What Tiller actually
means.

If your verified audit score falls below 60, a Tiller award cannot be made. Our team will share your results and highlight the specific areas that need improvement. You're welcome to reapply in future once those gaps have been addressed. We aim to make the feedback constructive — the goal is to help businesses improve, not to exclude them permanently.

You don't apply for a specific level — the level is determined by your audit score. You go through the same process regardless, and the outcome reflects your genuine standards. If you score 88 or above, you'll be awarded Leading. If you score between 75 and 87, you'll receive Rooted. Scores between 60 and 74 result in a Core award.

All three levels require the nine Tiller essentials to be met. Core (60+ audit score) recognises strong Irish sourcing and in-house cooking. Rooted (75+) reflects seasonal menus, deeper supplier relationships, and majority-Irish ingredients. Leading (88+) is awarded to businesses with direct farm relationships, whole-animal cooking, and an active role in Irish food culture.

The main documents we review are purchasing invoices and supplier records covering a full year of trading. We look for consistency — not just a snapshot of a good week. You don't need to prepare anything special; we work through what you already have with you during the audit stage.

The typical timeframe from application to certification award is two to four weeks. This depends on how quickly purchasing records and supplier documentation can be gathered. Businesses with organised records tend to move through the process fastest. We'll keep you informed at every stage.

The audit fee covers the complete certification process: the 100-point audit conducted with a Tiller team member, independent verification of supplier records and purchasing history, your certification award at the appropriate level, the Tiller mark licence for 12 months, and your listing on the tiller.ie restaurant directory.

Yes — certified businesses receive access to the Tiller mark in digital and print formats, with clear usage guidelines. The mark may be displayed in-restaurant, on menus, websites, and social media. Use is tied to active certification; it must not be displayed after a certification lapses or is withdrawn.

No. The audit fee is the same whether you achieve Core, Rooted, or Leading. The level you earn is determined by your audit score — not by what you pay. The fee covers the full audit process, supplier verification, and your first year of certification.

Tiller is open to any food business serving Irish food in Ireland — restaurants, cafés, gastropubs, hotel dining rooms, food trucks, and market stalls. The core criteria apply equally across all formats. If you serve food to people and source your ingredients from Irish producers, you're eligible to apply.

Yes. Tiller is not just about certification — it's about helping Irish food businesses do better. If your audit reveals areas where sourcing could improve, our team can connect you with relevant Irish producers and suppliers in your region and price range. We want more businesses to qualify, not fewer.

If any one of the nine Tiller essentials cannot be met, the application cannot proceed to audit — regardless of how well you perform on every other criterion. This is by design. The essentials are the non-negotiable foundation. If you're close but not quite there, our team can advise on what changes would bring you into compliance before reapplying.

Yes. If at renewal a business no longer meets the criteria for their current level, they will be awarded a lower level — or, if the nine essentials are no longer met, certification will not be renewed. In cases of clear misrepresentation discovered mid-year, Tiller reserves the right to withdraw certification before renewal.

No — the audit is a collaborative process, not a surprise inspection. A Tiller team member works directly with you to complete the 100-point framework. We then review purchasing records and supplier relationships independently. The goal is accuracy, not a gotcha. Businesses doing the right thing have nothing to fear.

All Tiller certifications last for one year from the date of award. Renewal requires a fresh annual audit — we don't assume standards have been maintained. The renewal process is lighter than the initial audit for existing certified businesses, but it is still a genuine verification, not a rubber stamp.