Local food and drink champions Produced in Kent has appointed a new chair of its board.

Entrepreneur and self-made millionaire Sue Nelson, who is also an author and broadcaster, first joined the board of the membership organisation last year.

A member of the Guild of Food Writers and author of ten books including FoodTech UK and the Fine Food Lover’s Guide with Simon Rimmer, the co-host of Sunday Brunch, in 2017 she was awarded the Kent Business Woman of the Year title and won the London and South East Director of the Year Award for Innovation from the Institute of Directors in 2019.

In the last five years she has presented over 400 radio programmes as the lead presenter of the FoodTalk Show and TechTalk Show.

She founded Ashford-based Breakthrough Funding, which was sold to Ernst and Young in 2020. The year before, the company won the coveted UK Independent Tax Consultancy Firm award at the Tolley Awards for its role in gaining over £60million of funding for innovative UK start-ups.

Floortje Hoette, chief executive of Produced in Kent, which organises the annual Taste of Kent Awards, said: "We are excited by the wealth of industry knowledge that she brings with her. As chair of the board, Sue will be involved in key decision making and, together with the team, will ensure that the organisation puts sustainability, sector promotion and business growth at the heart of its mission.”

Sue Nelson added: "We have an impressive board with vast experience in the sector and I believe we really have made a difference to our members by supporting them in numerous ways during this hugely difficult period. Together we will work hard to attract more funding to our organisation and our members. We want to make sure that the Kent food and drink sector, which contributes £2.6bn to our economy each year, receives the support it needs and deserves.”

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