Let's talk about how THRIVE compares to other long term food storage brands. I don't want to speak negatively about any other company. I don't believe there is any one company that comes out below THRIVE in
all the following areas. There are other good companies and choices out there. However, I believe THRIVE comes out as the best in each of the following areas. I know that sound prejudicial since I sell the stuff. But remember, I didn't start selling it until I had done all this research and decided it was the food I wanted for
my family.
Quality / Taste
THRIVE
Shelf Reliance is HACCP certified, which stands for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point. They also have their own USDA certification number for their egg and meat products. To become USDA certified, a lengthy certification process is required which includes strict canning standards and an in-depth facility inspection conducted by an officer from the US Government. Shelf Reliance has taken this extra step because they feel it is important to take a hands-on approach when it comes to the products they sell.
Before any THRIVE products leave the facility, they are individually tested, sampled and approved by an
on-site quality assurance department and FSIS Inspector. The Shelf Reliance quality assurance team carefully reviews each product to verify that it meets standards of premium quality. They take great precaution in every step of the process to ensure you’re eating only the best. The large majority of THRIVE foods contain no preservatives, additives, and are gmo, msg and gluten free.
They are also relentless in finding the best food sources in the country, and go to great lengths to test multiple sources until they find the best foods available. They won’t sell a product unless they feel it is superior.
One evidence of the quality of THRIVE is
Be Ready Inc.'s decision to carry it almost exclusively in their stores. They have been selling and using other food storage brands for 20+ years, but have decided that the quality of THRIVE is so incredible as to warrant phasing out all other brands.
Other Companies
Most other food storage companies do not package their own foods. This is done by others and the product is simply re-labeled. Some companies also combine various individual ingredients of other companies and package them in ready to eat entrees. Many companies have very little control over the quality of the food they are selling you.
I have many, many customers who have purchased from various other companies for years. When they try THRIVE, they are so amazed at the quality in taste that they started purchasing THRIVE instead of other company's products. THRIVE food really is delicious.
Use / Rotataton
THRIVE
All THRIVE products are available as individual ingredients in separate cans. This means they are easy to use and rotate in your own existing recipes. It makes it possible to "eat what you store and store what you eat." THRIVE also employs professional chefs to cook with THRIVE and develop mouthwatering recipes. You can find many of them on the
Shelf Reliance YouTube channel. You can also find them in the
new THRIVE cookbook. I also cook with THRIVE regularly and you can find my recipes here at
Your Own Home Store.
Shelf Reliance also offers their patented
food rotation systems that make it even easier to properly rotate and use your food.
Other Companies
Some long term food storage companies sell mostly pre-made entrees. While these would be great to use in an emergency (and
THRIVE does sell a few entrees), they aren't what we want to eat everyday. You can't use entire entrees as part of your existing recipes. This makes rotating this food very difficult, and often it just goes to waste if not used by its expiration date.
Many other companies only offer certain products as part of a package: breakfast packs, starter packs, etc. This makes it difficult to customize your food to fit your family's needs b/c you can't purchase them separately if you want to. (Again,
THRIVE does offer a pre-made packages, but you can also
create your own package with the Planner).
However, the two above statements are not true of all other companies: there are many other long term food storage companies who, like THRIVE, sell products in individual ingredients in separate cans, but there are no other companies selling Shelf Reliance's food rotation systems.
Customer Service / Support
THRIVE
Shelf Reliance has an incredibly helpful and friendly customer service department (an 800#). At times they are under a lot of stress due to the high demands of these products, yet not once have a heard a less than friendly voice on the line when I've called.
However, in addition to their customer service department, Shelf Reliance has thousands of
independent consultants (like me!) making it easy for their customers to get individual, personalized service and help when they need it. Consultants are called
consultants for a reason: I
want you to contact me with any and all questions you may have. That is one of the biggest reasons I started this blog: to help all of you use and enjoy the products you were purchasing from me.
Other Companies
Correct me if I am wrong, but I only know of one other long term food storage company who sells their products through independent consultants. If you have questions about most company's products, you are left to calling a 800 # or "googling" it.
Cost
Be careful when comparing cost. Not everyone puts the same amount of food in their #10 cans. I've found the best way to compare for most products is to figure out how many 1/4 cup servings are in a can and compare by price per 1/4 cup serving. I've created the chart below based on this idea (I got the idea to do this from
Hilary over at THRIVE Hive).
But there are a few things that are better compared another way. For example, I compare milk by the number of gallons you get from one #10 can and I compare eggs by the number of
large eggs you get from one #10 can (THRIVE has 236
medium eggs in one can or about 177 large eggs). So, in my chart below, all comparisons are by 1/4 cup serving unless otherwise noted.
Another thing to remember about cost is that you can
earn THRIVE for free by hosting a cooking demonstration. You can do this in your home, by phone, video or completely online! You can also
get THRIVE for free by selling it. Those two opportunities are not available through most other food storage companies.
Packaging
THRIVE
All THRIVE foods come in #10 cans, pantry cans or pouches. The cans are double lined to prevent rust from the outside or the "tin-like" taste on the inside. They are already appropriately packaged for long term storage. No need to get your own cans and oxygen absorbers and package the food yourself. No need to worry about if you did it right. Shelf Reliance's
on-site quality assurance department and FSIS inspector have already done it for you!
All THRIVE cans are also color coded based on the food pyramid, and there is a delicious recipe on the back of every can.
Other Companies
A few other companies allow you to buy some products in bulk (large 50 lb bags etc), but you then have to find a way to package these products for long term storage yourself. This creates an additional expense and takes additional time. Some companies line their cans on the outside, but as I am writing this article, I personally know of no other company that also lines them on the inside.
Based on the above research, I decided about a year ago that THRIVE was the food I wanted to purchase for my family. I have not regretted that decision one bit.
I am an independent consultant for Shelf Reliance; a company with a mission to empower others to become self reliant, prosperous and charitable. You can learn more about Shelf Reliance, buying their products, earning free products, or selling their products on my Shelf Reliance website.
Labels: faq
Now through July 5th, Shelf Reliance has deeply discounted over 30 different products! These are very low prices: BELOW the regular Q-Club prices! Some of my favorites are the Tomato Powder, Bell Peppers, Freeze Dried Green Peas, Orange Yogurt, Instant Black Beans, and Butter Powder, but there are many, many more available. Check out all the Shelf Reliance products on special here.
