Statement issued to the Kent Messenger by Produced in Kent, Thursday 20 August 2015
Produced in Kent has been alerted to a potential scam, which we are currently in the process of referring to Trading Standards and to Kent Police and would like to bring this to the attention of other retailers who may also be a victim.
Produced in Kent were alerted to a story being followed up by the Kent Messenger this week regarding a Maidstone trader winning the Taste of Kent Awards Best Sausage Roll category. In good faith the trader, (Gourmet Street Food Company) had been approached earlier this year to enter sausage rolls for a’ Taste of Kent Award’ and they were also asked to pay £50 to enter. The trader was later informed he had won and was provided with Taste of Kent Awards branding and logo, which he was using to promote his win. Unfortunately the trader, Ashley Green has we believe, been the victim of fraud and the name and the branding for the Taste of Kent Awards has been fraudulently used by an unknown third party for financial gain. Mr Green has responded fully to our request to remove all references to the Taste of Kent Awards from the company’s Facebook page and we would like to thank him for his early cooperation whilst this matter is investigated further.
Retailers should be aware that the Taste of Kent Awards is run annually by Produced in Kent and members of the public are invited to nominate businesses in eleven categories. The top three businesses in each category are then contacted in January / February by Produced in Kent and the shortlisted businesses are judged by an expert panel, mystery diner or mystery shopper. The winners are announced at a gala evening in March. The Taste of Kent Awards are free to enter and it is down to the thousands of members of the public who vote each year to decide which businesses and their products will be shortlisted. Businesses can also enter their products in the Product Category Classes for judging by a professional panel by downloading the application form from the Taste of Kent Awards website.
We would urge any other business owners who may have been approached to get in contact with Produced in Kent at 01732 853170 and speak to a member of the team who will then refer it to the appropriate authority. The Taste of Kent Awards is a registered trademark and the intellectual property of Produced in Kent and cannot be used by anyone without the express permission of Produced in Kent.
Produced in Kent would like take the opportunity to thank the journalist at the Kent Messenger for bringing this to our attention as a result of his due diligence in checking out the facts for this story before going to press.
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For more information contact:
Alison Baldwin
Coast Communications
Tel: 01233 503200 / 07949 561489
E: alison@coastcommunications.co.uk
or
Stephanie Durling, Produced in Kent
Stephanie.durling@producedinkent.co.uk
Tel: 01732 853170
