insideKENT Magazine Issue 97 - April 2020 | Page 85

FOOD+DRINK
PRODUCED IN KENT:
GOING STRONG SINCE 2005
ITS LOGO IS WELL-KNOWN AND RECOGNISED IN KENT AND BEYOND. DISPLAYING A QUINTESSENTIAL
KENT OAST HOUSE AND APPLE ORCHARD, IT ENCAPSULATES THE COUNTY’S TAGLINE THE GARDEN
OF ENGLAND AND THE RURAL SPIRIT OF ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AREAS IN THE UK.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary on
the 12th of July 2020, Produced in
Kent has been a passionate promotor
of Kent food and drink throughout
the years.
Starting out as Kentish Fare in 2005,
the membership organisation –
besides Hampshire Fare the only
specialised organisation in the
southeast – has built a diverse and
loyal membership base and is now a
recognised trade body for the food
and drink industry in the county. A
flourishing industry by all accounts,
contributing around £2.6 billion to
the UK economy, providing over
18,000 jobs and acting as a trailblazer
for local and sustainable food.
Produced in Kent proudly represents
a growing number of award-winning
businesses; producing, manufacturing,
selling, and serving the finest
in food and drink Kent has on offer.
The Great Taste Awards, described
as the Oscars of food and drink, saw
an exceptional 28 Kent products
winning awards in 2020. drink businesses in Kent. But people in Kent are buying local, forced
by circumstances but also because they want to support our local business
community. The Kent community is resilient, is pulling together and will come
through this as long as we all help each other. There are some amazing stories
out there on how businesses are adapting already to what seems to be the new
‘normal’ for now.”
With British food and drink becoming
increasingly popular in and outside of
the UK, a booming wine industry in
the county and a growing number
of foodie tourists flocking to Kent’s
trendy and quirky cafes, pubs, food
halls and restaurants, new Produced
in Kent chief executive Floortje Hoette
is confident that the sector will
continue to grow and prosper in the
years ahead. Now that events and professional gatherings have been put on hold for the
foreseeable future, Produced in Kent’s focus will shift fully to online promotion
of all Kent food and drink businesses – members and non-members.
“COVID-19 is currently putting an
enormous strain on our industry and
the coming months will be incredibly
challenging for the many food and Produced in Kent’s message to the public is simple and clear: #HelpKentBuyLocal.
For more information about where you can Buy Local, to subscribe to our
newsletter or what Produced in Kent can do for you as a business, visit:
www.producedinkent.co.uk or call: 01732 853170.
Initiatives undertaken to boost business sales, be it home deliveries, food collections,
changing opening hours or gift and voucher schemes will be shared on social
media, and listed on its website and weekly consumer e-newsletter. Produced in
Kent will also push out background stories on the many inspiring ways in which
Kent food and drink businesses are coping, and hopefully encourage even more
Kent residents to support them.
85