2026 Finalists - Spice Kitchen
Company Name: Spice Kitchen
Product(s) in the Finalist: Feasting Kit Range
Congratulations on being a finalist! How does it feel to be recognised in this year’s Gift of the Year awards? It feels incredibly special, and honestly a little surreal. When we started Spice Kitchen, it was never about awards, it was about sharing something deeply personal: the flavours, memories and traditions I grew up with. To have that recognised on a national stage, and in a category all about gifting, means a lot. It feels like people really understand what we’re trying to do.
Can you tell us a little about your brand and the inspiration behind your successful product? Spice Kitchen started at my mum’s kitchen table. She used to blend spices for friends and family, and it grew from there. Food has always been our way of connecting, telling stories, bringing people together, and showing love.
Our feasting kits are an extension of that. We wanted to create something that goes beyond just ingredients, something that gives people an experience. It’s about slowing down, cooking together, sharing a meal, and creating memories. That’s the real inspiration behind everything we do.
What makes your product special, and why do you think it stood out to the judges? I think what makes it special is the intention behind it. Every element has been thought through, from the spice blends themselves, which are rooted in family recipes, to the way everything is presented and the story it tells.
It’s not just a gift you open and put on a shelf. It’s something you do. It invites people in, whether they’re confident cooks or complete beginners. I think that sense of experience, connection and authenticity is what helped it stand out.
Who is your product designed for, and what kind of reaction have you had from customers so far? It’s designed for anyone who loves food, but more importantly, anyone who loves bringing people together. You don’t need to be an expert, just curious and open to trying something new.
The response has been amazing. People tell us they’ve cooked meals they never thought they could, hosted friends in a new way, or gifted it to someone and then ended up cooking together. Those are the moments we love hearing about, that’s what it’s all about for us.
What trends or themes do you think are shaping the gifting industry right now? People are moving away from “stuff” and towards meaning. There’s a real shift towards gifts that feel personal, thoughtful and experiential. Sustainability is also a big part of it; people want to know where things come from and how they’re made. And I think there’s a growing desire for connection. After the last few years, people really value time together, and gifting is starting to reflect that.
How has being shortlisted, and nowbeing a finalist impacted your brand so far, and what do you hope to achieve from the awards? It’s given the whole team a real boost. Everyone’s worked incredibly hard, so to have that recognised externally means a lot.
It’s also opened up new conversations and brought more visibility to what we do. Going forward, we just hope it helps us reach more people, more homes, more tables, and continue sharing what we love.
What exciting plans do you have for the future? We’ve got lots in the pipeline. We’re continuing to expand our feasting kit range with a very special 'Story of Spice' launch very soon. It's about telling a story of the spice trade from a decolonised lens and feels super important right now. And of course, we are exploring new flavours and stories from different parts of the world all the time.
For me personally, I’m really enjoying developing new recipes and making them accessible for people at home. Something is exciting about taking traditional dishes and helping people feel confident cooking them themselves. I've just launched my book 'Essential Spices for Dummies', and we're in talks with our publisher about a second cookery book to launch in 2027. Watch this space.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received (or given), and why? The best gift I’ve ever received was a tagine from Morocco that one of our team brought back for me for my birthday a couple of years ago. It meant a lot because it was so thoughtful; they knew how much I love that style of cooking. I use it all the time, and at the moment I’m refining a Beef & Prune Tagine recipe which will be included in the feasting kit we’re launching in July. It’s one of those gifts that keeps giving - every time I cook with it, it reminds me why I love food so much.
