Sponsors

Produced in Kent would like to thank all the sponsors of the 2010 Taste of Kent Awards.

Main Sponsor

Sponsor:	Whitehead Monckton
Description:	With offices in both Maidstone and Tenterden, Whitehead Monckton has grown to be one of the largest legal practices in the County. We are also a legal and financial practice unique to Kent and are proud to be so. Whitehead Monckton is proud to be one of the key sponsors of the 2009 Taste of Kent Awards. Having previously been a category sponsor and a long term sponsor of Produced in Kent and its members, we are pleased to have increased our involvement this year. The awards celebrate and reward outstanding food and drink producers and retailers who are committed to doing business in Kent. We are thrilled to be a part of the encouragement and commendation that the Taste of Kent Awards give its entrants and winners. www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk

Special Category

Sponsor:	Love Food Hate Waste
Description:	To celebrate this year's partnership between Produced in Kent and Love Food Hate Waste, both organisations are searching for a Produced in Kent member who encapsulates all that Love Food Hate Waste stands for by launching the brand new Love Food Hate Waste Award. www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

Category Sponsors

Sponsor:	Barclays Bank
Category:	Kent Food Producer of the Year
Description:	Barclays Bank is delighted to be sponsoring the Kent Food Producer of the Year in this year's Taste of Kent Awards. Barclays has a strong customer base in the agriculture and rural sectors in Kent and understands the food producer businesses. This is therefore an ideal award for the Bank to be supporting. www.barclays.co.uk
Sponsor:	Cask Marque
Category:	Best Kentish Beer
Description:	Kent has a rich heritage of producing fine hops and even finer ale, enjoyed by drinkers throughout the UK and abroad. As the custodians of good quality cask ale served in pubs throughout the British Isles, Cask Marque are extremely proud to sponsor the Best Kentish Beer category, and to be associated with this years Taste of Kent Awards.
Sponsor:	Bennett Opie
Category:	Kent Food Product
Description:	Bennett Opie Ltd are delighted to be sponsoring this years Kent Food Product of the Year category. Using local quality ingredients where ever possible and producing quality foods to best manufacturing practice. www.b-opie.com
Sponsor:	Biddenden Vineyards
Category:	Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year
Description:	Biddenden Vineyards & Cider works, Kents largest producer of traditional ciders and farm pressed apple juices, have consistently increased sales of these products to independently owned Public Houses in Kent. We are therefore delighted to have this opportunity to sponsor Best Kent Local Food Retailer category, in the Taste of Kent Awards 2008. www.biddendenvineyards.com
Sponsor:	Hadlow College
Category	Kent Seafood Retailer of the Year
Description:	The college is delighted to be sponsoring this award for seafood. The development of our new fisheries farm and complex coupled with our excellent educational programs in this area, make for a logical supporter. www.hadlow.ac.uk
Sponsor:	Hadlow College
Category:	Kent Farmers' Market of the Year
Description:	As the county's leading land-based College, and exponent of sourcing good quality, locally grown produce, Hadlow College is delighted to sponsor the Kent Farmers' Market of the Year Award. Through constant dialogue with the rural sector, we've adapted and extended our courses whilst allowing industry to utilise the vast range of resources which we possess. Since our foundation we've been involved in fresh produce and a champion of sustainability and lower carbon footprints. www.hadlow.ac.uk
Sponsor:	Kent County Council
Category:	Kent Juice Producer of the Year

Sponsor:	Kent Life
Category:	Best Kentish Wine
Description:	Kent Life has worked closely with Produced in Kent since the very first Food and Drink Awards and is delighted to be sponsoring the Best Kentish Wine of the Year. As a magazine, we are committed to championing local produce and in our growing food and drink section, our news pages, restaurant reviews and people profiles all reflect the range and breadth of products available in the Garden of England. Keep up to date with the leading county title at: www.kent-life.co.uk.
Sponsor:	KFF
Category:	Kent Pub of the Year
Description:	KFF is delighted to be sponsoring the Best Pub category. Marketing Manager Andy Weir: "More and more operators are realising the benefits of buying locally, which presents a fantastic opportunity for Kent as the Garden of England offers some of the finest produce in Europe. KFF is proud to support local businesses and food producers who are committed to providing top quality local produce and this is reflected throughout KFF's product range."
Sponsor:	SEEDA
Category:	Kent Butcher/Meat Producer of the Year

Sponsor:	Visit Kent
Category:	Kent Restaurant of the Year
Description:
Sponsor:	WK Finn-Kelcey
Category:	Best Kentish Cider and Perry
Description	The practice of WK Finn-Kelcey has been associated with the farming fraternity in Kent for nearly 100 years. The association encompasses all land aspects from arable and animal husbandry to fruit, as well as dealing with merchants and those associated with the countryside. We are therefore delighted to be able to sponsor the Kent Cider and Perry category, a programme associated with a sector that has a ferocious appetite to produce with innovation, passion and commitment. Furthermore, from the partnership's aspect, being given the opportunity to say 'thank you' to a sector which in itself rewards the staff and partners is a real privilege. We would like to wish every success to all participants.

Media Partners

Partner:	BBC Kent
Partner:	KOS Media
Partner:	Kent Life