Good Food Ireland is celebrating 20 years this year, marking a significant milestone for the organisation that champions the very best of Irish food and drink.
Founded by Margaret Jeffares in 2006, Good Food Ireland has played a defining role in connecting Irish farmers, fishers, food producers, chefs and hospitality providers under one trusted all-island standard. Over the past two decades, the organisation has driven commercial opportunity across the sector while positioning Ireland as a leading destination for food tourism.
Good Food Ireland Annual Conference
The anniversary will be celebrated at the Good Food Ireland Conference 2026, taking place on Monday 20th of April at the InterContinental Dublin 4. The conference – themed 20 Years of Taste: From Local Roots to Global Connections – will bring together industry leaders, producers and innovators to explore the future of food tourism, sustainability and Ireland’s evolving global food identity.
Beginning with registration at 9am, the conference will run through to 4.30pm, followed by the Good Food Ireland Showcase Dinner at 5pm. The dinner will demonstrate the connection between Ireland’s chefs and producers, with premium Irish ingredients presented by those who grow, harvest and produce them. Drawn from all corners of the island, together they will present a collaborative farm-to-fork experience that reflects the organisation’s core mission.
“From the outset, our vision was to connect people to authentic Irish food and drink experiences while creating sustainable opportunities for those who produce it. Twenty years on, we are incredibly proud to see how that vision has helped shape Ireland’s identity as a food destination and continues to evolve for the future.” commented, Margaret Jeffares, Founder of Good Food Ireland
Good Food Ireland Experiences
As part of the continued evolution, Good Food Ireland is expanding the Good Food Ireland platform, with Ireland’s only dedicated food and drink experience booking website. The platform connects visitors and locals with curated experiences, from farm visits and tastings to immersive culinary journeys, further strengthening Ireland’s position within the global tourism market.
Good Food Ireland Awards
The 20th anniversary programme will continue throughout 2026, building towards the Good Food Ireland Awards on Monday 16 November at the InterContinental Dublin 4. With the official sponsor FBD Insurance and other sponsors include Tourism Ireland, AIB, BIM and Allfresh, the awards recognise excellence across Ireland’s food, drink and hospitality sectors, celebrating those who champion local ingredients, sustainability and authentic Irish hospitality.
Over the past two decades, Good Food Ireland has played a significant role in shaping Ireland’s food narrative on both a national and international stage. From global trade events and diplomatic engagements to partnerships with industry and government, its work has demonstrated the value of food as both a cultural asset and a driver of economic growth.
As Good Food Ireland enters the next decade, the focus remains on strengthening Ireland’s food ecosystem, supporting local communities and delivering meaningful, high-quality experiences that connect people to place through food.
To book visit: goodfoodireland.ie / goodfoodirelandexperiences.com
Instagram: @goodfoodireland
Facebook: Good Food Ireland
X: @GoodFoodIreland
For more information, please contact Kennedy PR + Brand
Caroline Kennedy ckennedy@kennedyprandbrand.ie
Caitlin Shea cshea@kennedyprandbrand.ie
About Good Food Ireland
Good Food Ireland is the trusted all-island standard for authentic Irish food and drink experiences. Established in 2006, it connects farmers, fishers, food producers, chefs and hospitality providers, promoting provenance, sustainability and quality.
Through a curated network and bookable platform, Good Food Ireland offers visitors and locals the opportunity to engage with Ireland’s food culture in a meaningful and immersive way. From local tastings and farm visits to guided culinary experiences, each offering reflects the richness of Ireland’s food heritage and the people behind it.
Good Food Ireland is committed to supporting sustainable food tourism and strengthening the livelihoods of Ireland’s food communities, ensuring the preservation of its culinary traditions for future generations.
About Margaret Jeffares, Founder, Good Food Ireland
Margaret Jeffares is the founder of Good Food Ireland and a recognised leader in food tourism, destination branding and agri food strategy.
Margaret established Good Food Ireland with a vision to position food as a central pillar of Ireland’s cultural identity and tourism offering, creating a model that connects farmers, fishers, food producers, chefs and hospitality providers within a unified, quality assured national framework.
Margaret’s work has been instrumental in shaping Ireland’s food tourism landscape, demonstrating how provenance, authenticity and sustainability can drive both visitor engagement and economic growth. Through Good Food Ireland, she developed a fully operational national system that links agriculture, food production and tourism, helping to redefine how Ireland is experienced by visitors.
Margaret is widely regarded within industry and policy circles as a leading authority in food tourism strategy and destination branding. Her approach has been recognised as a best practice model for integrating local food systems with tourism development, influencing both national and international perspectives on food as a driver of cultural identity and commercial.