150 businesses sign up to Help Kent Buy Local since “lockdown”

www.helpkentbuylocal.co.uk #helpkentbuylocal 7th April 2020 - Since lockdown was announced over 150 food and drinks business have added their details to the website www.helpkentbuylocal.co.uk. The process takes just 5 mins and means that every business is immediately searchable by customers. The site has received 17,000 page visits since its launch. Today, additional functionality has been added to the site with a B2B map showing available stock (“Trade Stock”). “We are urging all growers, producers, distributors and manufacturers operating in the food and drink industry to list their available stock on the respective page.” Comments Floortje Hoette. “We’re keenly aware of the growing vulnerabilities in the food supply chain, Produced in Kent is helping to connect supply with demand and build local economic resilience through its campaign and microsite. In the longer term, the organisation is determined to establish a lasting change in mentality towards buying local produce, both in B2C and B2B interactions. The message will be Buy local and support the local economy – it helps us all in the long run.” #HelpKentBuyLocal is a campaign set up by Produced in Kent to support and promote the many independent local businesses working incredibly hard to grow, produce, prepare, sell and deliver food and drink to the Kent community during the Covid19 crisis. Produced in Kent’s new website www.helpkentbuylocal.co.uk has been live since last week, launching just 48 hours after lockdown was announced. The microsite illustrates which of the local food and drink outlets are still open and/or trading online in their area. All businesses, whether or not they are Produced in Kent members, can list their services on the site for free. Produced in Kent is encouraging food and drink businesses that are still operating to use the hashtag #helpkentbuylocal in their social media; this enables customers to find their services.