About the Taste of Kent Awards
The Taste of Kent Awards 2024 runs from January to June 2024. The awards are facilitated by Produced in Kent, Kent’s membership organisation for the local independent food and drink industry, representing over 300 growers, producers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, pubs, restaurants and other food-serving hospitality outlets. The awards are open to any food and drink business located in Kent
The 2024 format
The TOKA Awards is an event dedicated to showcasing the tastiest food and drink that Kent has to offer and the hard-working businesses behind it.
Open to any food and drink business located in Kent, the awards have been running for nearly twenty years –making them the longest running, and most prestigious food & drink awards in the South East.
These awards are an important tool for the industry, giving businesses an opportunity to shout about their quality and service by using the Taste of Kent Award Badge.
This year there is a new format, and the award categories have been refined into 3 key areas – Product / Taste Awards, Hospitality & Retail Awards and Business Awards.
The award ceremony itself has been completely revamped and is now extended to include a Taste of Kent Festival in the afternoon, and an Oscar Style Awards Ceremony in the evening – all at the amazing University of Kent’s Gulbenkian. Finalists sampling and selling their products at the daytime festival – open to the public and guestlist of regional and national buyers – leading into an exclusive evening time ticketed awards ceremony.
2024 Key Dates
TOKA launch | 11th January
Networking event bringing together the great and the good from Kent with TOKA sponsors, 2022 finalists and Produced in Kent members
Entries Open | 12th January
Entries Close | 23rd February ** ENTRY DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MIDNIGHT 08/03/24!
Please note the entry deadline, this date is final and there will be no extensions provided. The system will automatically prevent entry submission after the deadline.
Judging | March – May
Rigorous taste judging by expert judges from across the sector; Mystery dining and shopping by professional researchers; 1-2-1 interviews by panels of professional judges
Finalists Announced | May
Taste of Kent Festival & Awards Ceremony | 13th June at The Gulbenkian, University of Kent
Benefits for Entering
To win one of the Product/Taste Awards takes a truly exceptional product.
Winning a Hospitality & Retail Award makes you stand out from the crowd and gives you a badge of quality within your local area.
Winning a business accreditation gives you a real point of difference and endorsement.
All entries will be listed on the Taste of Kent Buyer’s Guide that sits on the Taste of Kent official website and will be distributed to both local and national retail and hospitality buyers. If you enter the awards you will automatically have a listings in the Buyer’s Guide, this will consist of your company name, link to the website only, product image and business category.
Finalists will receive a 2mx2m stand at the Taste of Kent Festival which runs prior to the Awards Ceremony on 13 June at the Gulbenkian, University of Kent.
This event will be open to the public and the trade.
Finalists and winners can use the Taste of Kent branding.
Finalists and Winners receive an enhanced listing within the Buyer’s Guide, which includes company name, link to the website, product image and the category, 50 words description and additional product imagery and the TOKA logo, showcasing your Bronze, Silver or Gold award.
In summary, entering is a very affordable way to promote your business, raise its profile and connect with key buyers and customers from Kent and Medway.
Pricing & Support
You will be required to pay for each entry you submit.
Payment will be asked for once you have completed each entry and all the relevant questions.
- Produced in Kent Member rates per entry– £20 + VAT
- Non-member rates per entry – £45 + VAT
If you make a non-member entry, you will be entitled to a 15% discount on your first year's PINK Membership, if you join before (tbc)
If you have any questions on the entry process, please contact the organisers by email to TOKA@mcculloughmoore.co.uk or call 01293 859 861
If you would like to discuss sponsorship for 2024, please email Floortje to discuss: floortje.hoette@producedinkent.co.uk
Getting around Kent with Southeastern
When visiting any of our winning businesses, or coming to join us at the Taste of Kent Food & Drink Festival, you can ditch the car and let our head sponsor Southeastern to get you there!
Be a Sponsor for Taste of Kent Awards 2024!
Being a sponsor of the awards is a great way to raise your company profile, and a fantastic opportunity to connect & support the Kent food & drink industry.
If you would like to discuss sponsorship for 2024, please email Floortje to discuss: floortje.hoette@producedinkent.co.uk or click the button to learn more.
Our 2023 Gold Winners
Here's a gallery of our 2023 gold winners
