Family run business, Macknade Fine Foods, has been proud to call Faversham in Kent its home for over 170 years. What started life as a family farm in 1847 is now a 10,000sqft independent food & drink retail space & café. The introduction of the current food hall was over 40 years ago and they have gone from strength to strength since.
Stefano Cuomo, Managing Director of Macknade, is the sixth generation of the family business. His great, great, great grandfather, Fredrick Neame Snr, was the first to bring the family to Macknade in 1847, where they farmed the land for the first five generations. During this time, Macknade Farm was one of the region’s leading growers, nationally renowned for its hard fruit, hops and livestock. In 1947 pears from the Macknade orchards were served at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Phillip Mountbatten.
What was once family owned farmland has now been transformed into the food hall in its present incarnation, selling anything from local craft beers to exotic fruit. The site is also home to a florist, fishmongers, butchers, café and more recently, an outdoor Deck area, which is used in the spring/summer months for live music and alfresco dining.
Stefano Cuomo, Managing Director of Macknade Fine Foods, said: “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.”
As the business continues to evolve & grow, so does their annual revenue growth, which Macknade believe is largely due to the significant population proximity that they are still only scratching the surface of. Furthermore, the proximity of Kent to the London market is important, as people are looking to Kent for a better work/life balance. Macknade offers tourists and regular customers an experience which can’t be found anywhere else in the county.
“Our vision today is to be the best loved and most trusted name in food & drink, creating spaces that deliver personal aspiration, support & grow communities, and allow us to appreciate & protect our world through the shared joy of food and drink.”
