How we make money & how we rank
Local Meat is reader-supported. We earn affiliate commissions from a subset of the meat-delivery brands we list when readers place an order or start a subscription through our links. We do not accept payment for ranking position, we do not let advertisers see content before publication, and we do not run sponsored content disguised as editorial. Here is exactly how the money flows and what it does (and does not) influence.
The money flow
When you click a tracked outbound link on a brand page and place an order, the brand may pay us a commission. Some relationships are direct with the brand, others are through affiliate networks (CJ Affiliate, Impact, ShareASale). The commission is paid by the brand, not by you — your price is the same whether you click our link or go direct.
Not every brand on this site is an affiliate partner. We list brands we have not partnered with when we think they are best for the reader. Direct-to-consumer brands without a public affiliate program are listed for editorial completeness even where no commission is available.
What compensation does not change
- Ranking order. Position is computed from a weighted blend of editor rating, reader-verified trust score, last-verified recency, sourcing depth (pasture-raised certification, grass-fed grass-finished verification, welfare audit), and pricing transparency. Commission rate is not a factor.
- Whether we cover a brand. If a brand is relevant to readers, we cover them — partner or not.
- What we say in a review. Negative findings stay in the review even when the brand pays us.
Editorial methodology — how we rank
Every brand on this site is scored on the same five-factor rubric.
- Editor rating (0–5). Our editorial team reviews the sourcing page, places a test order, and evaluates the unboxing experience for every brand we list. Ratings reflect: depth of sourcing transparency (named farms vs brand-level), welfare audit (Certified Humane / Animal Welfare Approved / GAP / RoC), delivery reliability, customization, and pricing transparency.
- Reader-verified trust score.Real readers vote "trust" or "don't trust" on a brand after they've ordered. Brand pages display the live tally.
- Last-verified recency. Pricing, welcome offers, and shipping policies change frequently. We re-verify weekly.
- Brand-specific signals. Catalog breadth (multi-protein vs single-category), customization spectrum, welcome-offer lifetime value, cancellation friction, geographic coverage.
- Pricing transparency. A brand that publishes clear all-in monthly pricing (box price + per-pound math + welcome offer value) scores higher than one that hides component costs.
Our commitments
- We will list brands we have not partnered with when they are best for the reader.
- We will surface negative findings even when a partner pays us.
- We will delist a brand if quality, sourcing claims, or shipping reliability drops — even when it costs us revenue.
- Every brand page shows a last-verified date.
- We will not pipe quiz answers into Meta Pixel, GA4 custom dimensions, or any third-party ad pixel.
What we are not
Local Meat is an editorial directory. We are not a meat producer, butcher, or food retailer. We do not provide dietary, nutritional, or medical advice. The eligibility quiz is an editorial directory filter — its output is a brand match, not a clinical or nutritional recommendation.
Affiliate networks & partners
Active affiliate relationships are managed through CJ Affiliate, Impact, and ShareASale, plus direct-to-brand relationships with Wild Pastures and other launch partners. The list of programs we run changes; the per-row "Affiliate" tag and last-verified date on every listing are the freshest signal of which brands are partners.
Have a concern?
If you spot something on this site that seems wrong — outdated pricing, a brand you believe should be downgraded, a reader complaint pattern — email editorial@theoryroad.com. We read every message and update the site within 7 days for anything material.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-08 · Local Meat Editorial Team · A Theory Road property.