Macknade Fine Foods

my parents have been going there years - we always find a good variety of vegetables and fruits. the cheese and deli counter is superb and there specialist food items make ideal gifts for any foodie! they have a great range of wine and local cider and beer, the local farmers market is a must!

Been going to this place since it started as a samll Pick your own in nearby Ashford Road. Hugely expanded now with an out of town centre and town shop, Macknade is a family run business which makes other delis, specialist food and local food shops pale to insignificance. our freinds from London and futher afield come just to stock up. wonderful selection of top quality cheeses.

We discovered this place a couple of years ago while we were out looking for plants for the garden (there is a garden centre/nursery opposite). We have been back many times since. I especially like their selection of English and continental cheeses. I have yet to find a better selection around here.

Just go! You won't be disappointed.

I started using Macknades in 1992. The roof leaked (it's still prone to flooding in very heavy rain) but the veg were FRESH and lots cheaper than the local shops and supermarkets. Over the years it has 1.Refurbished the buildings. 2. Reconfigured the layout- on many occasions. 3.Expanded the range of items. 4. Even brought more tills to speed up the 'checkout'. BUT it has never compromised on Quality. Always found new ideas to increase the range - Fresh orange juice, Bakery with different and fresh baked breads , The CHEESE COUNTER, The COLD MEATS-pates,hams,etc. The range and variety of Pastas, Sauces,pre-packed but o-so-tasty nibbles, smoked meats & fishes. Freezer cabinets that are DIFFERENT- loose Caribbean stir fry mix, same with chinese, plus fruits, nuts, and - most importantly- Seasonal LOCAL Asparagus, Kentish New Potatoes, the rhubarb that spits in your eye when it snaps(& makes a wonderful homemade Cheesecake). I could go on but I shall be restrained and stop here. I Enjoy Macknades !! don't forget the wines & liqueurs.

What more is there to say? Bye bye Tesco, hello world of wonderful quality and variety. I always come out with more than I intended to. Best food store I've ever been to.

Its selection of Cheeses is something to behold. You are spoilt for choice, but can taste before purchasing. They also stock plenty of specialty lines in gourmet foods.

We stumbled upon Macknade Fine foods a few years ago when attending The Garlic Festival in an adjoining field. What a find! It was better than the Festival by far, A veritable Aladdin's Cave of Goodies. Macknade has expanded over the years but still retains it's original charm, very personal service and a family atmosphere. There really is something for everyone from everywhere! A must for holiday shopping anytime of year.

The effort Macknade Fine Foods put in to sourcing those items which is extremely difficult to find in one place elsewhere. I have discovered wonderful foods at Macknade's which I didn't know existed and wish I could get across there more often than I am currently able. Well done, the nomination is perfect recognition for your efforts.

I can honestly say that I have never see such a range of products together - from the exotic to the humble. You can choose from so many different varieties of say potatoes, onions etc that anyone looking for ingredients or just good food can find what they want. Get in early as this really is a very busy and popular outlet. Renato, Patricia, their children and all the staff work so hard and we have seen this outlet grow from a field to what it is today. Well done everyone.

We moved to the area three years ago and it was such a relief to find such a treasure tucked away in Kent. Local fresh veg, great cheese and deli meats selection, unusual treats for the most seasoned food lover, and with friendly staff who seem to care and understand about the produce they sell. I haven't found such a good selection or service outside London markets, but we're only paying a fraction of the cost - long may it continue!

We just love it. They have everything we have ever wanted and masses of stuff that we didn't know we wanted but becomes instantly indispensible.

This shop is a legend. We first visited it about 22 years ago when it was plain oold Fir Tree Farm on the Ashford Road. No weedkiller, just fields of vegetable and flowers - and weeds! We used to pick our own sweet peas and enjoy cheap vegetable of superb quality. We have seen the business grow and flourish into what is probably the best food supplier of its type in the country. We have certainly visited a lot, but none approach Macknade in the variety and quality of produce. Friendly staff with excellent food knowledge. I feel good just going in the shop - although I have never been in without buying something; it would be nigh on impossible. And now the cheese counter! A food lover's paradise without compare.

"Farm Shop" is a bit of a misnomer when referring to Macknade, yet "delicatessen" doesn't do it justice either! I'm seriously fed up with the stupid pricing policies of the big supermarkets, and their 'mission' to make me buy more than I want (for example buy two corn on the cob, get two free) .... I buy SINGLE corn cobs from Macknade. Seriously though you can get pretty much every bit of fruit & veg you may want at Macknade, and it's generally sensibly priced (HUGE bunches of fresh herbs at a similar price to a tiny plastic pack from a supermarket). When you add to this the fact that you'd be hard pressed to ask for an obscure ingredient that they don't stock, their brilliant range of cheeses (just try to avoid Saturdays if you want to taste any of them as it does tend to get busy and you'll cause a queue!), cooked meats, fresh meats, Brogdale cherries and strawberries that actually taste like strawberries! Excellent store, great staff, easy parking - and I wish them luck!!

The layout is under constant review but the cheese counter and selection are the finest I have seen

The Variety, the helpfulness of the staff, the wish to serve the best.

It's my local shop, just 5 minutes walk...it's a great place to shop one of those shops that even if your only popping in for 1 or 2 bits you come out with an armful of produce there's so much there an the majority of very high quality.

They sell everything you can think of and the staff are so pleasant and helpful that it makes shopping an enjoyable experience. Even my husband likes shopping there!

We visit Macknades every week and buy almost all our food here. Its sells everything you could need and you know that what you are buying is good quality and locally produced.

All the basics plus all those exciting things to set your taste buds singing. Extra bonus a fishmonger on site and an excellent weekly farmers market.

This farm shop shows it is possible to have a wide selection of quality food without compromise. A privately owned farm shop where you can buy most of your weeks food needs without needing to visit a supermarket. Strange and exotic foods can be found along with an open cookery book to help tempt you.This farm shop has been built up over a number of years and deserves a mention for the hard work that has made it so successfull.

It's the best deli/cheesemonger and while not cheap is OK on price. The owner is improving the shop on a weekly basis and many of the more esoteric veg are available here. Also runs a farmers market on site every Saturday. The standard of his fruit and veg are improving all the time and he uses local stuff eg Brogdale apples etc. Maybe not the best but improves all the time and is very rapidly getting there.

The friendliset ,most helpfl folk,with a vast range of local produce.The quality is always excellent,the range of products vast .The staff are very knowledgeable and happy to help

It's the best deli/cheesemonger and while not cheap is OK on price. The owner is improving the shop on a weekly basis and many of the more esoteric veg are available here. Also runs a farmers market on site every Saturday. The standard of his fruit and veg are improving all the time and he uses local stuff eg Brogdale apples etc. Maybe not the best but improves all the time and is very rapidly getting there.

Fantastic place that is very well supported by the locals. Great food, great range and excellent staff make this place a real pleasure to shop at. I don't go to supermarkets anymore - why would I need to?

If you want something unusual (as well as the usual) then this is the place. If you can't find it here you won't find it anywhere around. Staff are great & nothing is too much trouble

If you want something unusual (as well as the usual) then this is the place. If you can't find it here you won't find it anywhere around. Staff are great & nothing is too much trouble.

This is a really special place started from humble beginnings many years ago. It is still under the same family ownership and whilst it now has a magnificent array of fruit, vegetables, cheese, deli goods and a dry store, it still holds the same values regarding quality and customer care.