Born in Kent, Loved By The Nation (…and Beyond)
Kent has always been good at growing things – apples, hops, vines, ideas – what’s changed is how far these things now travel. Increasingly, some of the county’s most successful brands haven’t been born in boardrooms or industrial estates, but at kitchen tables, in barns, vineyards, workshops and small-scale shops; places where ambition, rooted firmly in local knowledge, has taken time to evolve. What unites them is not scale for scale’s sake, but the confidence to grow outward while staying unmistakably Kentish. BY POLLY HUMPHRIS
From Vines to the Global Stage
Few brands capture Kent’s modern success story quite like Chapel Down. Founded in the early 2000s (when the international market still saw English wine as something of a novelty), the Tenterden-based producer backed a long-term view, betting on Kent’s climate, chalky soils and the admirable patience required to build credibility bottle by bottle. Two decades on, Chapel Down is no longer a regional outsider but a national leader, with wines stocked across the UK and a vision that stretches well beyond it.
Crucially, that vision has never been about shedding its roots and Kent remains central to Chapel Down’s story in terms of the vineyards, the winemaking expertise built over years and the confidence to talk about English sparkling wine on a global stage. As CEO Andrew Carter has put it: “The vision is to change the world’s perception of English wine for ever.” It’s a bold statement, but one that’s firmly grounded in place and the belief that Kent’s landscape can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s great wine regions.
That sense of place-driven confidence is echoed at Gusbourne, another Kentish vineyard that’s played a pivotal role in shifting international perceptions of English wine. Established in 2004, Gusbourne set out with an uncompromising focus on quality, drawing heavily on the terroir of its Kent and Sussex vineyards, and recognition naturally followed.
In 2025, Gusbourne proudly grabbed the 28th spot in The World’s 50 Best Vineyards, a global list that celebrates not only wine quality but the vineyard experience itself. Alongside this, the estate has amassed top-level accolades at international competitions including the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships and the Decanter World Wine Awards, with individual bottlings receiving standout scores including a 96-point rating for its Blanc de Blancs Late Disgorged 2013.
The ability to export has now moved beyond aspiration and into infrastructure – Gusbourne now ships to 37 international markets and, in 2024, won a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade – global recognition built squarely on Kentish soil.
Pull quote: “We are the first English wine producer to win a King’s Award for Enterprise and the only English vineyard to be listed in the World’s Top 50 Vineyards.” – Jonathon White, Gusbourne CEO
Local Flavour, National Appetite
Wine may be one of Kent’s most visible exports, but food tells an equally compelling story, not least via Kent Crisps, which was founded in 2011 and began with the simple idea to hand-cook crisps inspired by flavours, produce and places across Kent. What has followed is steady, strategic growth built on quality, distinctive flavour combinations and packaging that wears its county roots with pride.
Today, the brand sits on shelves far beyond Kent – and far beyond the UK, in fact, with Kent Crisps now exported to over 10 countries including Hong Kong, the USA and Singapore, and distribution reaching as far as Australia. Recognition has since followed in tangible ways, with founder Laura Bounds awarded an MBE for Services to International Trade and being served as a UK Export Champion. The brand has even secured high-profile international listings, including an incredible export deal supplying Disney World.
What’s striking is that this expansion hasn’t diluted the brand’s original identity. The flavours remain grounded in British produce, the storytelling stays local, and the visuals on its packaging (including Leeds Castle, Turner Contemporary and Whitstable’s famous beach huts) still celebrate the county that inspired it.
Food retail may take a different form at Faversham favourite Macknade, but the same principles apply. What began as a family grocer has evolved into one of the South East’s most respected food halls, with a name that’s now recognised well beyond Kent. In 2025, Macknade was ranked the second best farm shop in the UK (only being pipped to the number one ranking by Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat) in a nationwide survey, which is a clear marker of national standing.
Yet Macknade’s roots run very deep – its own history notes that fruit from its orchards was served at Princess Elizabeth’s wedding in 1947, a detail that neatly encapsulates the brand’s longevity with some proper clout. Today, the business blends local suppliers with masterfully curated global produce, creating a destination that feels expansive without losing its sense of belonging in the Garden of England.
Ideas that Spark Industry
Not every Kent success story starts in a field or vineyard; some begin with a simple idea teamed with the nerve to pursue it. Must Have Ideas, the Kent-based company behind the Ego Egg laundry products, is one such example. What started as a rethink of everyday household items has grown into a nationally recognised eCommerce business with serious industry credibility.
In 2025, Must Have Ideas appeared in FEBE’s Growth 100, a list spotlighting fast-growing UK eCommerce brands, and won Best eCommerce Customer Service at the 2025 eCommerce Awards, recognition that speaks not just to product innovation, but to how the business operates. While the products now reach customers across the UK and beyond, the company has retained the agility and curiosity of a small, Kent-grown enterprise and is known for being responsive, consumer-focused and extremely ambitious.
That balance between creativity and capability also defines Pleasant Land, the Kentish distillery known for its gins, as well as for producing spirits on behalf of others. Operating from Ashford’s flourishing drinks scene, Pleasant Land has built a reputation as a contract distilling partner trusted by external brands, while still developing its own distinctive range.
Its credentials are both impressive and well known, with the progressive company’s White Cliffs Gin receiving a Silver award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2024, and the distillery now positioning itself as sustainability-led, being powered by 100% renewable energy. It’s also the kind of place that attracts leftfield collaborations – the distillery has produced a bespoke pickle-and-mustard gin for former Top Gear presenter James May, which us proof that creativity and professionalism can comfortably coexist.
Scaling Up, but Staying Kentish
If there’s one Kent brand that proves scale and heritage aren’t mutually exclusive, it’s Shepherd Neame. Founded in 1698 in Faversham, Britain’s oldest brewer still operates from the same town more than three centuries on. Today, Shepherd Neame exports to 44 countries worldwide, supplying beers that carry Kent’s name – and its brewing heritage – far beyond the county boundary.
This story is echoed, but in a more modern spin, by Brakes. Founded in 1958 by the Brake brothers, the company traces its origins to the back room of a pub, where it supplied poultry to local caterers. From those modest beginnings, Brakes has grown into one of the UK’s leading foodservice wholesalers, eventually becoming part of multinational distributor, Sysco – a reminder that some of Kent’s biggest success stories still begin at the most local of scales.
What links these businesses is not just growth, but how they’ve chosen to grow. Export markets, national listings and international recognition haven’t come at the expense of authenticity, but in many cases, depended on it. Born locally, grown with love and admired and loved far beyond the county borders, Kent’s landscape, produce and people aren’t marketing add-ons, they’re the foundation – not in spite of their roots, but because of them.
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