diff --git a/src/demo/apps/arrangement/routes/Comparison.tsx b/src/demo/apps/arrangement/routes/Comparison.tsx
index ae49ed7..f943aef 100644
--- a/src/demo/apps/arrangement/routes/Comparison.tsx
+++ b/src/demo/apps/arrangement/routes/Comparison.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { ComparisonPage } from '../../../../components/pages/ComparisonPage';
 import { Typography } from '../../../../components/atoms/Typography';
 import { Button } from '../../../../components/atoms/Button';
 import { useComparisonBasket } from '../../../shared/state/useComparisonBasket';
-import { resolveComparisonPackage } from '../../../shared/fixtures/packages';
+import { resolveComparisonPackage, DEMO_RECOMMENDED_KEY } from '../../../shared/fixtures/packages';
 import { demoNav } from '../DemoNav';
 
 export function ComparisonRoute() {
@@ -12,7 +12,12 @@ export function ComparisonRoute() {
   const packageKeys = useComparisonBasket((s) => s.packageKeys);
   const remove = useComparisonBasket((s) => s.remove);
 
+  // The system-recommended package is shown as an extra column on top of
+  // the user's basket. Dedupe against the basket so it never renders twice.
+  const recommendedPackage = resolveComparisonPackage(DEMO_RECOMMENDED_KEY) ?? undefined;
+
   const packages = packageKeys
+    .filter((key) => key !== DEMO_RECOMMENDED_KEY)
     .map((key) => {
       const resolved = resolveComparisonPackage(key);
       return resolved ? { key, pkg: resolved } : null;
@@ -22,7 +27,9 @@ export function ComparisonRoute() {
         x !== null,
     );
 
-  if (packages.length === 0) {
+  // Empty state only when there's genuinely nothing to show — normally the
+  // recommended package will always resolve, so this branch is defensive.
+  if (packages.length === 0 && !recommendedPackage) {
     return (
       <Box sx={{ minHeight: '100vh', display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column' }}>
         {demoNav}
@@ -51,6 +58,7 @@ export function ComparisonRoute() {
   return (
     <ComparisonPage
       packages={packages.map((p) => p.pkg)}
+      recommendedPackage={recommendedPackage}
       onArrange={(id) => alert(`Arrange "${id}" — would route to next wizard step.`)}
       onRemove={(id) => {
         // ComparisonPackage.id is the bare package id; we need the basket's
diff --git a/src/demo/shared/fixtures/packages.ts b/src/demo/shared/fixtures/packages.ts
index ddb2fd6..2abfae3 100644
--- a/src/demo/shared/fixtures/packages.ts
+++ b/src/demo/shared/fixtures/packages.ts
@@ -1245,6 +1245,16 @@ export function resolveComparisonPackage(key: BasketKey): ComparisonPackage | nu
   return bundle.forComparison.find((p) => p.id === parsed.packageId) ?? null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Demo recommendation: the package ComparisonPage always surfaces as the
+ * system-recommended option. Not part of the user's basket and doesn't
+ * count against the 3-package basket cap — it's an editorial suggestion
+ * layered on top of whatever the user has selected. If the same package
+ * is already in the basket, the Comparison route dedupes so it appears
+ * once (as the recommended column).
+ */
+export const DEMO_RECOMMENDED_KEY: BasketKey = 'parsons:deluxe';
+
 /**
  * Verified providers surfaced under the "Similar packages from verified
  * providers" grid on unverified tier-2 / tier-3 pages. Derived from the