THE DEMAND FOR CHARCUTERIE AND GRAZE-STYLE DINING Q&A with Cory Hibbard, President of Graze Craze

Charcuterie and graze-style dining has been around far longer than most realize but it has exploded in popularity in recent years. The National Restaurant Association identified it as a top 3 menu trend and No. 1 in appetizers for 2023.

With the rise of keto, gluten-free, and other diets, charcuterie has become a simple, delicious, and flexible meal. More restaurants adding charcuterie to their menus, offering an assortment of meats and cheeses as an appetizer.

Leading the craze for grazing is Graze Craze, whose in-store Grazologists™ curate hand-crafted, impeccably designed, sweet and savory charcuterie boards and picnic boxes made with the highest quality ingredients and arranged with perfection. Ideal for every occasion, Graze Craze sees charcuterie as more than grazing but as an opportunity for social gathering. Growing from a concept founded by a woman entrepreneur and US Air Force veteran, Graze Craze has grown significantly and is now among the Starpoint Brands™ constellation of trusted companies within the United Franchise Group, representing the very best in their industries.

Curious about the continued growth of charcuterie and Graze Craze, we sought out the company’s president, Cory Hibbard, who drives the strategic direction of the rapidly growing brand.

Can you tell our readers more about what Graze Craze is?

Absolutely! Graze Craze is the leading franchise within the graze style food category. We offer an alternative experience to traditional dining options as well as catering for every occasion. We specialize in artfully designed, hand-crafted charcuterie boards of gourmet meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, veggies, sweets and more.

In 2021, United Franchise Group formed a strategic alliance with Graze Craze to launch and oversee its franchise program. We began franchising Graze Craze in August of that same year, and the rest is history.

What makes Graze Craze different from other concepts?

We see ourselves as the first consolidated concept in the marketplace. Charcuterie is a fragmented industry with little consistency; we aimed to change that. We’re the first to scale the proposition into a proven franchise concept.

With Graze Craze, customers can be assured that they are receiving the highest quality product handled with the utmost care and safety. We have strong vendor partnerships and stringent food safety protocols in place, and we provide in-depth training for all our franchise owners and their staff.

How is Graze Craze’s food presented?

We offer Grazing Style Boards, Grazing Boxes, and Grab And Go options. Our boards come in small, medium, and large, serving between six and 12 people depending on the size. They are fully customizable so our customers can curate their own selection of premium meats and cheeses, fresh continued on page 108