Good News for Kent Food and Drinks Businesses

Produced in Kent - known locally as the voice of Kent Food and Drink – shares what its members have been working on over the past very testing month or so: An incredible 16 business have launched new products in the last month, 128 businesses have started home delivery, 10 businesses have been supporting NHS workers, 80 now offer call and collect service, 33 offer click and collect, 3 have been making sanitiser, 1 has employed a new member of staff, 3 are creating regular wellness videos, 4 virtual events have been hosted, 15 businesses are regularly supporting vulnerable people in the community, countless recipes have been generated and Produced in Kent launched a microsite helpkentbuylocal.co.uk, which now has over 250 businesses listed. Floortje Hoette, chief executive comments, “The coming together of the Kent community has been incredible. We’ve seen an enormous rise in the support for our local shops and producers. Many people are swapping to local food suppliers - for some it’s the first time they’ve tried shopping locally.” “Our producers are really stepping up to the mark. We’ve seen new launches from Kentish Pip with its limited edition 2017 harvest cider, Old Dairy launched a Spring top 4% ABV Pale Ale this month, Nim’s has released new Share Bags and Solley’s has launched a lower fat range of flavours, all available for home delivery. It’s a remarkable achievement in the current climate.” There’s so much on offer across the county. Residents living near most of the Elite Pubs can enjoy ordering from an extensive take away menu Wednesday to Sunday around the county. Goody Ales are offering a takeaway and Foodari has switched focus entirely from restaurants to home deliveries, looking after the essential needs of thousands of homes across the county. It’s been a time for innovation too, the Farmers’ Markets have really shown a great deal of originality, with Shipbourne converting their market into a ‘drive thru’ and West Malling and Tonbridge Farmers’ Markets stalls offering bespoke deliveries to your home. Simpsons anticipates a great need for wine as it releases its Railway Hill Rose 2018 in magnum and specialist retailer, Corkk has launched an English Wine Box for £69 including delivery. “We’ve been amazed at the sheer quantity of our members looking for ways to support NHS workers, there’s too many to name them all, just last week Indian chef Paul Babra made meal deliveries to Margate hospital and Watts Farms offering a lorry load of essential items to NHS staff. Kitchen Garden staff at The Pig-at-Bridge Place have started delivering its abundance of produce to the doorsteps of MHS workers, the high risk and the vulnerable, which happens to include the wild residents of the nearby Gorilla Sanctuary at Howlett’s Wild Animal Park!” The agricultural community continues to work hard in the fields, buildings and under tunnels around the county as dairy is delivered, cheese is churned, and fruit is starting to ripen. Provenance Potatoes has hired new generation of staff and Romney Marsh Wool opens for pre-orders of raw fleece, as shearing is planned for late May. Every week Produced in Kent is releasing exclusive good news stories from across the county, please subscribe here For more information please contact AJ Sharp at Sharp Relations on aj@sharprelations.com