What Produced in Kent does

Produced in Kent is a UK non-profit trade body founded in 2005 and based in Ashford, Kent, supporting food, drink, and craft producers across the county. It operates a membership directory organised into three categories — Food & Drink, Lifestyle & Home, and Eat & Stay — which functions as both a discovery platform for consumers and a marketing channel for members. The organisation also runs the Taste of Kent Awards (the county's most recognised food and drink awards), hosts member events including the Produced in Kent Hut at Folkestone Harbour Arm and participation in the Kent County Show (65,000 visitors in 2026), and publishes a monthly Discovery Box subscription.

The business model is built on annual membership subscriptions from producers and a 30+ strong industry partner programme covering banking (Allica Bank, Handelsbanken), insurance (NFU Mutual), accountancy (Azets), education (EKC Group, Hadlow College, University of Greenwich), government (Kent County Council, KICC), retail (Macknade), and distribution (Kent Food Hubs, Oak/Foode). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; pricing details are not listed on the website. The organisation is a co-lead of the Kent Food Partnership alongside Social Enterprise Kent, extending its remit from trade promotion into county-wide food system policy with local government, universities, and NHS bodies.

The platform is non-technological in nature — no proprietary AI, software products, or data flywheel are described — and the core 'technology' is the curated discovery directory plus the operational layer of events, awards, and sustainability content. The 10-person team executes community, marketing, and partnership functions rather than product engineering. Member testimonials (e.g., Mont58 Coffee) and continued product launches by members (Candle Wise soaps/solid perfumes in 2026, Silverhand Estate Strawberries & Cream wine in 2025, Greensand Ridge Wealden Rum 70cl in 2025) indicate an active underlying producer base.

Name

Produced in Kent

Legal name

Produced in Kent

Website

https://producedinkent.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Produced in Kent is a non-profit trade body founded in 2005 that supports and promotes food, drink, and craft producers across Kent, England via a membership directory, events, the Taste of Kent Awards, and the Kent Food Partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

akta.pro primary industry

Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO)

Keywords

• Local food producers
• Trade association services
• Membership organization
• Kent food network
• Producer discovery platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees for food, drink and craft businesses in Kent providing access to networking, marketing support, collective voice advocacy, and sustainability programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Produced in Kent is a non-profit trade organization that supports and promotes Kent-based food, drink, and craft businesses through a membership programme, online producer discovery directories (Food & Drink, Lifestyle & Home, Eat & Stay), the Taste of Kent Awards, and a calendar of events and experiences. Its offerings include networking, collective advocacy, marketing support, sustainability guidance, and a monthly Discovery Box subscription that curates local produce for consumers.

Product overview

Produced in Kent is a trade organisation that operates a multi-faceted discovery and membership platform connecting consumers with Kent's food, drink, and craft producers. The core offering consists of discovery directories for Food & Drink, Lifestyle & Home, and Eat & Stay categories, complemented by a monthly Discovery Box subscription, Events & Experiences platform, and the prestigious Taste of Kent Awards. The membership programme supports local producers through networking, collective voice, and sustainability initiatives, while the Kent Food Partnership drives broader food system change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Programme Annual membership offering for start-ups and established Kent-based food, drink, and craft businesses, providing networking, collective advocacy, marketing support, and access to sustainability resources and industry partner discounts.
• Discovery Box Monthly subscription box delivering curated Kent food and drink products from member producers to subscribers.
• Taste of Kent Awards Annual awards programme recognising excellence among Kent food, drink, and hospitality businesses.
• Events & Experiences Platform listing and hosting food and drink experiences across Kent, including workshops, tastings, vineyard tours, cooking classes, foraging walks, wine dinners, and family activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• County-wide reach through Kent Food Partnership bringing together government, universities, health institutions, and community groups

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Kitchen partnership providing professional kitchen space for small and micro food businesses to test new ideas and develop products. Supports member startups with facilities to grow their businesses.
• Kent Food PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with Social Enterprise Kent as lead agencies, bringing together local government, health institutions, Kent universities, food and drink business representatives and community groups. Mission: create diverse and inclusive environment for accessing good, healthy, affordable, sustainably grown food that boosts local economy and protects environment.
• Kent County CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment organization partnership supporting Kent's rural communities and food economy through the Kent Food Partnership steering group.
• Kent Invicta Chamber of CommercemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of commerce partnership supporting business development and trade opportunities for Kent food and drink producers.
• University of GreenwichmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership through Kent Food Partnership, contributing research and expertise to sustainable food systems development.
• Kent County Agricultural SocietycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizer of Kent County Show, providing platform for showcasing Kent produce and rural communities. 65,000 visitors attended 2026 show.
• Kent Food HubsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood distribution partner helping connect local producers with consumers through organized food hub network.
• Stepstone ImagingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning Kent-based commercial food and product photography studio offering member discounts on photography services for branding, packaging, and e-commerce.
• Southeastern RailwayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation partner connecting Kent destinations, making it easier for consumers to visit producers and events across the county.
• Hadlow CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand-based education college providing skills development and training for food and farming businesses through industry partnership.
• Social Enterprise KentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead agency in Kent Food Partnership alongside Produced in Kent, focusing on improving lives and supporting communities through sustainable food initiatives.
• Kent Community Health NHS Foundation TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth institution partner in Kent Food Partnership addressing food poverty and diet-related ill-health across Kent communities.
• NIAB EMRmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-class horticultural research center partnership contributing expertise in commercial horticulture to Kent Food Partnership.
• The Food FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational food policy organization partnership supporting change in food policy and business practice to ensure everyone can access healthy diet.
• Bore PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRural retreat in Kent providing learning, growing and reconnection opportunities. Venue for cooking workshops, foraging events, and family activities. Part of Commonwork Trust.
• Wine Garden of EnglandmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollective promoting English wine from Kent vineyards, aligning with member wine producers and tourism initiatives.
• Inside Kent MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal lifestyle magazine partnership for editorial coverage and marketing of Kent food and drink producers.
• Cene MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal lifestyle publication partnership for media coverage of Kent artisan producers.
• CLA (Country Land and Business Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRural business organization partnership supporting landowners and food producers in Kent.
• Sharp RelationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPR and media relations partner supporting communications for Kent producers.
• Oak/FoodeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood distribution partner connecting Kent producers with retail and hospitality outlets.
• Klarity MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing agency partner providing promotional support for member businesses.
• Found RecruitmentminorOthersRecruitment partner helping members find staff and talent for their businesses.
• Cibus Pest ControlminorOthersPest control services partner for food and hospitality businesses.
• Studio PassominorOthersCreative design partner for branding and visual communications.
• The Social Blend StudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media and content marketing partner for member promotion.
• Defined WinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWine distribution partner for Kent wine producers.
• Roake and CookminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partner supporting food and drink brand communications.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Farmdrop: An online marketplace that historically connected UK local producers with consumers. A direct comparator in the 'local producer discovery / e-commerce' category Produced in Kent's Discovery Box subscription occupies, though Farmdrop's exact current operating status is uncertain.
• Love British Food: A UK-wide campaign organisation promoting British food provenance and seasonality, including seasonal events and producer campaigns. Comparable to Produced in Kent in mission but operates at national rather than county scale.

Others

• Made in Britain: A trade body promoting British-made products with a registered provenance mark, used across manufacturers including food and drink. Adjacent to Produced in Kent — operates the credibility/mark layer rather than a producer directory or events platform.
• Sustain (the alliance for better food and farming): A UK-wide NGO coalition advocating for sustainable food and farming, including local and seasonal food initiatives. PiK's sustainability programming overlaps thematically with Sustain's mission, making them a comparable adjacent ecosystem player.

Direct peers

• Deliciouslyorkshire: The closest direct equivalent: a Yorkshire-based regional food and drink trade body that aggregates producers via a membership directory, hosts events and awards, and promotes a county-wide provenance brand — essentially the same model as Produced in Kent but anchored in Yorkshire.
• Taste of the West: A regional food and drink trade body supporting producers across the West Country (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset) with membership, awards, and trade development — analogous regional trade body with the same model as Produced in Kent.
• Hampshire Fare: A not-for-profit membership organization championing Hampshire food and drink producers, running local food awards and producer discovery. Highly comparable in structure, mission and county-level scope to Produced in Kent.

Broad incumbents

• National Farmers' Union: The UK's largest agricultural trade association representing farmer and grower members. Operates at much broader scope than Produced in Kent but engages many of the same producer types and is a partner via NFU Mutual in PiK's industry network.
• Soil Association: The UK's main organic and sustainability-focused food and farming charity, with certification and producer support services. Overlaps with PiK on sustainability programming and certification/reputation support for member producers.
• Food and Drink Federation: The UK trade association for food and drink manufacturers. Comparable only at the broad trade-body layer — it represents much larger industrial producers and operates policy / regulatory advocacy rather than local producer discovery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/produced-in-kent-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Produced in Kent