Good Food Growth in Kent supported by South East Local Enterprise Partnership
Buyers from across the UK will experience a showcase of Kent food and drink at a Good Food Growth Meet the Buyer event being held on 10th February at The Hop Farm near Paddock Wood.
“A recent Which? Survey revealed that 90 per cent of people in the UK are more likely to buy British-made products and that local food and drink is good for the environment,” said Graham Peters DL, Vice Chairman, South East Local Enterprise Partnership.
“The event will include a range of the very best produce from our region with the goal of attracting more customers for our local businesses and to encourage shops, wholesalers and restaurants, both inside and outside the region, to serve and sell more produce made here.”
Around 40 local artisan producers will be offering tastings and introducing their stories to buyers, with a wide range of products including fresh produce, meat, dairy, ambient products, baked goods, soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits. Among them are Biddenden Vineyards, Hinxden Farm Dairy, Kent Crisps, Kent Cider Co, Simply Ice Cream Ltd, Old Dairy Brewery, Greensand Ridge Distillery, Karimix UK, Cheesemakers of Canterbury and many more.
The Good Food Growth project is funded by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), with support from Produced in Kent, and is intended to boost the local rural economy. It is being managed by Natural Partnerships CIC and has already held a series of networking and training workshops for local food and drink producers over the past year to help them attract new customers and build their businesses.
There are still some free places available for food and drink producers to book a table at the event and buyers, whether they be local farm shop owners, chefs, caterers, wholesalers or multiple retailers, can also register by emailing paula@naturalpr.biz