What we look for in our Irish food discovery box
Share
— now taking submissions for our first discovery box
At Made with Grá, we don’t stock hundreds of products.
We curate the ones worth pausing for.
The ones with flavour, story, and grá behind them.
This summer, we’re launching our very first limited-edition discovery box — just 50 boxes, packed with five small-batch Irish pantry products that we genuinely believe in.
We won’t be revealing the full line-up until after launch — but right now, we’re researching and reaching out to the best.
So if you’re a maker thinking, “Would my product be a fit?” — this one’s for you.
Whether you’re brewing kombucha in Kerry or pickling in Portobello, here’s what we look for.
1. It tastes incredible. Full stop.
This is non-negotiable.
We don’t care how pretty the label is if the flavour isn’t there.
The products we back make people pause mid-sentence. Re-read the label. Ask for seconds.
Whether it’s a vinegar that makes a salad sing, or a cracker you could eat straight out of the box with nothing on it — taste is king.
2. The packaging makes us want to photograph it.
We believe good food should look as good as it tastes.
We look for products that feel considered — modern, confident, and gift-worthy.
That means:
- No generic fonts or supermarket-style labels
- Yes to clean, tactile packaging that reflects the product’s value
- Yes to bold identity and future-facing design
If it looks like something you’d spot in a cool independent deli in Copenhagen or Lisbon — but with an Irish twist — we’re already interested.
3. It reflects the Ireland of now.
We love tradition — but we’re not here to be nostalgic.
We’re excited by the Ireland that’s happening today: diverse, ambitious, multicultural, and full of food innovators from every background.
We look for:
- Producers reimagining Irish ingredients in new ways
- Immigrant-founded brands shaping what “Irish food” means
- Women-led and sustainability-led businesses
- Flavours that reflect a global Ireland — sambals from Sligo, za’atar from Galway, ferments from Fermanagh
Ireland isn’t beige. Neither is your food.
4. There’s a story behind it — and it’s real.
People buy products. But they remember stories.
We’re drawn to makers with something to say — whether it’s a fourth-generation beekeeper or a first-time founder doing things differently.
If there’s thought behind how you source, ferment, forage or flavour — that matters to us. And it’ll matter to our customers too.
5. It’s pantry-friendly. For now.
To make shipping smooth and keep quality high, we’re starting with pantry goods only.
That means:
- Non-refrigerated
- Shelf-stable (6+ months ideally)
- Easy to post across Ireland
- The kinds of things that elevate the everyday — sauces, jams, vinegars, cordials, condiments, snacks
We want people to open this box and immediately want to try, taste, and share what’s inside.
6. It’s made with care — and a conscience.
Sustainability matters. Not perfection, but progress.
Whether you’re using local ingredients, compostable packaging, or just being thoughtful in how you scale — we’re listening.
We want this box — and everything we do after it — to reflect a better food system, not just a shinier one.
What we say no to (with grá):
We’re here to uplift Irish food. So we’re honest about what we don’t include:
- Mass-produced or white-label goods
- Vague provenance or trend-chasing claims (especially anything “immune-boosting” or “guilt-free”)
- Anything that’s all hype, no flavour
- We respect the hustle — but we respect the craft even more.
If this sounds like you — let’s talk.
We’re building Made with Grá to be the platform we wish existed.
A space for brilliant Irish makers to be seen, supported, and celebrated — with no algorithms, no race to the bottom, and no faff.
Want to be part of the first Grá Box?
Email us directly: hello@madewithgra.ie
We review every product with care. And grá.