‘One-stop shop’ for Kent food businesses valued at over £3.2m

An independent report by strategic consultant Strat House has valued the Growing Kent & Medway brand at between £3.2 million and £5.5 million.

The market valuation was calculated during a brand review, undertaken to establish the project’s current worth and contribution to the sector. The report was commissioned to help clarify Growing Kent & Medway’s investment potential and to develop its future strategic direction. Formal funding for the five-year project from UKRI’s flagship Strength in Places Fund has ended, and funding and investment are now being sought to continue its activity.

The report authors caution that the valuation is advisory as the project is publicly funded rather than a sellable asset. However, their conclusions recognise the creation of an ‘impressively strong brand’ and note this has been achieved in a short period of time.

Simon Barnes, Director, Growing Kent & Medway, said: “The Brand Evaluation report recognises the strength of the ecosystem we have created to transform the agri-food sector in our region.

“The results are testimony to the community that has supported us over the last five years; from the staff delivering our programmes, the academics at our partner institutions, to our network of members, mentors, and experts who have dedicated their time to supporting innovation and business growth in our region.”

Key findings from the report:

Growing Kent & Medway has created a positive, forward-looking, and solution-oriented environment. It is a ‘one-stop shop’ for horticultural and food and drink businesses.

The brand proposition is compelling with differentiated features, including:

• Agri-food and business transformation

Focused on the technological advancement of the agriculture and food sectors. Expertise provided to businesses covers digital transformation and agri-food solutions.

• Business incubation & mentorship

Crucial support for early-stage companies through accelerator and mentoring programs. Focused on foundational business elements like governance, structure, and scaling capacity.

• Ecosystem building

Acts as a central connector, bringing together large businesses, start-ups, and academic institutions for knowledge-sharing and mutual benefit.

• Funding & innovation

A key source of match-funded grants and capital for R&D and expansion, particularly in emerging agricultural and food technology sectors.

Simon Barnes added, “Our unique brand proposition means we are well-placed to continue to drive innovation and economic growth in the long term. By taking a triple-helix approach, working with industry, academia, and local government, we’re able to invest in R&D, networks, and infrastructure that directly benefit our local food system.

“Growing Kent & Medway is something that simply cannot be lost. It needs to evolve, and it needs to be supported.”

The report was produced by London-based strategy consultancy, Strat House, who work with leading global corporations and brands.

The reports are available to read on our website: 

> Download the full report

> Read the Executive Summary