Resources for Booking Store Demos
At LCG Foods, we've created this resource page for brand owners to quickly determine how to best deliver a demo at a retailer.
The demo requestor is often the retailer or the LCG Foods Account Manager (on behalf the retailer). From there, it is the responsibility of the brand owner to respond to the demo requestor by confirming the demo in writing or to formally decline the opportunity.
Consider the following options ordered by cost, capability & flexibility:
Perform the demo yourself - Always the best if the store is within driving distance.
Use the retailer's internal team - If available, this can be an economical approach saving you time and travel costs.
Use a demo company - Best if the stores are out of reach or if you require many demos in a short amount of time.
Note for Sobeys Local Program - in addition to staffing the demo, you must comply with Sobeys additional requirements. This includes providing certificate of insurance, proof of food safety certification, and submitting demo forms. Contact us at [email protected] for the Sobeys demo information package.
Perform the Demo Yourself
To perform the demo yourself, simply confirm details with the demo requestor. Generally, you'll want to include the following information in your confirmation email:
1. Company Name
2. Name of person performing the demo
3. Demo Date & Duration (typically 3-6 hours) - consider timing your demo to coincide with a promotion dates.
4. What you'll be demoing
5. Power requirements, if any
6. Access to fresh water, if required
Then, create a reminder for yourself to call the store at least 2 weeks before the demo date to ensure they are (or will be) well stocked for the demo.
Ensuring the store is well stocked is the responsibility of the brand owner. If your demo is proven to move lots of product, encourage the store to order more than usual as they'll need inventory for the period leading up to the demo, the demo itself, and the shelf needs to be sufficiently stocked post demo.
Use the Retailer's Internal Team
Some retailers have their own internal demo team which you can hire. This approach is useful if you cannot reach the location easily, or wish to align demos with a scheduled promotion across all locations. You simply cannot be at all locations at once! Refer to the table below to see if which retailer offers this service.
| Store Name | Contact Us |
|---|---|
| Community Natural Foods | Contact Us |
| Farm Boy | Contact Us |
| Goodness, Me! Natural Food Market | Contact Us |
| Natural Food Pantry | Contact Us |
| Whole Foods Market | Contact Us |
| Fiddleheads Health & Nutrition | Contact Us |
| Shop Santé | Contact Us |
| Simply For Life | Contact Us |
| The Big Carrot | Contact Us |
| Cochrans Country Market | Contact Us |
| Cooprative La Manne | Contact Us |
| Edmonton Grocer | Contact Us |
| Market Fresh | Contact Us |
| Powell's Supermarkets | Contact Us |
| Quarter Master Natural Foods | Contact Us |
| Renco Family Foods | Contact Us |
| Shuswap Health Foods LTD | Contact Us |
| The Wellness Exchange | Contact Us |
| Vegan Supply | Contact Us |
Contact the store and include the following information in your confirmation email:
1. Your Brand / Company Name
2. Desired dates and location(s) - mention any promotions that may already be scheduled. This can help you get prioritized.
3. An explanation of the demo and supplies required
4. Ask: About costs and other information required to confirm a demo
Then, create a reminder to yourself to call the store at least 2 weeks before the demo date to ensure each store is (or will be) well stocked for the demo.
Ensuring the store is well stocked is the responsibility of the brand owner. If your demo is proven to move lots of product, encourage the store to order more than usual as they'll need inventory for the period leading up to the demo, the demo itself, and the shelf needs to be sufficiently stocked post demo.
Use a Professional Demo Company
Below is a list of known demo companies. At LCG Foods, we do not recommending any specific company - only providing this as a resource.
| Demo Company | Region(s) | Contact/Request Link |
|---|---|---|
| Demo Ninja | National | |
| Nuts for Nutrition | GTA, Hamilton Region, Niagara Region, |
Request Link |
| Sanamaria | All of Ontario | |
| Sparks | National + USA | Tom McIntosh - [email protected] |
| Tastebuds Premium *1 | All of Ontario | Loredana Carnale - [email protected] |
*1 Tastebuds Premium offers demos exclusively for premium, natural food and beverage products.
When you contact the demo companies, provide the following information to ensure fast and accurate quotes.
1. Brand/Business Name
2. Type of Samples
3. Demo Date and Duration
4. List of Store Location(s)
5. Number of Stores or Demos
6. Preferred Sample Serving Method (e.g. cooking, cutting, pouring)
7. Sample Delivery Method (e.g. provided at the store, mailed, or purchased by demo company with chargeback)
8. Promotions Offered During Demo (Yes/No)
Here are some questions you may want to ask as you evaluate different options:
Do you have and will provide all necessary demo equipment?
Do you provide post-demo reporting? What does this include?
Do you offer packages for multiple demos?
Are there any additional costs we should anticipate?
Is there a minimum commitment or contract length?
What is your cancellation/rescheduling policy?
Does this Page Need an Update?
This resource page is updated on a best effort basis. If you are a store that has an internal demo service, a demo company that wants to be included on this page, or have suggestions or corrections to report, please contact us at [email protected]