Cristina McCarter has made history as the first Black woman to launch a cheese-board business in America. In 2019, she founded Feast & Graze, a catering company specializing in charcuterie and cheese boards. Now, McCarter is expanding Feast & Graze into a thriving enterprise.
Pioneering a Niche Catering Concept
When McCarter started Feast & Graze, she focused on high-quality ingredients and beautiful, thoughtful presentation. Initially, the business only offered delivery of graze boxes and custom charcuterie spreads for events.
“I try to prioritize high-quality ingredients, thoughtfulness, and presentation for each customer and great training, consistency, and communication to my staff,” McCarter said.
Her attention to quality and service enabled Feast & Graze to grow steadily, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. McCarter stayed creative and persistent, expanding her product line to include paninis, salads, and other offerings.
Taking the Leap with a Retail Shop
This March, Feast & Graze took a major step by opening a retail shop at 55 S. Main Street in downtown Memphis. The grand opening from March 22-26 enabled customers to taste Feast & Graze’s products and discover the new space.
The shop features grab-and-go boxes for convenient takeaway, as well as made-to-order toasted sandwiches and other lunch items. Local food products like honey, jam, and bread also stock the shelves alongside Feast & Graze’s packaged products.
“It’s been so fulfilling for me and my team to witness everyone enjoying all the local products, our graze boxes and our new menu items,” McCarter said. “It’s something we never witnessed as just a delivery service.”
McCarter was able to open the retail space thanks to the Downtown Memphis Commission’s “Open on Main” pop-up program. This initiative offers free short-term retail spaces for local entrepreneurs to test ideas on Main Street.
For McCarter, it’s a chance to gauge interest before potentially expanding via franchising. “This is a chance to see if expansion is truly a business model we want to pursue,” she explained.
The Future of Feast & Graze
In just a few short years, McCarter has grown Feast & Graze into a beloved brand. She plans to ride the charcuterie trend while incorporating dietary restrictions and ethical, local sourcing.
If the retail shop succeeds, franchising could spread Feast & Graze’s cheese and charcuterie creations across Memphis and beyond. For this pioneering founder, the opportunities seem limitless.
