FOOD + DRINK
TASTE OF KENT AWARDS
2026 WINNERS
PIT STOP GENERAL STORE, SPECIALITY BREADS AND DRIFT. TAKE TOP HONOURS AT THE 20TH TASTE OF KENT AWARDS.
The best of Kent’ s food and drink was celebrated at the 20th Taste of Kent Awards( TOKA), with Gold awards going to producers, retailers, markets and hospitality businesses from across the county. Among the big winners were Folkestone’ s Pit Stop General Store, who took home two Golds for their Croissant Crisps; Medway’ s own Trufflus from Rochester, whose Roasted Hazelnut & Cocoa Spread was named Kent Sweet Pantry Product of the Year; Margate bakery Speciality Breads, who won the Kent Food & Drink Innovation Award; and Whitstable restaurant Drift., named Kent Dining Experience of the Year just six months after opening.
Held on Thursday 8 October at the GlassBox Theatre, MidKent College’ s Medway Campus in Gillingham, the ceremony moved to Medway for the first time thanks to head sponsor, the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich- part of the London and South East University Group- and venue sponsor MidKent College. The evening was hosted by broadcaster Julie Maddocks and food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden, who also led this year’ s judging as head judge.
Products were blind tasted in July by a panel of chefs, buyers, food writers, sponsors and sector specialists at the Jestic Foodservice Solutions Test Kitchen in Paddock Wood. The four retail and hospitality categories started with a public vote, followed by judging and a mystery visit to each of the top three.
Pit Stop General Store’ s Croissant Crisps won Gold in both Kent Product Innovation of the Year and Kent Confectionery & Snack Product of the Year. The palmier-style snack cuts food waste by using unsold croissants from local bakeries and cafés, and is made with Kent cream in a twicebaked process. One judge summed it up in a single word: amazing.
Winterdale Cheesemakers in Fairseat held on to Kent Cheese of the Year with Winterdale Shaw, which also took Gold in 2024. Shepherd Neame made a clean sweep of Kent Beer of the Year, with 1698 taking Gold, and Tankerton Smokeshed Smoked Salmon was a unanimous Gold in the Fresh Fish or Seafood category, with the judges calling it outstanding, exceptional and absolutely stunning. Silverhand Estate’ s Strawberries and Cream Rosé 2025 was named Kent Wine of the Year, and Whitstable’ s Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium won Kent Dairy Product of the Year with its Brown Butter and Rosemary, Sour Plum Ice Cream.
TASTE OF KENT AWARDS GOLD WINNERS 2026
Kent Beer of the Year 1698, Shepherd Neame, Faversham
Kent Casual Food & Drink Experience of the Year Woodchurch Wine Estate, Woodchurch
Kent Cheese of the Year Winterdale Shaw, Winterdale Cheesemakers, Fairseat
Kent Cider of the Year Grafter, Kentish Pip Cider, Bekesbourne
Kent Confectionery & Snack Product of the Year Croissant Crisps, Pit Stop General Store, Folkestone
Kent Dairy Product of the Year Brown Butter and Rosemary, Sour Plum Ice Cream, Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium, Whitstable
Kent Dining Experience of the Year Drift., Whitstable
Kent Food & Drink Innovation Award Speciality Breads, Margate
Kent Food & Drink Market of the Year Lenham Country Market, Lenham
Kent Food & Drink Superstar Award Daniel Jackson, Production Manager, Speciality Breads, Margate
Kent Fresh Fish or Seafood Product of the Year Tankerton Smokeshed Smoked Salmon, Whitstable
Kent Independent Retailer of the Year Groombridge Farm Shop, Groombridge
Kent Meat Product of the Year Single Rib of Beef, S. W. Doughty, Doddington
Kent Non-Alcoholic Cold Drink of the Year Spiced Apple Juice, Chegworth Valley, Harrietsham
Kent Non-Alcoholic Hot Drink of the Year Good Night Blend, Bergamia Tea, Sittingbourne
Kent Product Innovation of the Year Croissant Crisps, Pit Stop General Store, Folkestone
Kent Ready Meals & Prepared Food Product of the Year The Luxury Seafood Boil Home Cook Kit, The Seafood Deli Kitchen, St Mary’ s Bay
Kent Savoury Bakery Product of the Year Smoked Ham, Leek and Cheddar Quiche, Liz Reid, Tunbridge Wells
Kent Savoury Pantry Product of the Year Kentish Tomato Chutney, Karimix, Faversham
Kent Spirit of the Year Amaretto Liqueur, Pleasant Land Distillery, Sandgate
Kent Sustainable Business of the Year HatHats Coffee Company, Whitstable
Kent Sweet Bakery Product of the Year Kentish Fruit Huffkin, Gilda Bakery, Bishopsbourne
Kent Sweet Pantry Product of the Year Roasted Hazelnut & Cocoa Spread, Trufflus, Rochester
Kent Wine of the Year Silverhand Strawberries and Cream Rosé 2025, Silverhand Estate, Luddesdown
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