles
Deli
On
Neck Ginger
Locally-owned
frequently mentioned
would like to
Neck Ginger Ale
Tri-Star Supermarket - Kilmarnock, VA Halls Supermarket - Colonial Beach, VA
Line Market - Callao, VA Thomas'
- Emmerton, VA
&
- Kilmarnock, VA Colonial
- Warsaw, VA Wilkins Grocery - Montross, VA BirdDog’s Country Store - Montross, VA Jeff's Country Market - Heathsville, VA Little River Market &
- Reedville, VA Deltaville Market - Deltaville, VA Garner's Produce - Warsaw, VA Pammy's Produce - Tappahannock, VA Libby Market - Richmond, VA
Hubs
Strongly Against Strongly For
Lovettsville Cooperative Market - Loudon, VA The
Vine - Franklin, VA Watts & Sons - Dunnsville, VA Harrison's Grocery - Dinwiddie, VA Rt 1 Amish Country Store - Dinwiddie, VA Glen Allen Market - Glen Allen, VA
BEVERAGE OF CHOICE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES THAT RELOCATED TO THIS PART OF THE USA WEDDING BEVERAGE LOCAL DOCTORS USED TO PRESCRIBE IT BY NAME HOLIDAY BEVERAGE What does nnkga mean to you? POPULAR GIFT FORM OF CURRENCY WHEN REPAYING OTHERS FOR FAVORS REQUESTED BY THOSE TERMINALLY ILL CULTURAL ICON NO OTHER BEVERAGE CAN COMPARE PURCHASING FOR DISTRIBUTION TO OTHER AREAS OF THE U.S. FOR FRIENDS/FAMILY BEST DIET BEVERAGE ON THE MARKET 11 COMMON THEMES IN THE 735 RESPONSES TO THIS QUESTION
OUTREACH
Conversations with Coca-Cola
Community events & petitions
has
businesses
They’ve
RESUME PRODUCTION
Please write/call Coca-Cola
work
Coca-Cola
been approached by individuals and
with blank checks BUT THEY WON’T SELL.
been asked to bring back NNKGA BUT THEY WON'T
even on a seasonal basis.
and URGE THEM to
with the Northern Neck Foundation.
media coverage
Marketing Campaigns Two (2) billboards around the Richmond, VA area have been secured, t-shirts, stickers, local artisan wares and artwork have hit the market. Fundraising for resources has also begun.
The “Save Northern Neck Ginger Ale” Team has had an active presence at fairs and festivals throughout the Northern Neck to rally support and signatures.
This movement has been gaining traction since the official announcement with
and fundraising efforts. efforts
We have been in contact with every town & county in the Northern Neck and have requested they adopt a resolution in support of our foundation.
local government resolutions
How can you help?
as an INDIVIDUAL as a business
Contact your local Board of Supervisors and ask that they adopt a resolution, allocate resources, and support the Northern Neck Foundation. Share the survey/petition with everyone you know -even if they didn't get the chance to try Northern Neck Ginger Ale, but want to. Contact your elected officials and encourage them to deploy economic development assistance to partner with the Northern Neck Foundation to facilitate negotiations with Coca-Cola.
Make a public commitment to sell Northern Neck Ginger Ale if it returns to production. Whether you provide physical space to offer the product for sale OR create your own specialty product using it as your main ingredient, every pledge will make a difference. Use your platform to encourage people to spread the word, fill out the survey, sign petitions, and contact their elected officials and local/state agencies for assistance.
F I N D U S ON S O CIA L M E D I A Connect With Us! Ideas, comments, compliments, and feedback are always welcome. www.savennkga.org hello@savennkga.org Save Northern Neck Ginger Ale PRESERVATION OF NORTHERN NECK CULTURAL & HISTORICAL ICONS