Sponsored Editorial

On Tuesday, May 11, Produced in Kent will be celebrating the best food and drink to come out of our beautiful county at its virtual Taste of Kent Awards (TOKA) ceremony.

Taking place from 7.30-9pm, it has been made possible thanks to the support of TOKA sponsors Southeastern, Southern Co-op and NFU Mutual - Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield.

The general public is invited to join the celebrations online and show their support for the fantastic finalists and winners.

Next to more familiar categories, the Diversification Award, Sustainability Award and Community Award champion businesses who have gone the extra mile in this very challenging past year to produce, manufacture, sell or serve the finest local food and drink to Kent residents and visitors.

Floortje Hoette, CEO of Produced in Kent, said: "The finalists of the 2021 Taste of Kent Awards are the face of the local independent food and drink sector – a sector we as Produced in Kent are immensely proud to represent. A sector which plays a hugely important role in Kent’s rural economy: creating jobs, preserving the countryside, helping to protect the environment and attracting investors, businesses, families and visitors to our county. A sector which deserves our recognition and support – not just in times of Covid but always. Every day.

In the week following the awards ceremony, Produced in Kent – in collaboration with Cene magazine - will publish its first ever Taste of Kent magazine which puts all TOKA finalists in the limelight, telling the background stories to their business and sustainable practices, and sharing the tastiest recipes using their produce and product.

The magazine will be distributed across hospitality businesses and other selected outlets in Kent and can be read online as well.

Jonathan Neame, CEO Shepherd Neame added: "The combination of Brexit and Covid has made us all think long and hard about what we eat and where it comes from. All local producers and all who produce sustainably have now go a golden opportunity to retain the customers that they have gained during the last year. Within Kent we have the finest food and drink producers in the UK so I congratulate all that are nominated this year and wish all of them the best of luck in their businesses going forward."

Amanda Cottrell OBE, patron of Produced in Kent, added: "Food and drink businesses in Kent have worked so hard to make it through the hugely challenging year that was 2020, but they have also shown an incredible community spirit. The many ways in which they reached out and helped the shielding, elderly, lonely and otherwise afflicted groups during the Covid pandemic is heart-warming and makes me immensely proud to be a Kent resident."

To book your free ticket to the Taste of Kent Awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 11 and to view the Taste of Kent magazine (after May 17), click here.

For further details on the event and to view all the categories click here.