Agency Comparisons

Comparing us to someone? We'll help.

We publish an honest page for every agency we regularly get weighed against — including a plain statement of when that agency is the better hire. Sometimes it is. You should find that out now rather than four months into a retainer.

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Agency by agency.

One category vs seven

Schaefer vs Vivid Candi

Both agencies buy media. One works food and beverage exclusively; the other runs restaurants alongside automotive, fashion and real estate.

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Depth vs breadth

Schaefer vs Quench

Quench is a full-service F&B agency — media, PR, packaging, design and insights under one roof. We do four things. Which fits depends on whether you need a department or a specialist.

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Specialist vs specialist

Schaefer vs The Missing Ingredient

The closest comparison on the site. Both F&B only, both a decade in, both running the same retail media networks. The two differences: who runs the research, and who guarantees the result.

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Holding company vs independent

Schaefer vs The Food Group

Fifty years, a WPP agency, with chefs and food scientists on staff and five service pillars. We are independent and do four things. The choice is about which shape of partner your problem needs.

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Specialist vs generalist

Schaefer vs Bigeye

A generalist that researches well: 50+ retail networks across six categories. We publish eight, plus a written guarantee. Why a network count answers the wrong question.

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Two kinds of research

Schaefer vs Cool Nerds Marketing

Same channels, and they publish original research too — built from the campaigns they run. Ours is fielded with buyers. Those answer different questions.

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Brand vs media

Schaefer vs Active Ingredients

Amy's Kitchen, Chicken of the Sea, O Organics. In the natural and organic aisle their client list is better than ours, and the page starts by saying so.

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Five industries vs one

Schaefer vs Good Giant

Casinos, travel, sports, F&B and retail. Some of that genuinely transfers to food and beverage — the page works through which parts, vertical by vertical.

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Considering someone not listed here? Ask us — we'll tell you what we know about them, including the parts that don't favour us. Or start from the questions we'd ask any F&B paid media agency.

Before you shortlist anyone

Three decisions that come before the agency.

Most people arrive at a comparison page having already assumed they need an outside agency, and a particular kind of one. These pages question both assumptions, and more than one of them ends with us telling you not to hire us.

F&B Brands Only

Skip the comparison and just ask us.

Tell us the problem. If we're not the right shop, we'll say so.

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