Kent Independent Retailer of the Year

PLEASE NOTE: ALL NOMINATIONS REQUIRE APPROVAL BEFORE THEY APPEAR. IF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED A NOMINATION, IT WILL GO LIVE WITHIN 24 HOURS DURING MONDAY-FRIDAY WORKING HOURS.

Who should you vote for?

Think about the independent shops, farm shops, delis, butchers and fishmongers in Kent that you genuinely love. The ones where the staff know their stuff, the shelves are stocked with brilliant local produce and you always discover something new. The retailers that make buying Kent food and drink a pleasure - not just a transaction.

We're looking for independent retailers who go above and beyond to champion Kent produce - whether that's from a physical shop, farm shop, market stall with a permanent pitch, or an established online platform.

A nomination needs to be approved before it appears in the list -these are updated each working day.

Think about retailers that:

• Stock a strong and varied range of Kent produce
• Have knowledgeable, passionate staff who love what they sell
• Offer a genuinely great shopping experience
• Actively promote and celebrate local food and drink producers

How does the judging work?

Your vote matters - but it's just the beginning. Once the public vote closes, the top ten retailers are invited to submit further information about their business, including details of their suppliers, product range and commitment to Kent produce. An expert judging panel reviews both the public vote and the submissions to select a shortlist of finalists. Those finalists are then mystery shopped by professional researchers before a winner is chosen.

Judging criteria: Overall shopping experience, affordability, range and quality of Kent produce stocked, customer service, staff knowledge, marketing and promotions, and overall food and drink offering.