From huge musical talent, amazing football players to popular entertainment stars, Merseyside is known for its innovation and creativity.
It comes as no surprise then that the region also produces globally-recognised brands and products used by people all across the world.
From food brands, to shopping channels to online retailers, Merseyside has it all and a hub of innovation.
READ MORE: School's message to parents after teen stabbed outside
The likes of Home Bargains are synonymous with our region, while other brands and products represent some of our proudest exports.
However some may surprise you.
While some were founded and built right here on Merseyside, others are companies that chose to base their headquarters in our region, bringing with them amazing jobs and opportunities.
Here are some famous names that are manufactured or based right here in Merseyside.
Jacob's Crackers
The Jacob's factory on Long Lane in Aintree produces millions of cream crackers each year - with more than half a billion individual Jacob’s crackers sold each year.
A whopping 24 million packs of Jacob’s cream crackers are sold each year, with another 3.3 million packs of biscuits for cheese selling over the same period.
Employing around 500 staff, the bakery even has a “biking baker” who cycles the length of the 90 metre production line to check oven temperatures.
The site has been operating in Aintree for over 100 years - and it was the first ever Jacob’s factory to be built in England.
United Biscuits celebrated the factory’s centenary back in 2014 - and Aintree remains the primary producer of Jacob’s products in the UK, including cream crackers and Twiglets.
Over 100 years since the factory first opened in Aintree, it is still making cream crackers in the same way - by allowing the dough to ferment and rise for seven hours.
Nichols
Based in Newton-le-Willows, Nichols exports to more than 70 countries around the world with Vimto being particularly popular in the Middle East.
Its other brands include Feel Good, Starslush, Levi Roots and Sunkist.
Home Bargains
The Liverpool-born bargain retail giant was founded by 21-year-old Tom Morris back in 1976, with the first branch of what was then 'Home and Bargains' in Old Swan.
From initially boasting takings of £100 a week, the careful and "conservative" stewardship of Tom and his brothers has guided the brand to stratospheric heights.
It may have dropped the 'and', but Home Bargains now boasts more than 500 stores and employs 22,000 staff - with the Morris clan worth a reported £3.59 billion.
The company owns many of its own stores and paid £49 million in corporation tax in 2018, reportedly more than double that of Facebook.
In 2019, the chain made a bigger profit than London flagship store Harrods, boasting £184 million after tax.
Unil ever
Port Sunlight is the centre for Unilever’s home care and personal care research and development, with major programmes for hair, laundry, deodorants and household care being run from the site.
World famous brands such as Dove, Sunsilk, Domestos, TRESemmé, Comfort and Surf all have 'Port Sunlight technology' inside.
The consumer goods company produces everything from tea to ice cream and shampoo to skincare including household brands such as PG Tips, Ben & Jerry's and Marmite.
The Port Sunlight site is home to the global innovation and development centres for the company's hair and laundry products.
Unilever have scientists developing oral care, deodorant and household care products, with a large microbiology facility and a pilot plant that allows staff to manufacture prototype shampoos, fabric conditioners, toothpastes, deodorants and laundry liquids.
B&M
B&M, headquarted in Liverpool, was founded in Blackpool in 1978. It now has 600 stores in the UK and in 2010 it moved into a new head office and 620,000 square foot distribution centre in Speke.
In 2017, B&M acquired the total issued share capital of Heron Foods Group, adding the frozen chilled food convenience store chain in the UK to the B&M Group.
Argos catalogue
As children we all spent hours flipping through the Argos catalogue toy section but did you know they are actually printed here on Merseyside?
The retailer’s directory is printed by Prinovis which is based on the Liverpool International Business Park in Speke.
Other clients that have used the £125m printing plant include OK! Magazine, The Sunday Times Magazine, Asda, IKEA, Boots and B&Q.
Typhoo
Based in Moreton, Wirral, Typhoo is Britain’s third biggest tea maker.
The factory in Moreton, Wirral, packs 16,000 tonnes of tea every year - equivalent to the weight of almost 3,000 Asian elephants.
It makes 125m tea bags a week in order to quench Britain’s thirst for a brew.
The factory, which covers 307,420 sq ft, used to be a Cadbury biscuit plant, but was refitted in the 70s by Typhoo.
Princes Food
Liverpool-based food and drink giant Princes has its head office in Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building on the city’s waterfront.
The company produces everything from tinned tuna to Branston baked beans and Napolina tinned tomatoes and oils.
Princes dates back to 1880 when it was established as a fish importing business in Liverpool.
Very
The online retailer has its headquarters at Shop Direct in Speke.
Its predecessor was Littlewoods Direct and since launching in 2009 Very has become hugely popular.
It has attracted celebrity endorsements, with TV presenters Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton both creating collections and appearing in adverts. Former Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh has also worked as a celebrity designer for the brand.
QVC
The TV shopping channel is based on Knowsley Industrial Park near Kirkby.
Famous for demonstrating products live on TV, the business employs nearly 2,000 people at its Merseyside call centre and distribution warehouse (the broadcasting takes place in London).
And if you never knew what QVC stands for, it’s Quality, Value, Convenience.
Renshaw (n early all of England’s marzipan)
When you next tuck into a sweet marzipan filled treat, chances are the almond paste was made close to home.
Liverpool company Renshaw is said to make 90% of the country’s marzipan at its factory, just off Upper Parliament Street.
The company was founded back in 1885 by members of the Allmey and Layfield families. A century on, it merged with London-based marzipan specialist Renshaw and all production moved to Liverpool in 1991.
