Graze Craze Concept Opens First Virginia Store in Charlottesville

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (Jan. 5, 2023) — Graze Craze®, the fast-growing charcuterie concept known for its stunning, sweet and savory grazing boards and boxes opened its first Virginia location in downtown Charlottesville.

At Graze Craze, highly trained charcuterie experts, known as Grazologists™, skillfully design arrangements that feature a beautiful matching of fine ingredients ideal for grazing, including premium meats and cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, artisanal sweets, nuts and more. The artisan-inspired charcuterie offerings are available in different size options, from Char-Cutie-Cups and Picnic Boxes for nibbling to large, shareable boards with enough fresh food to feed a party.

Jim and Sile Allen, franchise owners of the first Graze Craze in Virginia, are thrilled to bring the unique concept to downtown Charlottesville with the support of their family and long-time friends who will help run their new charcuterie store.

“Given Virginia’s 400-year history, it is difficult to be the first at nearly anything in this state,” said Jim Allen. “We take great pride in our store being the flagship Graze Craze location in Virginia and look forward to serving phenomenal-quality charcuterie boards to the community that we call home.”

Originally from Ireland, Sile Allen is a Virginia master gardener, photographer and creative garden-to-kitchen cook with a talent for creating spectacular jams out of fresh fruits grown on trees she planted in her garden and tended to herself. Jim Allen worked as an investment banker for nearly a decade before moving to Charlottesville to launch a financial newsletter and later join the CFA Institute, where he advocated the organization’s views on financial market regulation to the Securities and Exchange Commission and Congress.

Now, with Jim’s decades of experience in business and finance combined with Sile’s cooking skills and passion for homegrown, high-quality foods, the pair is excited to embark on a journey with Graze Craze where they can work together to share something special with their community.

The Charlottesville Graze Craze is conveniently located near historic downtown, providing customers with easy access to the store. The Allens were compelled to open their Graze Craze in this region due to its small-town charm and big-city amenities, which make it a magnet for investment firms, hotels and start-ups, as well as wineries, breweries and distilleries that they would love to work with.

Graze Craze is a part of Big Flavor Brands™, the food service division of Starpoint Brands™, a family of trusted companies affiliated with United Franchise Group™, whose members represent the very best in their industries.

“Jim and Sile are an exceptional addition to our family,” said Cory Hibbard, president of Graze Craze. “We’re looking forward to celebrating this significant milestone with their team as we extend the Graze Craze footprint into our 24th state.”

Graze Craze charcuterie arrangements incorporate an assortment of flavors to please any palette, like the popular Gone Grazey board, perfectly balanced to provide a bit of everything – a mix of cured meats, premium cheeses, crackers, fresh produce, nuts and more. The Vegegrazian is impeccably designed with a medley of fresh fruits and vegetables for anyone embracing a plant-based lifestyle. For those with an undeniable sweet tooth, clients can enjoy the Sweet & Grazey, which is artfully arranged using an abundance of delectable desserts, like gourmet chocolates and baked goods paired with sweet dips to accent the irresistible flavors.

The Charlottesville Graze Craze is open for pick-up, catering and free local delivery Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

About Graze Craze

Graze Craze® is the leading franchise within the grazing style food category, offering an alternative experience to traditional dining options and catering for every occasion. At Graze Craze, 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. Growing from a concept founded by a woman entrepreneur and US Air Force veteran, Graze Craze is now among the Starpoint Brands™ constellation of trusted companies representing the very best in their industries. To learn more about Graze Craze in Charlottesville, Virginia, go to www.grazecraze.com/downtown-charlottesville-va, visit 400 Preston Ave., #125, Charlottesville, VA 22903 or call (434) 227-5335. For more information about Graze Craze locations, menu, and commercial accounts visit www.grazecraze.com. For information on franchising opportunities, visit www.grazecrazefranchise.com.

About Big Flavor Brands

Big Flavor Brands™ specializes in franchises dedicated to creative eating, offering a zesty menu of fast-growing, award-winning food brands with a proven track record of success. Redefining fast-casual restaurants by offering authentic third-generation recipes at The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill®, innovating the specialty concept, with charcuterie board caterer Graze Craze®, and transforming Italian take out to fast-fresh Italian from Cannoli Kitchen Pizza®, Big Flavor Brands dominate their niches with quality, value, and tasty fare for every occasion. Big Flavor Brands represents the food division of Starpoint Brands which is comprised of a family of trusted companies exemplifying the very best in their industries.

About Starpoint Brands

A family of trusted brands representing the very best in their industries, including retail, food & beverage and professional services, Starpoint Brands™ is the mark of quality for customers. It brings together a constellation of brands within United Franchise Group™ (UFG), including Signarama®; Fully Promoted®; Transworld Business Advisors®; Network Lead Exchange™; the Vast Coworking Group™ shared workspace division with Venture X® and Office Evolution®; as well as the Big Flavor Brands™ food division with The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill®, Graze Craze®, and Cannoli Kitchen Pizza®. A brand under the Starpoint Brands division is one that business-to-consumer and business-to-business customers can be sure will provide the ultimate in service, reliability, and value.

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