by Jackie Nunnery –
The Northern Neck Foundation (NNF) has been created with a goal of bringing back the beloved Northern Neck Ginger Ale, a product of Westmoreland County for nearly a century.
The group, whose board of directors includes four natives of the region, seeks other die-hard fans to form an advisory council to “assist in guiding the board of directors in making decisions and provide a resource pool to further the mission.”
Following its purchase by the Coca-Cola Company in 2001, production moved out of the Northern Neck to a plant in Sandston before the soda giant announced its discontinuation among 200 other “underperforming” brands in late 2020.
Despite petitions from fans and pleas from Virginia politicians, the soda’s fate was sealed and by November long lines formed locally as shoppers grabbed the last cans available.
Director of community outreach for the foundation Stephanie Johnson, a native of King George, started the Save Northern Neck Ginger Ale Facebook group in 2018 when product shortages and rumors first started forming. The group currently boasts nearly 7,000 members and support has been building for this latest uphill battle to bring the cultural icon back home.
Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Rob Wittman both urged Coca-Cola chief executive director James Quincey to find a way to resume production.
A survey on the foundation site that documents support of the brand currently has over 1,100 responses from six countries and 23 states. To apply for the advisory council, volunteer in the grassroots effort, sign the petition and complete the survey showing your support at savennkga.org.
