Taste of Kent Award Winners 2026

The best of Kent's food and drink was celebrated last night at the 20th Taste of Kent Awards (TOKA), with Gold awards going to producers, retailers, markets and hospitality businesses from across the county. Among the big winners were Folkestone's Pit Stop General Store, who took home two Golds for their Croissant Crisps; Medway's own Trufflus from Rochester, whose Roasted Hazelnut & Cocoa Spread was named Kent Sweet Pantry Product of the Year, Margate bakery Speciality Breads, who won the Kent Food & Drink Innovation Award; and Whitstable restaurant Drift., named Kent Dining Experience of the Year just six months after opening.

Held on Thursday 8th October at the GlassBox Theatre, MidKent College's Medway Campus in Gillingham, the ceremony moved to Medway for the first time, thanks to head sponsor the Natural Resources Institute at University of Greenwich, part of the London and South East University Group and venue sponsor MidKent College. The evening was hosted by broadcaster Julie Maddocks and food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden, who also led this year's judging as Head Judge.

Products were blind tasted in July by a panel of chefs, buyers, food writers, sponsors and sector specialists at the Jestic Foodservice Solutions Test Kitchen in Paddock Wood. The four retail and hospitality categories started with a public vote, followed by judging and a mystery visit to each of the top three.

Pit Stop General Store's Croissant Crisps won Gold in both Kent Product Innovation of the Year and Kent Confectionery & Snack Product of the Year. The palmier-style snack cuts food waste by using unsold croissants from local bakeries and cafés, and is made with Kent cream in a twice-baked process. One judge summed it up in a single word: amazing.

Winterdale Cheesemakers in Fairseat held on to Kent Cheese of the Year with Winterdale Shaw, which also took Gold in 2024. Shepherd Neame made a clean sweep of Kent Beer of the Year, with 1698 taking Gold, and Tankerton Smokeshed Smoked Salmon was a unanimous Gold in the Fresh Fish or Seafood category, with the judges calling it outstanding, exceptional and absolutely stunning. Silverhand Estate's Strawberries and Cream Rosé 2025 was named Kent Wine of the Year, and Whitstable's Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium won Kent Dairy Product of the Year with its Brown Butter and Rosemary, Sour Plum Ice Cream.

Professor Nazanin Zand, Acting Director at the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, said: “As an institute with a strong focus on food, agriculture, and sustainability, we are delighted to support awards that shine a spotlight on the very best of Kent. The calibre of the products and businesses has been truly impressive, highlighting the passion, craftsmanship and commitment that make Kent’s food and drink sector so special.”

Alongside the product awards, Gold awards went to Kent's best retailers, markets, hospitality and food and drink businesses, including:

• Kent Independent Retailer of the Year – Groombridge Farm Shop, Groombridge
• Kent Food & Drink Market of the Year – Lenham Country Market, Lenham
• Kent Dining Experience of the Year – Drift., Whitstable
• Kent Casual Food & Drink Experience of the Year – Woodchurch Wine Estate, Woodchurch
• Kent Sustainable Business of the Year – HatHats Coffee Company, Whitstable
• Kent Food & Drink Innovation Award – Speciality Breads, Margate

Drift. impressed the judges with its ambition: cooking over coals in a 12-cover room, with meat and fish sourced locally and ice cream from fellow Gold winner Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium, two doors down. It was an exceptionally strong final, with only one average point out of 80 separating the top two.

Groombridge Farm Shop scored a perfect 100 per cent across every section of its mystery shop, and Lenham Country Market scored full marks for what was inside the market. HatHats Coffee Company was recognised for going above and beyond in sustainable business practice while giving back to its local community.

The evening also saw the first Kent Food & Drink Superstar Award, sponsored by Found Food & Drink, which recognises the people behind the scenes who make a real difference to a business. The first winner is Daniel Jackson, Production Manager at Speciality Breads, who joined the company at 15 doing part-time cleaning. He was central to commissioning the business's new Eden House site, moving from traditional bakery equipment to a fully automated production line, and has recruited, trained and supported colleagues along the way. Highly Commended awards went to Sophie Strotton, Operations Manager at Garage Coffee, and Brendan Fox, Group Operations Director at Kent Crisps, Kentish Oils & Curd & Cure.

The Taste of Kent Awards are organised and hosted by Produced in Kent. Executive Chair Carol Ford said: “Twenty years on, the Taste of Kent Awards are still showing just how much talent we have in this county. The range and quality this year, from a cider made by the fourth generation of a farming family to a restaurant just six months old, shows Kent's food and drink scene is in brilliant shape. Congratulations to every winner and finalist, and thank you to our judges for their time and expertise, and to our sponsors, who make the awards possible.”

Now in its 20th year, the Taste of Kent Awards (TOKA) celebrate the tastiest food and drink in Kent and the hard-working businesses behind it, and are the longest-running and most prestigious food and drink awards in the South East. The awards are made possible by the generous support of head sponsor the University of Greenwich Natural Resources Institute, part of the London and South East University Group; venue sponsor MidKent College; and sponsors Brachers, Crowe, Digitom, EKC Group, Found Food & Drink, insideKENT, Jestic Foodservice Solutions, Kent County Council, NFU Mutual Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield, Oxbury Bank, Select Technology, Shepherd Neame and Southeastern Railway. Thanks also to Defined Wine for the Kent sparkling wine reception and Stepstone Imaging for the photography.

Gold winners 2026:

Kent Beer of the Year
1698, Shepherd Neame, Faversham

Kent Casual Food & Drink Experience of the Year
Woodchurch Wine Estate, Woodchurch

Kent Cheese of the Year
Winterdale Shaw, Winterdale Cheesemakers, Fairseat

Kent Cider of the Year
Grafter, Kentish Pip Cider, Bekesbourne

Kent Confectionery & Snack Product of the Year
Croissant Crisps, Pit Stop General Store, Folkestone

Kent Dairy Product of the Year
Brown Butter and Rosemary, Sour Plum Ice Cream, Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium, Whitstable

Kent Dining Experience of the Year
Drift., Whitstable

Kent Food & Drink Innovation Award
Speciality Breads, Margate

Kent Food & Drink Market of the Year
Lenham Country Market, Lenham

Kent Food & Drink Superstar Award
Daniel Jackson, Production Manager, Speciality Breads, Margate

Kent Fresh Fish or Seafood Product of the Year
Tankerton Smokeshed Smoked Salmon, Whitstable

Kent Independent Retailer of the Year
Groombridge Farm Shop, Groombridge

Kent Meat Product of the Year
Single Rib of Beef, S.W. Doughty, Doddington

Kent Non-Alcoholic Cold Drink of the Year
Spiced Apple Juice, Chegworth Valley, Harrietsham

Kent Non-Alcoholic Hot Drink of the Year
Good Night Blend, Bergamia Tea, Sittingbourne

Kent Product Innovation of the Year
Croissant Crisps, Pit Stop General Store, Folkestone

Kent Ready Meals & Prepared Food Product of the Year
The Luxury Seafood Boil, Home Cook Kit, The Seafood Deli Kitchen, St Mary's Bay

Kent Savoury Bakery Product of the Year
Smoked Ham, Leek and Cheddar Quiche, Liz Reid, Tunbridge Wells

Kent Savoury Pantry Product of the Year
Kentish Tomato Chutney, Karimix, Faversham

Kent Spirit of the Year
Amaretto Liqueur, Pleasant Land Distillery, Sandgate

Kent Sustainable Business of the Year
HatHats Coffee Company, Whitstable

Kent Sweet Bakery Product of the Year
Kentish Fruit Huffkin, Gilda Bakery, Bishopsbourne

Kent Sweet Pantry Product of the Year
Roasted Hazelnut & Cocoa Spread, Trufflus, Rochester

Kent Wine of the Year
Silverhand Strawberries and Cream Rosé 2025, Silverhand Estate, Luddesdown

For images, interviews or press queries please contact Produced in Kent, at info@producedinkent.co.uk or 01732 853170.