What is Epicure Selections?
Epicure, or Epicure Selections as they're also called, sells food and cookware designed to get people to eat healthier without sacrificing convenience. Their motto is:
Good Food. Real Fast.
…which kind of sums it all up. They also offer excited consumers the chance to host an Epicure party to earn specials and benefits. For those more serious about Epicure, there's the opportunity to become an independent consultant.
Be warned: Epicure is a Canadian company and operates in Canada only.
The Company
As I just mentioned Epicure is Canadian, and proudly so. There are references to Canada and “being Canadian” throughout the website. They are a bit unusual in that they have not expanded across any international borders, but then that's not the only out-of-the-ordinary aspect of Epicure. They are also:
- 100% family-owned
- 100% women-led
- members of the DSWA (not the DSA), which stands for the Direct Selling Women's Alliance
This is the kind of business that women can really get behind and believe in.
What started out as a literal “spice cart” at farmers' markets is now a successful business with thousands of independent consultants all over Canada, a charitable foundation, corporate career opportunities, and a thriving industry of feeding health-minded people with little time on their hands, but enough money to foot the bill for fancy spices, rubs, sauces and the like.
The founder is Sylvie Rochette, original spice cart entrepreneur and concerned mom who had a vision about how good-quality spices could make meal preparation a quick dream come true.
The Products
The flagship products are spice blends which originated out of Sylvie Rochette's very own kitchen. The production facility is located on Vancouver Island, where gluten-free and nut free products are blended for distribution throughout Canada. Spices and other ingredients come from around the world and many of Epicure's products are certified Kosher Pareve by BC Kosher. There are also low and no-sodium products as well, so selling them as healthy foods will be easier.
They are most proud of the recent certification they were awarded by the Non-GMO Verification Project. As you can see, there's a real emphasis on quality here.
Food products are things like:
- dressings (Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing Mix: $11)
- desserts & baking (Apple Pie Spice: $7)
- cocktails (Smokin' Mango Rim Trimmer: $8)
- gravy & bouillon (Vegetable Bouillon Base: $11)
- food (Bali Glow Dry Glaze: $12)
- meal shortcuts (Fajita Recipe seasoning Mix:$8)
Epicure's line of cookware looks something like this:
- time savers (cakes for one: $20)
- pots & pans (Eclipse Coated Wok & Glass Lid: $124)
- tools (Ceramic Slicer: $20)
The Business Opportunity
Hosts
Party hosts get the chance to get free stuff while they entice partiers to buy stuff and/or become independent consultants themselves. The parties are dubbed “Epicure Tasting Parties” and any host will be helped by her independent consultant as far as setting up and presentation go. Parties usually last two to three hours
A tasting party can also be a fundraiser…just ask a consultant.
Independent Consultants
Earn 25% on everything you sell. Make certain quotas and earn more. For example, make $2000 in one month and get an extra 3%, for a total of $560 income for the month.
Perks:
- Annual National Conference for networking and fun
- Career Path Rewards (bonuses like jewelry and vacations)
IC's must purchase a Business Success Kit at around $135 including shipping and tax. It contains mostly products and brochures and some training material.
The Verdict
With products that cost an average of $10 apiece, it's no wonder Epicure added a cookware line with higher-priced items. You won't get fabulously rich selling spices, but tap into the bulk buying crowd and sales could add up.
Know what it really takes to make Epicure work? An incredible sense of creative genius in the kitchen. If you can come up with a gazillion different ways to use the Epicure spices and other products to cook delicious food, then your network's tasting parties could really be the cat's meow. Food is the way to anyone's heart, after all. But remember: you'll have to be Canadian to join.
