truLocal Meat Review

About truLOCAL Meat Subscription

truLOCAL is a Canadian meat subscription service that delivers quality, locally sourced meat to your front door. The company delivers within Canada and sources their products from Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec farms.

They have also expanded their services to the USA, where they deliver within 13 states.

You may recognize the brand from the truLOCAL Dragon’s Den episode, where the company struck a deal with big-shot dragons Michele Romanow and Joe Mimran. The exposure on the show led to explosive growth for the company.

This truLOCAL meat review will tell you more about the company’s quality meat and services. So if you’re looking for a convenient quality meat supplier, keep reading. This might be just what you’ve been looking for.

Overview of truLOCAL Meat Subscription 

Ontarians Marc Lafleur and Greg Quaile met working at a meat company together, which is where the truLOCAL story began. The pair sought to solve the problems consumers faced while looking to purchase high-quality meat.

For many consumers, the easiest way to purchase meat was at a local grocery store. But these stores give little information about where your meat is coming from.

Additionally, the meats available at grocery stores are not usually of as high a quality as meat sourced from a local butcher, but many people do not have access to one.

In 2016, Marc and Greg set out to fix these problems. No strangers to the industry, they set a plan that would allow Ontarians to conveniently eat better and more local.

In 2017, after developing truLOCAL for a number of months, the pair appeared on Dragon’s Den where they received a ton of support and successfully struck a deal with Joe Mimran and Michele Romanow.

Since their TV appearance, the brand has exploded in popularity. Their direct-to-consumer approach to purchasing meat has become a game-changer. Especially because they offer completely customizable monthly deliveries.

The meat itself is sourced from local farmers, butchers, and fisheries in your province. So, you can feel good about supporting your local economy while purchasing items you already need. truLOCAL provides information on where your meat is coming from, ensuring you’re aware of its quality and humane practices.

The company continues to expand. They now deliver to 13 states within the USA.

Before we get into this truLOCAL review, let’s go over some pros and cons.

Pros

• A wide variety of meat and seafood products to choose from
• You will know where your meat comes from
• Products are free-run and antibiotic-free with no added hormones
• Supports local businesses
• Commitment-free plans: skip, pause, or cancel whenever you choose
• Orders are customizable
• truLOCAL recipes are listed on their site
• No freezer burn guarantee
• Many positive customer reviews on the brand’s website and many other sources 
• Free shipping to the US and Canada

Cons

• Subscription only
• Product selection varies on location
• Some truLOCAL reviews mentioned complaints about the packaging

How Does truLOCAL Meat Subscription Work?

So, how does it work? Let’s talk about truLOCAL’s price and box options. There are two boxes available: the small box (18 portions, $125/box) and the regular box (40 portions, $249/box). 

You can also select a plan based on order frequency, which breaks the cost into weekly increments of 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, and 6 weeks.

There is no commitment. You can cancel, pause, or reorder whenever you like. Although, it’s important to note that you can’t just purchase a one-off box without signing up for a subscription and then canceling or pausing your account.

Not sure which option is best for you? Don’t worry, this truLOCAL meat review has you covered. We’ll cover everything you need to know in the next section.

truLOCAL has an incredible selection of high-quality meats and seafood. When you build your box, you can choose whatever your heart desires, and build a box packed with quality protein that will please your family and save you from constantly visiting the grocery store.

TruLOCAL Subscription Plan Breakdown

The subscription plans below are based on the regular-sized box and broken down by order frequency. Recommended frequency is dependent on the size of your family and how often you eat meat. Everybody’s situation is unique and you can find a plan that works best for you!

TruLOCAL Two-Week Subscription Review

The Two-Week Subscription service is ideal for families of 4-6. On average, families of this size will order the truLOCAL regular-sized box twice a month. It seems to be the perfect amount of meat for a group of this size.

This option makes preparing dinner for busy families easier. Wondering what to make for dinner won’t be a daily problem that needs to be solved. To make daily dinners even more streamlined, the company offers recipes on their website!

Plus, you can choose from a wide variety of locally-sourced meats, such as truLOCAL Beef Bacon, without even leaving your home!

If you decide your deliveries are too frequent or large, don’t worry! Your plan can be adjusted at any time.

TruLOCAL Three-Week Subscription Review

The Three-Week Subscription plan is ideal for smaller families who are big meat-eaters. This subscription gives your family a variety of quality meats and fish to make your dinners more delicious and diverse.

Each order can be fully customized to your preferences. If you have picky kids, you can choose to order child-friendly options, like chicken burgers, but more exciting meats for the parents, like lamb loin chops, ground water buffalo, or the signature truLOCAL Lake Erie Pickerel. 

If you are a family who loves meat and convenience, this option is for you. And even better, you’ll know exactly where your meat is coming from.

TruLOCAL Monthly Subscription Review

The Monthly Subscription is ideal for a couple. The average family of two will order one regular-sized box per month.

As with their larger subscription options, you’ll have a wide variety of meat to choose from, such as truLOCAL Nitrate-Free Bacon. But if you are looking for something that is more substantial for a nice dinner for 2, try the truLOCAL Grass-Fed Beef.

This is one of the smaller subscription options, so it will be enough meat for two adults without food going to waste. If you don’t eat meat too frequently, but look for quality when you do, this option is for you.

TruLOCAL Six-Week Subscription Review

The Six-Week Subscription plan was designed for individuals or families of two who aren’t big meat-eaters.

Ordering the regular box of 40 pieces is enough meat for a single person while still factoring in occasional dinners with guests. Your meat will only come every six weeks, so you won’t need to worry about constant deliveries that you can’t keep up with.

This option is great for ensuring you have your favorite meat products like the truLOCAL Pork Side Ribs on hand when a craving hits. It also gives you the opportunity to treat yourself every six weeks with something you wouldn’t normally buy, like grass-fed filet mignon.

So if you live alone or with another adult and you’re interested in incorporating more high quality meat into your diet semi-regularly, this option is for you.

How Much is a truLOCAL Meat Subscription?

All of the above plans mentioned earlier in this truLOCAL review were calculated using the regular box (which costs $249) and divided up into costs per week depending on the frequency of orders. Here is a breakdown of those costs:

1. Delivery every two weeks: works out to $124.50/week
2. Delivery every three weeks: works out to $83/week
3. Delivery every month: works out to $58/week
4. Delivery every six weeks: works out to $41.50/week

truLOCAL Meat Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

We wanted to see what customers actually think of the brand, so this truLOCAL review turned to testimonials on Google, Reddit, and Trustpilot. Across reviews, customers seem extremely satisfied with their meat deliveries, but let’s take a closer look.

On Google, truLOCAL was awarded an exceptional 4.9/5 stars from 367 ratings. According to reviews, this impressive score is a result of their customer service, as well as the variety and quality of the meats they deliver. 

Many users stay with the company after purchasing their first box. One Google reviewer loves the convenience they offer:

“I got my first truLocal box in March 2020, and haven’t looked back! We just received our 11th box of high quality meat and seafood, and every time it shows up at our door I am always received that I don’t have to make another trip to the grocery store. This has changed my meal planning game, saved me so much time…”

While another user loves that the brand offers a way to support local businesses in a safe way during this pandemic: “I received my first box from truLOCAL and WOW! I ordered my box early Wednesday morning and it was waiting on my porch by mid-day Thursday… Supporting local farmers and suppliers is a great feeling, especially during these difficult times. The hand-written sticky note topped it off!”

Many Redditors also report satisfaction. There, a truLOCAL reviews Reddit thread reports that the company goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service: “I’ve had a box from TruLocal for over a year. The product is great and the people are the best. They even messaged us while we were on vacation, they noticed an IG post, and asked if we need our box delayed a week or if we’d be home to receive it.”

The company emphasizes customer service and adds personal touches to make the shopping experience more memorable. For example, each order includes a hand-written meat-related joke. It’s the little touches that help make the brand memorable.

Though they are rare, we did discover some negative truLOCAL reviews. The most frequent complaints involve the packaging and price.

The cost of the subscription service deters some potential customers. On Trustpilot, where the company has a 2.8/5-star rating from just 6 reviews, one reviewer simply wrote “overpriced” after they received their first box.

Similarly, another poster won’t order from truLOCAL despite being interested because “the portions add up to nearly a 200% markup.”

On the other hand, a Redditor’s packaging had leaked inside the box: “Just got my first box and am a bit disappointed. The inside of the box was quite wet. Didn’t see any dry ice but a torn dry ice bag inside a larger plastic bag that was dripping wet, wrapped in brown insulated paper?”

We are happy to report that the negative truLOCAL reviews were few and far between. Fortunately, very few customers report issues with packaging, but we hope that the company takes steps to ensure the meat arrives safely for consumption.

Is the truLOCAL Meat Subscription Worth It?

Now you may be wondering, is truLOCAL worth it? Based on our research, we think their meat is worth it.

While a few reviewers report the meat is overpriced, at least half of which have never tried ordering, we can see why truLOCAL is more expensive. The meat they offer is high quality and sourced from local farmers who follow certain ethical standards, which makes the meat cost more than what you would typically find at a grocery store.

Plus, you are paying for the convenience of having it delivered straight to your door.

The prices are comparable to what we see in Ontario grocery stores, especially organic and ethical products. But the quality is much better, and you know where it came from.

Customers love that they offer a wide variety of meats like the truLOCAL Side Stripe Shrimp and more! They give you the opportunity to order some of your favorites while also trying something new.

Their plans are also extremely flexible. They offer two different box sizes with various delivery frequency options. Plus, you can change your subscription preferences whenever you need to!

truLOCAL’s commitment to quality, no freezer burn guarantee, attention to detail, and their incredible focus on customer service deems them a company worth supporting.

truLOCAL Promotions & Discounts 

Unfortunately, there are no truLOCAL promo codes currently available.

If you’re a WW member, this brand has partnered with the company to give you exclusive promotions and truLOCAL WW SmartPoint ® assigned products. You can learn more by visiting truLOCAL.ca/ww.

Sign up for truLOCAL Meat Subscription 

If you are interested in signing up for a truLOCAL subscription, there are five steps to follow:

1. Go to truLOCAL.ca and hit the “Order Now” button at the top left of the page
2. Input your postal code to discover product offerings in your area, hit “Build Your Box”
3. Select your box size, small or regular
4. Build your box with your desired products
5. Check out!

If you ever need to make changes to your account, you can access your preferences with your truLOCAL login.

FAQ

What is truLOCAL?

truLOCAL is a meat subscription service that delivers high-quality meats right to your door. The meat is all locally and ethically raised.

Where is truLOCAL located?

truLOCAL does not have a physical or retail location. So, you can sign up for a subscription via their website.

They currently deliver within Ontario but are expanding to Alberta and British Columbia.

How do I cancel my truLOCAL subscription?

To cancel a subscription, there are four steps to follow:

1. Login by clicking “My Account” on truLOCAL.ca
2. Click “Update Shipping Info” on the left side of the screen
3. Scroll down until you see “Manage Subscription”
4. Hit the red “Cancel Subscription” button

What is truLOCAL’s Shipping Policy?

truLOCAL ships for free. You will usually receive your order within 1-2 days of placing it, depending on your location and courier. Once your order has been accepted, you will be emailed a tracking code to follow along with your parcel’s journey.

What is truLOCAL’s Return Policy?

truLOCAL does not accept returns of any kind. If there are any problems with your delivery, you can contact their customer service team and they will assess the situation.

How to Contact truLOCAL Meat Subscription 

If you have any questions after reading this truLOCAL review, you can contact their team via:

• Email for US customers: [email protected]
• Email for Canadian customers: [email protected]

Currently, there is no truLOCAL phone number listed on their website.

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Looking for more selection? Check out ButcherBox or The Honest Bison.