CAROLINE Murphy of West Cork Eggs has launched the West Cork Food Collective, a new initiative designed to recognise and strengthen the vital partnership between local producers and the retail and hospitality businesses that support them.

West Cork is widely regarded as the artisan food capital of Ireland, with an abundance of high-quality produce made right on our doorstep.

The collective operates on a tiered basis, awarding establishments with bronze, silver, gold, or ambassador window decals.

These stickers serve as a visual ‘seal of approval’, allowing customers to immediately see the level of support a business gives to local producers.

Five iconic West Cork businesses have already committed as founding members: Field’s SuperValu, Skibbereen; O’Reilly’s Londis, Rosscarbery; Riverside, Skibbereen; Scally’s SuperValu, Clonakilty; and Scannell’s Bar, Clonakilty.

‘I’ve launched the collective to highlight the wonderful food producers and their supporters in West Cork,’ Caroline said.

‘Good news and hard work should always be credited. If a customer sees one of our stickers in a window, they will know they are genuinely supporting local food producers.’

Caroline said she hopes the initiative will become a recognised symbol across the region, serving as a resource for producers, retailers, and the hospitality sector alike.