A Decade of Eating Better With truLOCAL
For 10 years, Canadians have trusted truLOCAL for high-quality, locally sourced meat — delivered straight to their door. Thank you for being part of our journey.
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A Thank-You from the truLOCAL Team
truLOCAL started with a simple idea: make buying local meat easier for Canadians. Over the last ten years it has become so much more than that. Here are just a few of the accomplishments we have made with your support.
A Decade of Milestones truLOCAL's Timeline
January 3, 2016
- truLOCAL's First Instagram Post
truLOCAL made its debut on social media, sharing the very first look at what would become a new way for Canadians to buy high-quality, locally sourced meat. A small start to what would become a national community.
February 25, 2016
- First Box Shipped
A major milestone: our very first truLOCAL box left the warehouse and made its way to a customer's doorstep. We've been packing up our boxes every day since.
June 9, 2016
- Website Launched
We launched truLOCAL.ca, our online marketplace, making it easier than ever for people to order locally sourced meat online. The foundation for our direct-to-consumer model was officially in place.
January 18, 2017
- Dragon's Den Episode Airs on Television
truLOCAL's founding team stepped into the Den to pitch their vision: a frozen meat subscription service built around supporting local farms. The episode introduced truLOCAL to households nationwide and helped spark rapid growth
June 2018
- Alberta Launch (Calgary Warehouse)
We expanded west, opening our Alberta warehouse in Calgary. This allowed us to offer faster delivery, more local sourcing, and dedicated regional operations.
June 2018
- Winner of the FedEx Small Business Grant
truLOCAL was awarded the FedEx Small Business Grant, recognizing our growth, innovation, and commitment to supporting local producers.
October 2018
- British Columbia Launch (Surrey Warehouse)
We continued to scale across Canada with the launch of operations in British Columbia, bringing our service to even more Canadian households.
August 2019
- 50,000 Boxes Shipped
A major milestone in customer adoption: 50,000 boxes delivered across Canada. A clear sign that Canadians were embracing the convenience of local meat delivered.
November 2019
- Recyclable Packaging Launch
We replaced Styrofoam insulation with recyclable packaging, significantly reducing waste and pushing industry standards forward with a more sustainable solution.
Early 2020
- Adapted to New COVID-19 Protocols
As the world changed, we adapted quickly, implementing new safety processes, restructuring operations, and ensuring our team and customers stayed safe.
- Rapid Audience Growth During the Pandemic
With more Canadians cooking at home more than ever, demand surged. truLOCAL experienced its fastest customer growth since launch.
June 2020
- Equal Opportunity Grant Launched
We introduced the Equal Opportunity Grant to support underrepresented entrepreneurs, contributing to a more inclusive small-business community.
October 2020
- Named One of Canada’s Top Growing Companies
The Globe and Mail ranked truLOCAL #14 on its list of Canada's Top Growing Companies, a major national recognition of our momentum, and featured us on the cover of the magazine.
November 2020
- Member Offers Introduced
A new program offering exclusive discounts, special bundles, and unique perks for active truLOCAL members.
January 4, 2021
- truLOCAL Acquired by EMERGE Commerce (TSXV: ECOM)
truLOCAL officially joined the EMERGE family, marking a new chapter of growth, scale, and strategic expansion
September 2021
- Corporate Gifting Program Launched
We introduced curated gourmet steak boxes designed for corporate gifting, giving companies a premium way to thank employees and clients, or celebrating achievements.
February 3, 2022
- Loyalty Rewards Program Launch
We rolled out a points-based rewards system so customers could earn perks like free meat-based on their shipments, milestones, and ongoing loyalty.
November 2022
- Mega Box Launch
We introduced the Mega Box, the largest version of our subscription boxes, offering customers more variety and more products.
July 19, 2023
- truLOCAL Adds Deli-Style Snack Sticks
We expanded beyond traditional cuts with a new snack category by introducing our deli-style snack sticks and other dried meat options, offering a convenient, high-protein option for on-the-go customers.
September 2023
- Private Label Products Launched
We introduced our own line of truLOCAL-branded products, such as ground beef, salmon, and other products, giving customers even more high-quality options curated directly by our team.
November 2024
- Extra Points Rollout
We continued improving our service by allowing truLOCAL customers to use extra points to fill their boxes even more. This allowed customers the flexibility to get more of what they wanted without moving to a larger subscription box.
February 2025
- Highest Subscriber Growth Since the Pandemic
A major surge in new customers resulted in our strongest subscriber increase since May 2020 - a testament to ongoing demand and product innovation.
July 7, 2025
- 300 Blogs Posted on truLOCAL.ca
truLOCAL posts its 300th blog, a piece highlighting how to safely handle the dry ice included in our deliveries.
October 2025
- 500,000 Boxes Shipped
A historic milestone: half a million boxes delivered across Canada.
November 2025
- Over 400 Products Available to Choose from
With more than 400 active products across all delivery zones, truLOCAL reached its widest selection ever.
truLOCAL is turning ten this year
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A Decade of Milestones – truLOCAL’s Timeline
For a decade, Canadians have chosen truLOCAL for convenient, reliable local meat delivery. Here are some of the stories from customers who’ve been part of our community over the years.
Meet Our Local Farmers and Partners
truLOCAL works closely with Canadian farmers and producers who care deeply about quality, sustainability, and responsible farming practices. Get to know some of the partners who bring exceptional local meat to your plate.
truLOCAL Turns 10!
Your support over the past 10 years has helped truLOCAL strengthen Canada’s local food systems and bring high-quality meat from trusted farmers directly to your home.
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Here’s to the Next Ten Years
Whether you’ve been supporting Canadian farmers with us since day one or you’re discovering truLOCAL for the first time, we’re excited for what’s ahead. Thank you for choosing local, supporting sustainable food systems, and letting us be part of your meals.
Here’s to the next decade of high-quality Canadian meat delivery.