It’s not hard to see why 2,300 food
and drink companies have chosen to
relocate to The Garden of England.
A natural home for food and drink innovation
Not only does Kent have some of the most productive agricultural land in the UK, it also has an impressive catalogue of state-of-the-art facilities benefiting from lower commercial and employment costs than many surrounding regions.
Food and drink companies locating in Kent will find all the support they need to establish themselves and expand their business substantially. We have several production clusters around the county, supplying everything from fresh fruit and veg to supermarkets to some of the finest wines in Europe to Michelin-starred hotels and restaurants.
From British apples
to world-class ales
Approximately 1 in 4.5 British apples come from AC Goatham & Sons in Medway, while Britain’s oldest brewer, Faversham-based Shepherd Neame, supplies award-winning ales around the world. We have a collective of almost 410 food and drink businesses in Ashford alone, including Premier Foods and Brakes, and incredible vineyards and spirit producers bringing fresh innovation and flavours to the industry.
The region also benefits from steady stream of graduates from our universities and industry leader Hadlow College, which trains the food and agricultural professionals of the future, so an abundant and skilled workforce is ready to be tapped.
Thriving community
Why Kent?
A talented workforce, lower operating costs, excellent connectivity to London and Europe, and a great quality of life all add up to make Kent a great place to build a thriving business.
Primed for business
Invest in Kent
With an ideal location between London and Europe, the county of Kent can offer you flexible facilities, a rich talent pool, enviable quality of life and vital space to grow – for less.
Kent is serious food for thought…
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food and drink enterprises
in Kent and Medway
in the number of food and drink enterprises over the past five years
apples and pears grown every year
at AC Goatham & Son in Medway
Our focus is on maximising the many assets we have here in Kent. Over the years the quality of local produce in the county has grown considerably and this has contributed massively to our success
Stefano Cuomo
Managing Director, Macknades
Key Partners
Food and drink business in Kent have the added support of both Produced in Kent and Rural PLC Kent, and the new Growing Kent & Medway research and innovation collaboration will support productivity and sustainability across the sector.
Produced in Kent
Trade organisation Produced in Kent will help you to promote your products and services across the county and beyond.
Rural PLC (Kent)
Rural PLC (Kent) supports horticulture and agriculture businesses to protect the quality of the county’s natural assets.
Growing Kent & Medway
Growing Kent & Medway is a world-class research, innovation and enterprise cluster.
Key locations – Find farming land and
manufacturing units in Kent
Known as the Garden of England, Kent has built upon its reputation thanks to an innovative approach to food manufacturing as well as high-quality natural assets. Not only does Kent have some of the most productive agricultural land in Britain, it also offers state-of-the-art facilities for businesses looking to relocate.
Ashford
Ashford has the largest cluster of businesses in the food and drink sector in Kent, with 410 companies calling the borough home. These include market-leading food manufacturing companies Premier Foods and Brakes as well as award winning vineyards. The M20 corridor offers quick access to the Port of Dover, Channel Tunnel and UK airports, while fast train services to London and Europe make Ashford a key location for distribution and export, and an attractive base thanks to its affordable business rates.
Medway
North Kent has built a strong reputation as a top destination for food and drinks businesses, adding new names to its roster of success stories every year. Apple and pear growers AC Goatham & Son’s ongoing innovation and investment in its storage and processing facilities has helped showcase Medway as an exceptional location for agricultural businesses. The leading distillery Copper Rivet is considered one of the country’s top up-and-coming spirit producers, and has built on the region’s heritage to create unique products and a beautiful visitor centre in the heart of Chatham Maritime.
East Malling
Horticultural research institute NIAB EMR has long been recognised as one of the UK’s top centres for propagated crop production. The organisation supports fruit growers across the world and is recognised for their innovation in this sector, specialising in developing new fruit varieties that are able to adapt to changing global climates. Their advances in this sector have not only benefited growers and producers, but also communities around the world.
Thanet
The largest greenhouse complex in the UK, Thanet Earth, covers 90 hectares of land and grows tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers across six greenhouses just outside of Ramsgate. It produces and delivers vegetables for some of the top British retailers and has been praised for its innovative approach to growing and cultivation, and is a striking landmark for Thanet.
Plan your business move to Kent…
Find out how Invest Kent can help you relocate of grow your business in Kent.