Feasibility study on development pathway for a Food Verification & Certification System for the Kilkenny region.

Tender description

The RFT requests suitably qualified and experienced parties to examine the feasibility and plot the pathway to a suitable Food Verification & Certification System for the Kilkenny region. Submissions should examine and & make recommendations on the optimum region to both sustain a system & to give local value & ownership. The RFT takes its inspiration from the FEAST ON scheme in the Canadian province of Ontario. But it recognises that the Kilkenny is a smaller county with a limited number of growers, producers and makers. This scheme will be the first of its kind in Ireland to use an 'open book' verification system to drive use of local food by foodservice operators and retailers The conclusion will feature in a report presented to the RFT sponsor and the Food Vision 2020-2015 Steering Group. Consultation and iterative work with the the Steering Group and others will be required. The aims of the scheme are as follows: • To provide a verification system for all locally produced food and beverage • To prevent “green washing” • To commercially grow the Kilkenny local food and beverage supply base • To provide a new marketing tool and USP for Kilkenny front end operators e.g. food service operators and retailers Possible Structures There are two possible solutions to developing the food verification system. Both will be explored and a decision on which is most viable and suitable: • A possible licensing arrangement of the Canadian Feast On® system • The development of a bespoke system from scratch Model Development The scheme will have as its core operation the following: • This initiative will target operators from some or all these categories within Kilkenny o Farms/growers/producers o Breweries, distilleries, etc o Foodservice (from food trucks to fine dining) o Farmers’ markets o Retailers (with a local food/drink component) o Accommodations (with F&B on-site) o Food tours o Festivals and events o Attractions (with F&B services) o Culinary schools