Leading Kent food and drink producers, farmers and business such as The Chocolate Pig and The Wooden Spoon were amongst those recognised at this year’s Taste of Kent Awards (TOKA).

With two categories sponsored by Southern Co-op, the event was held on Thursday 15^th June at University of Kent, celebrating food and drink excellence across the county.

The winner of Kent Savoury Pantry Product of the Year, sponsored by Southern Co-op, was Eve’s Temptation Apple & Fig Chutney by The Wooden Spoon.

The winner of Kent Confectionery Product of the Year, sponsored by Southern Co-op, was The Spring Collection Box by The Chocolate Pig.

Floortje Hoette from Produced in Kent who run the awards explains: “It’s been another phenomenal year for the Taste of Kent Awards, and I congratulate all of the finalists and winners, they were all extremely impressive.  It’s also fantastic to have launched the very first Taste of Kent Awards Food and Drink Festival which enabled the public to sample the very best of Kent’s produce first-hand.”

The inaugural Taste of Kent Awards Food and Drink Festival was held before the awards ceremony on Thursday 15^th June, and is a brand-new event for 2023, devised to showcase the county’s fabulous tradition of excellence in food and drink.

The Taste of Kent Awards (TOKA) is now in its 18^th year and celebrates the tastiest food and drink of Kent. The awards shine a spotlight on the regions excellence in producing fine quality British produce.

Matt Elliott, who looks after Southern Co-op’s Local Flavours range said: “We’re a regional co-operative so we work hard to showcase some of the south coast’s best food and drink in our retail stores including Seasalter’s Faversham Road, Lenham’s Faversham Road, Minster’s Monkton Road, Ashford’s Loudon Way, and Whitstable’s Cromwell Road. We’re proud to support local producers through our Local Flavours range and through the Taste of Kent Awards.

“We’ve been proud to support the Taste of Kent Awards for three years and have seen some incredible talent in that time. This is echoed in our retail stores as we stock a range of regional food and drink in our Local Flavours range including several of the award winners! We’re looking forward to seeing what this year holds and finding even more businesses working together for a more sustainable future.”

The award sponsors include Southeastern, The University of Kent, Kent County Council, Brachers, Canterbury BID, Crowe UK, EKC Group, Jestic Foodservice Solutions, NFU Mutual Ashford Tenterden & Whitfield, Oxbury, Primed, Port of Dover, Shepherd Neame, the University of Greenwich, Social Enterprise Kent, Southern Co-op and Visit Kent.

For more information and the full list of winners please go to  https://tasteofkentawards.co.uk