Irelands food certificiation

The award good provenance earns.

Tiller is a new certification recognising food businesses that genuinely champion Irish farmers, fishers, growers, and producers. Not a marketing badge — a meaningful standard.

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How it  works
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Tiller award held by a hand
why tiller

What Irish consumers
increasingly value.
‍

93.6%
of diners believe restaurants prioritising Irish produce should be officially certified
85.2%
say it's important restaurants use locally sourced or Irish produce
67.5%
would actively choose a Tiller-certified restaurant — and 72% would pay more

Our Core Pillars

Every Tiller-certified business meets these baseline standards. No exceptions.
01
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Meat

All beef, lamb and pork must be bred and reared in Ireland, from verified Irish farms.

02
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Poultry

All poultry — chicken, turkey and duck — must be bred and reared in Ireland.

03
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Eggs

Must be sourced from Irish, cage-free systems. Barn, free-range, or organic only.

04
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Fresh Dairy

Only Irish fresh dairy: milk, butter, cream, yoghurt, crème fraîche and sour cream.

05
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Bread

All bread served or used must be produced in Ireland — no exceptions.

06
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Plant-Based Options

A vegetarian option of equal quality and care to meat dishes must always be on the menu.

07
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Responsible Packaging

No black plastic, polystyrene, or single-use plastic cutlery. Packaging for takeaway only.

08
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Made by Us

Food prepared from real, fresh Irish ingredients with emphasis on in-house cooking.

09
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Sourcing

Independent Irish growers, makers, butchers and farms must form a regular part of purchasing.

the award levels

Three levels.
One honest standard.

The Tiller certification has three tiers — each reflecting a deeper commitment to Irish food, producers, and the seasons. Every level demands genuine standards, not checkbox compliance.
Level 01
Core
commited to Irish
food at its core
Level 02
Rooted
in the Irish food year
Level 03
Leading
Educators & Champions
Find out more
sheep on hill in ireland, Photo by Megan Johnson on Unsplash

Three levels.
One honest standard.

The Tiller certification has three tiers — each reflecting a deeper commitment to Irish food, producers, and the seasons. Every level demands genuine standards, not checkbox compliance.
Level 01

Core

Committed to Irish Food at its Core

Recognises food businesses that exceed essential standards with a clear commitment to Irish sourcing. These businesses use a strong proportion of Irish ingredients, work with established Irish suppliers, and understand the provenance of what they serve. Food is cooked fresh in-house.

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Level 02

Rooted

In the Irish food year

A food business that cooks with the seasons and leads with Irish food. Most ingredients are Irish, chosen for quality, welfare and freshness. Menus change through the year, food is largely made from scratch, and sourcing is open and transparent.

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Level 03

Leading

Educators & Champions

The food businesses setting the pace — working closely with farmers and fishers, cooking from scratch, sourcing organic and regenerative produce, and honouring the whole animal and the seasons. Through innovation and education, they help build the future of Irish food.

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"

The best Irish restaurants don't just serve food — they tell the story of where it came from, and the hands that grew it.

"

Our transparent
process

Tiller certification follows four clear steps. We work directly with every business — no shortcuts, no self-reporting without verification.
01

application

Food businesses apply and complete a preliminary questionnaire to confirm alignment with the Tiller Essentials. This does not guarantee an award but signals eligibility.

02

audit

Eligible businesses are supported through a 100-point audit. One of our team works directly with the business to complete it and generate an initial score.

03

authentication

Our team reviews purchasing records and supplier relationships to confirm a genuine commitment to sourcing Irish food. No shortcuts.

04

award

The final score determines the award level received. All Tiller recipients demonstrate a meaningful commitment to Ireland's growers, farmers, fishers, and makers.

Apply for the Tiller certification.

We work directly with your business — no self-reporting, no shortcuts. Just a genuine audit of what's on your plate.

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Tiller award on a bed of straw

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