Macknade Celebrates 175 Years of Quality & Community
Kent food & drink brand, Macknade, is celebrating its 175th birthday this September. Starting life as a family farm in 1847, Macknade is now a leading destination for UK foodies, with vibrant spaces in both Faversham & Ashford, and a curated range of hampers & gifts online.
Birthday Party
On Saturday 17th September, Macknade is celebrating its big birthday with a party in its Faversham Food Village. Everyone is invited to join in the celebrations, which include:
– Live music from Gracie & the Booms and DJ Finchy
– Tastings & masterclasses from select local producers, including Greens and Ridge Distillery and & Bloss coffee
– Food & drink stalls
– Kids craft activities
The event is free of charge and guests can drop in at any point between 12-9 pm. The full programme of activities and further information about the event can be found at macknade.com.
175 Years, 175 Prizes
Between the 17th September and 15th October, all Macknade customers will have the opportunity to win one of 175 prizes during a special birthday prize draw. Anyone shopping in Macknade’s Faversham or Ashford stores during this period will be given a prizecard revealing what they’ve won, with prizes ranging from a tasting experience at Simpsons Vineyard to a limited-edition Macknade t-shirt.
Stefano Cuomo, CEO and 6th generation of the family to lead Macknade, commented, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our team, our customers & our suppliers for their incredible support over the years. Macknade wouldn’t be anything without all of you and I am grateful to be a part of it. I encourage everyone to join us on September 17th to enjoy everything that makes Macknade so special. Bring your friends, bring your family and let us bring this glorious summer to a close in style.”
History of Macknade
In 1847, Frederick Neame Snr (Stefano’s great, great, great grandfather) started Macknade Farm in Faversham, which became one of the region’s leading fruit and vegetable growers, nationally renowned for its fruit, hops and livestock. Handed down through the generations, the farm developed a reputation for fantastic produce and in 1947, pears from the Macknade orchards were served at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to the late Philip Mountbatten.
In 1979 Patricia Neame (Stefano’s mother) and her husband Renato Cuomo opened a P.Y.O on the corner of the family farm. Renato, an Italian native, originally from the island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples, brought an Italian influence to Macknade which is still very much a part of the brand today.
Keeping connections to the land but moving away from farming, in 2001, the family decided to focus purely on retail. The last two decades have seen huge growth, expansion and divergence within Macknade. With quality produce continuing to come through the doors and a thriving community beginning to develop, it made perfect sense for Macknade to add a café to its Faversham retail space in 2011.
This was further expanded in 2018 with an outdoor dining area, which later evolved into the Food Village – a marketplace showcasing the very best food & drink from hand-picked vendors. This vibrant space sees live music and families gather in the warmer months for tasty food, outdoor fun and support for local vendors serving up exceptional food.
In 2020 Macknade took its next big step, venturing outside of Faversham to open a brand-new retail and restaurant space at Elwick Place in Ashford. Macknade Ashford opened just ahead of the Covid pandemic and secured its place at the heart of the community very quickly, and is a space which continues to thrive.
Today, in an ever-changing world, Macknade is focussed on its mission of creating ‘favourite places’ for customers, suppliers & staff alike, in true community spirit.
Find out more on Macknade’s website here.