The Best Meat and Cheese Baskets

Friday, January 24th

2025 Meat and Cheese Basket Reviews

Boarderie

• Prices between $129 and $250
• Free shipping nationwide
• Comes complete with accessories
• Beautifully plated and ready to serve
• Most boards come in three sizes
• Loyalty rewards program
• Outstanding customer service

Boarderie is a founder-led, family-run business that began in 2021. Before Boarderie, the founders ran a gourmet hospitality business together in Palm Beach, FL. They began small, but they soon had projects throughout America and counted celebrities like Bruce Springsteen and Prince Harry as clients. When the pandemic hit, all their events were cancelled. They began to ask each other what it would take to deliver beautifully arranged and high-quality charcuterie boards… anywhere. They figured it out, and in 2021, Boarderie was born.

Free next-day shipping

With high-quality, decadent selections like creamy brie, red berry milk cheese, espresso, dark chocolate & raspberry wrapped in puff pastry, or black truffled salami, this luxurious gift basket has a luxury-level price tag. However, the upside is that you can enjoy all the deliciousness without incurring the cost of next-day shipping. With most meat and cheese gift baskets shipping at a minimum of around $40 for a small basket, it becomes much more of a value for the quality. In addition to free overnight shipping, Boarderie allows you to order your meat and cheese gift basket up to 365 days in advance.

An instant party

When you order meat and cheese from Boarderie, you don't even need to worry about utensils. Bamboo fork pickers, a mini bamboo spreader, and a pair of bamboo tongs are included with the order for a worry-free experience if you're hosting a party or bringing the appetizer for a family dinner. If you don't know how to plate a charcuterie board, you don't have to worry with Boarderie. Your meats, cheeses, and other delicious ingredients are already plated for you. You only need to unwrap and take the nuts and fruits out of their bags, and that's it.

Three sizes and cute touches to match your occasion

Boarderie offers a board to serve 2-3, 4-5, or 9-10 people. These are big servings. It's been reported that if the board is served as part of a potluck or at a party, it could serve 10-11 small sample size portions. There are olives, chocolates, nuts, and more as part of the boards, so there is something for every palate. The lovely touches for different occasion boards, like cheeses cut out in the shape of candy canes and gingerbread for Christmas, birthday age cut out in cheese along with candles for birthdays, and more, make every board special and fitting for your event. Not only that, there are meat-free boards for the vegetarians in your life. These come with artisan cheeses, dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, and jam.

Loyalty rewards program

With the Boarderie rewards program, you can earn points to redeem discounts every time you purchase. At the time of this review, customers could get 400 points just for signing up for the program. There are other things to enjoy depending on how much you spend per year, but some of the perks are early access to new products, special member-only gifts, and other curated surprises.

Stellar customer service and five-star reviews

The most impressive thing about Boarderie is the universally positive customer reviews. The reviews talk about the phenomenal customer service that Boarderie provides, and the customers also rave about their Boarderie meat and cheese gift baskets. It's challenging to find a gift basket company that resolves any problem with the customer in such an efficient, friendly, quick, and professional manner. Even when the problem is a shipping issue (not Boarderie's fault), they still find a way to make it right.

#1 option for meat and cheese gift baskets

Featured in Forbes, PopSugar, Town and Country, Today, and Shark Tank, Boarderie is making people smile one charcuterie gift at a time. We are very pleased to rank Boarderie as our top pick among meat and cheese gift baskets.

Harry & David

• Gift baskets start at around $30 to over $200
• Hundreds of basket choices
• Customized orders
• Express two-day shipping available
• Deals and discounts
• 25% off military discount
• Celebrations Passport shipping savings club

Since 1934, Harry & David has been America's premier choice for gourmet gifts. What started out as a pear farm and some fruit baskets has grown into a business that expertly curates gift baskets filled with delectable treats. Harry & David is still committed to providing premium quality and excellence in every way.

Harry & David = huge selection

For those on a budget, baskets like the $35 holiday snack gift box containing hickory-smoked summer sausage, creamy aged white cheddar cheese, and honey hot mustard paired with three-seed crackers and mixed nuts and Moose Munch caramel popcorn still make an impressive gift. If you're looking to indulge, consider the Ultimate Epicurean Charcuterie and Cheese gift baskets, which offer a diverse range of savory treats from around the globe including:

• a 1901 recipe, the Casalingo salami is a mild, hard Italian salami with a hint of garlic; an earthy Tartufo salami from Olli Salumeria made with black summer truffles, premium pork, and organic spices
• another salami seasoned with fennel pollen and garlic
• a Face Rock Peppercorn Harvest aged cheddar
• a Rumiano cheese hand-rubbed with cocoa and pepper
• a creamy Sartori BellaVitano Tennessee Whiskey cheese

A more international experience

Also included is an Aegean fig spread that is complex with notes of honey and caramel. Dolmas, grilled pitted olives, dried Turkish apricots, roasted almonds and pistachios, delicious flatbread crackers, and more await your taste buds for an international experience. At Harry & David, there are so many choices in between these two selections that they couldn't all be listed here, but the website is straightforward to use and fast, so it's a pleasure shopping for the perfect meat and cheese basket for you or your friends, family, or clients.

Custom options available

Harry & David enables customers to personalize a gift basket by adding additional products during the purchase process. You can add up to two options, which include non-alcoholic sparkling juice, Moose Munch caramel popcorn, and more. We would like to see even more custom add-ons in the future.

Deals and discounts

Everyone likes to feel like they got a decent deal, and Harry & David doesn't disappoint. They consistently offer money saving opportunities, including BOGO deals. There is even a link for "Gifts on Sale” on their front page where you can find substantial savings. They also give up to 25% off as a military discount.

Celebrations Passport shipping club

Because Harry & David is a subsidiary of 1-800-FLOWERS, the Celebrations Passport shipping club can be used to get free shipping on most items. Club members pay an annual fee (at the time of this review, a special $19.99 introductory rate was being offered), and they get free shipping on most items. You can also receive points and rewards for any purchase within the 1-800-FLOWERS family of brands. This is a fantastic deal, as using it only once or twice will allow you to recoup your annual fee in savings.

All-in-one solution to gifting and a customer favorite

Harry & David has been making customers happy for many, many years. With over 17,000 customer reviews available online, only 20% gave Harry & David a less than favorable rating, most of which mentioned fruit quality and freshness or shipping issues. Harry & David offers a guarantee of customer satisfaction, promising to provide an appropriate replacement or refund if the recipient is not completely delighted. The Better Business Bureau rates the company with an "A+”. Harry & David is consistent in quick and satisfying resolutions to any problem. We have a lot of confidence and trust in Harry & David and know they will make things right in the rare instance that a problem should arise. Not only that, but because Harry & David is part of the 1-800-FLOWERS family, you can get other gifts to go along with your basket if you desire.

Reliable and tons of options = great choice

Harry & David serves as a comprehensive store offering a wide range of gifts, flowers, baskets, chocolates, tea, home goods, and other merchandise for every occasion. You can even purchase holiday dinners for 18-20 on the website. We are happy to choose Harry & David as one of our top picks for meat and cheese gift baskets.

Williams Sonoma

• Priced at around $100
• Exclusive offers consistently available
• Luxury brand
• Sustainable ingredients
• Add-ons available
• Carefully curated and exclusive baskets
• Reasonable shipping costs

Williams Sonoma, founded in 1956, has made it their mission to "offer quality products and outstanding service,” past, present, and going forward. As part of their commitment to quality, Williams Sonoma has been dedicated to sustainability and positivity. From supporting local farmers, to partnering with St. Jude for research, to raising money to help food insecure children, Williams Sonoma is dedicated to sustainability and to leaving a positive impact environmentally, socially, and economically.

Triple-digit pricing, but discounts and offers consistently available

While at first glance Williams Sonoma meat and cheese gift baskets may raise an eyebrow with their higher price tag, on closer inspection, we could see that, for the quality of the ingredients used, these baskets are a fair price. It gets better - most of the time, there are coupons, discounts, or special promotions going on so that you don't have to pay full price for a very decadent meat and cheese gift basket. In addition, shipping costs are not outrageous - no shocking grand totals here.

High-quality and reusable

The baskets from Williams Sonoma are amazing. Their reusable wicker and willow hampers are sturdy and well-made enough to be used over and over as a lovely picnic basket. Their wooden crates are also reusable and sturdy. Some of the gift baskets even come with a beautiful cutting board that will last for many years to come - a reminder to the recipient of a thoughtful gift from the past.

Sustainably-sourced, highest-quality ingredients

The ingredients in these Williams Sonoma meat and cheese baskets genuinely create a striking impression. Not only are the cheeses and meats a truly luxurious splurge, but the food items are all sustainably and humanely sourced. You will get honey from small, local farms and pork products from humanely- and sustainably-raised pigs, along with grass-fed cheeses, as well as organic nuts and crackers. This truly guarantees a decadent experience.

Made with care - and exclusive to Williams Sonoma

Each basket is thoughtfully curated to create an exclusive grouping full of variety that you can only find at Williams Sonoma. From the Beehive baskets with honey and cheese from local farms in Utah to the Around the World basket, expertly selected from the finest artisan purveyors and small farms, which features a lavish collection of gourmet specialties from Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands - these collections can only be found at Williams Sonoma. These baskets are shipped with care, too. We were impressed that Williams Sonoma uses multiple ice packs and secures everything in an insulated cooler bag for freshness.

Add-ons available

Williams Sonoma has an add-on option that allows you to see what other people added on to a similar purchase. From popcorn to s'mores to hot chocolate, it's a suggested upsell that really works. We noticed that for a movie night basket we chose, it was possible to add on a bigger variety of popcorn to try. It was convenient to have that available without having to search for it, and it provided us with the opportunity to elevate our gift selection to a higher level without exceeding our budget. The "you may also need” section was also helpful rather than intrusive or gimmicky.

Some customer service issues

Williams Sonoma occasionally has unhappy customers. These customers' major complaints involve returns and shipping, both of which are industry-wide issues. With regard to gift baskets, returns are not accepted since it is a food item. Shipping issues tend to be more with individual shipping carriers than with the store itself.

Excellent for luxe meat and cheese baskets

We love Williams Sonoma's luxury meat and cheese gift baskets, and they made it to a high ranking for gift giving; however, make sure you note the tracking information and keep tabs on your package until it safely arrives.

1-800-Baskets

• Prices start at around $40
• Huge selection of baskets
• Same-day delivery in some locations
• Easy to search on the website
• Passport shipping discount

As a member of the 1-800-FLOWERS family of brands since 2001, 1-800-Baskets completes your online gift shopping experience all in one place. These carefully-crafted baskets offer a delicious combination of premium cured meats, such as summer sausage and Italian dry salami, paired with an assortment of artisanal cheeses, like aged cheddar, Monterey Jack, and smoked Gouda. The meat and cheese gift baskets come paired with nuts, olives, crackers, mustard, pretzels, popcorn, fruit, and other snacks.

Robust selection

While we didn't see an option to completely build our own basket, the number of selections and options at 1-800-Baskets was more than enough to find something for anyone. From charcuterie-inspired collections that come with a charcuterie board, to hampers decorated for all occasions and filled to the brim for the perfect picnic, to wooden crates and towers, there is a basket to fit every palate, budget, and holiday or event. From a low-priced box shaped like a heart filled with heart-shaped beef jerky with laser-engraved slogans on them (the adult version is racy!) to the very sophisticated Vintner's Choice Classic Epicurean Charcuterie and Cheese Collection with Wine, there is truly a huge selection. We were also impressed with the fact that there were many baskets with sweet and savory options, too - whether you purchase a meat and cheese gift basket with fruits included or decide to add on a box of Godiva chocolate, you do have options to make it more personally customized to your client or loved one's palate.

Same-day delivery offered

With the backing of a behemoth delivery company like 1-800-FLOWERS, 1-800-Baskets has the ability to deliver some of their baskets on the same day as your order, as long as you place the order before 1 pm Eastern Time. This is very convenient if you find yourself in a last-minute gift-giving situation (we've all been there, right?).

Easy to search on the website

The 1-800-Baskets website is beautifully built and runs smoothly; there's no lagging here or waiting for pictures to load. It's easy to search for the perfect basket by category or filter - you can shop for friends, clients, or your corporate gift-giving needs. You can also shop by ingredient, holiday, or event - it's very easy to get around the website.

Celebration Passport shipping savings club

1-800-Baskets has a goal to create relationships with customers who will return again and again. One of the ways they do this is through their Passport shipping savings club. For only $19.99 for your first year, you can receive free shipping on eligible items for 12 months. The renewal price is $29.99, but it's still a better deal than the shipping charges we experienced when attempting to purchase a basket. Our shipping charges for the basket we were ordering ended up being $41.65, so we were going to save money on shipping even if we never purchased another item the whole year. This is most likely going to save you money and, of course, will incentivize you to use 1-800-Baskets more than once in the year to take advantage of the savings.

Solid customer feedback

1-800-Baskets has seen a lot of positive reviews, with people often remarking on the favorable quality of the food items. Most say that it was an effortless transaction, and they had friends or clients call to say that the 1-800-Baskets meat and cheese basket was better than other brands they were also gifted. We also found that it was more of a value to purchase the higher-end products or products without wine (they were a better value overall). Be aware that some baskets aren't available to some locations, and some things take longer than others. Some customers say the actual ordering process was difficult, but we found it to be relatively the same type of ordering process as other meat and cheese gift basket companies.

Overall a good bet for meat and cheese gift baskets

1-800-Baskets makes it easy-breezy to gift something amazing, especially if meat and cheese are what you've got in mind. And, with the Celebrations Passport shipping club, not only do you get free shipping on most items, you also get more delivery day options, and this is really what put this company among our top picks for meat and cheese gift baskets.

Wisconsin Cheese Company

• Gift boxes start at $30
• Highly rated by customers
• Quality ingredients
• Add-ons available
• More than 180 years experience
• Uses the Shop app for convenience
• Payment plans accepted

Wisconsin Cheese Company is a privately-held, growing family company located in Oregon, Wisconsin. They are passionate about bringing high-quality Wisconsin cheese and sausage products to customers in the United States. They even have delicious cheese curds or combinations of smoked summer sausage with jalapeño peppers. Their variety of gift boxes is perfect for any celebration, and the site offers add-ons like jams, fruit butters, pickled vegetables, olives, and more. Whether it's a family gathering or a special occasion, Wisconsin Cheese Company has you covered.

A no-nonsense approach to gift baskets

Wisconsin Cheese Company is a simple, no-nonsense website. It is refreshing to see a meat and cheese gift basket that is all about quality and uses that as the main selling point rather than fancy dressing (although most of the boxes come with a ribbon). What you see is truly what you get, and Wisconsin Cheese Company obviously feels confident that the cheese and meats are the stars of the show here. We find that this approach may not work for other gift basket companies, but it works perfectly for Wisconsin Cheese Company. They truly stand behind their cheese, and perusing the website, it is apparent that cheese is their passion.

Quality, quality, quality

Customers say that Wisconsin Cheese Company will only send out superb products. Their cheeses are world-class and backed by over 180 years of cheese-making. Their ingredients are very high-quality, and every meat and cheese gift basket is sent out with pride.

Shipping is reasonable.

The flat rate shipping is very reasonable at $12.99, and we really appreciate that. This may be due to the fact that at Wisconsin Cheese Company they send their meat and cheese gift baskets in a crate, so it might be easier and cheaper to ship this way. Those who prioritize substance over style will appreciate the cost-saving shipping rates.

Uses the popular Shop app for convenience

Wisconsin Cheese Company uses Shop, an app that is widely used for online shopping that will earn you cash rewards and save all of your information safely while tracking your package and keeping you updated. Another advantage of using this platform is the opportunity you have to split up your purchase into 4 payments over time. This is a good option if you are ordering multiple gifts at once.

Add-ons available

While the presentation will not be fancy, it will be neat and simple. It can also be customized. Wisconsin Cheese Company doesn't just do meats and cheeses. They also offer jams and fruit butters, olives, pickles, pickled beets, okra, jalapeños, and other vegetables, salsa and queso, and their world-famous cheese curds. You can add on to your meat and cheese gift basket and really make it bespoke for your recipient.

Great reviews

The reviews we found were all remarkably positive for Wisconsin Cheese Company. Customers raved about good customer service and especially about the quality of the food received. They also mentioned that shipping was more reliable than other companies. They were also happy with the 90-day return policy for most items.

A small business worth supporting

This company is small but determined, and we are impressed with the meat and cheese gift baskets they offer. If your friend, family member, or client is a discerning cheese lover, or someone who values and prioritizes quality, you will be delighted to discover Wisconsin Cheese Company as a gift basket option. While we had to knock off a few stars due to the fact that it is a very niche offering, we really think it's an above-average option for meat and cheese baskets when quality rules the decision-making process.

The Gift Basket Store

• Photos are true to what you receive
• Priced at $65 to $300
• Coupons available
• Easy-to-shop website
• Shipping and delivery terms clearly stated

The Gift Basket Store is owned by Tenth Avenue Commerce. Boasting over 35 years in the gift industry with seasoned customer service, The Gift Basket Store has a goal to make it an effortless and enjoyable experience to find gift baskets for every occasion.

Beautifully presented and accurate representation

The Gift Basket Store is a lovely website with selections beautifully presented. Selections include the Cheeseboard Complete Set, with everything your recipient needs to create a delicious cheese board spread. This meat and cheese gift basket comes with a beautiful wood cutting board, cheese spreader, and a variety of cheese and snack accompaniments sure to satisfy even the pickiest of palates. For a decadent gift, The Gift Basket store has the Season's Greetings Charcuterie, Cheese & California Wine Gourmet Gift Box, which includes red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines; savory cheeses, gourmet crackers, and seasonal charcuterie treats. The photos on the website are accurate to what the recipient will receive.

Coupons are available

The Gift Basket Store understands how fun it is to feel like you've saved some money, and they tap into this desire by providing coupons consistently. There is even a page on the website dedicated to current coupon offerings. At the time of this review, we were happy to see that we could get $8 off, 10% off, or free shipping - it was great that we could choose the offer that would save us the most money.

Shipping and delivery terms clearly stated

The Gift Basket Store does a fantastic job setting expectations for shipping and delivery. Included on their website is an easy-to-find flat rate shipping table, which will show you exactly what you can expect to pay before you start looking for the perfect meat and cheese basket. The Gift Basket Store makes it clear what they can and cannot do for the customer. Rather than make false guarantees about on-time, exact date deliveries, they instead explain they can guarantee a delivery window - that the gift will arrive within a prescribed period - thus managing expectations with arrival times. They also state that they will work with the customer if something goes wrong, and they won't stop until the customer is satisfied.

Clear refund terms

We love the transparent and fair refund terms. The Gift Basket Store will issue you a full refund upon your request or agree on some other resolution to your delivery issue that is satisfactory to you, unless they can establish that your order was received by your selected delivery date and time, or the order was untimely due to some fault of yours or the recipient of the order (for example, an incorrect delivery address was provided, there was no one at the delivery address to accept the order, or the person at the delivery address refused delivery). This is a very reasonable policy in the gift basket industry. That being said, from what we've been reading recently, it may be difficult to get The Gift Basket Store to honor their terms.

Customer service issues

In the past, many reviewers were repeat customers who had had consistently positive experiences with the store. We found one review where The Gift Basket Store accidentally sent a smaller gift basket, and not only did they send out a replacement basket free of charge, they did it within minutes of receiving the call. That seems to have changed, though, and more recent reviews are not as positive. Customers complain that the customer service representatives have been outsourced and it is hard to get a hold of someone who actually has the authority to help. One customer paid for next day delivery, only to receive notices from multiple carriers that the basket would not arrive until days after, well outside of the estimated window, ruining a birthday gift. The Gift Basket Store offered her a 20% refund until she persisted to receive a full refund (and they relented). Other reviewers said they could not get a response at all.

Great selection, customer service needs to improve

For their selection, transparency and history of great service, we really want to give The Gift Basket Store a higher rating, but with recent customer service issues, we can only recommend them as a gift basket option if you don't have to have the basket there by a certain deadline and don't anticipate dealing with customer service.

Gourmet Gift Baskets

• Prices from $37.99 and up
• Large variety of baskets
• Great for wine lovers
• Discounts for military, teachers and health care workers
• Not available in some states, extra fees may apply
• Store credit offered for returns

Gourmet Gift Baskets was founded in 2002. The company goal is to offer exceptional gifts for any occasion. The business began with two family members in the basement of a flower shop and has exploded into a renowned multimillion-dollar company while still remaining true to its core values of exceptional gourmet ingredients handcrafted with care.

A basket for any occasion and any price point

Gourmet Gift Baskets has a myriad of categories of gift baskets - Christmas, birthdays, thank you, sympathy, and more - there is truly something for any occasion. Another feature of Gourmet Gift Baskets is the pricing. There is something for everyone, regardless of your budget or willingness to splurge on a $700 gift basket. That being said, the meaning of "gourmet” is stretched a little here - customers report recipients receiving things like Tate's or Chips Ahoy cookies, which are not truly "gourmet.”

Great gift basket for the wine lovers

Gourmet Gift Baskets offer several that include curated wines and pairings. Many people who have ordered this basket have found that the wine is the real star, as the food paired with the wine is sometimes not tasty or fresh. There are also champagne and beer gift baskets available.

Some baskets not available in some states; fees apply

Not all baskets are available in every state - states with certain laws regarding alcoholic beverages or some kinds of food may not allow for certain gift baskets to be delivered. For example, the Classic Champagne Gift Basket cannot be delivered to AA, AE, AL, AP, AR, GU, MS, PR, or UT. All baskets with alcohol come with a $7.99 fee for requiring a signature from someone 21 years or older upon delivery.

Discounts and special offers available

Who doesn't love a substantial discount? Gourmet Gift Baskets offers specials and coupons consistently, so you can usually get extra savings. If you are a teacher, military member, or health care worker, you can get up to 20% off gift baskets too. Just follow the instructions on the Gourmet Gift Baskets website.

Returns policy

Gourmet Gift Baskets offers a store credit if you need to return a basket. If a shelf-stable item purchase is returned new, unopened, and in original packaging within 15 days of delivery, you can return it for a store credit less the costs of shipping and handling both ways. If you bought an item with free shipping, you still have to pay for shipping on a return, so that will come out of what credit you do receive. For perishable items, Gourmet Gift Baskets will offer 20% off a replacement basket. For strawberry or chocolate-dipped products, you can call, and they will replace your order free of charge if something is not satisfactory upon arrival.

Mixed reviews

Gourmet Gift Baskets went through a period of negative reviews, but they are improving. They have an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, as they have done a satisfactory job eventually resolving customer complaints. Most complaints are for lack of freshness and quality of food items (which can sometimes be subjective) and for shipping woes. The company has also encountered difficulties in promptly resolving complaints. This might be okay in another industry, but this is Gourmet Gift Baskets, and most of the baskets are ordered for a specific occasion or to be delivered to meet a certain deadline. In fact, customers pay a high premium for having items delivered on a specific date. On-time delivery should be the absolutely highest priority. Unfortunately, not even a refund can make up for missing a birthday or a delay in delivering a gift basket for an event. We hope to see continual improvement in this area in the future.

Shipping surprises

As we placed our order, we were shocked to see the grand total at the end of the process. Our champagne gift basket, for example, went from $199.99 to $263.28. Shipping is not based on weight but on the total amount spent. So, if you buy 12 chocolate-covered Oreos for $39.99, you are going to pay almost double the amount due to shipping (at the time of the review, shipping for this was $34.98 - and that was the lowest option with delivery a few weeks out and didn't include shipping insurance or other fees). If you need rush shipping or guaranteed arrival dates, the shipping price goes up. Gourmet Gift Baskets snuck it in at the end of the process, which happens after they harvest your personal information and within minutes start sending you multiple email ads, whether you end up purchasing from Gourmet Gift Baskets or not.

Just okay for meat and cheese gift baskets

With the shipping surprises, the mixed reviews about quality, the requirement of personal information before finding out the grand total, and the slow-to-respond customer service, we can't give Gourmet Gift Baskets a higher than average rating.

Hickory Farms

• Nearly 125 gift baskets and boxes to choose from
• Prices range from $19.99 to $275+
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Free and $5 shipping available
• In business for over 70 years

Hickory Farms has been in business since 1951 and is well-known for its meats and cheeses. After acquiring California Delicious, the company's gift basket options expanded to a total of almost 175: not just meats, cheeses, and desserts but also spa arrangements and other non-food gifts.

Some great meat and cheese baskets for those on a budget

One of the challenges of gifting meat and cheese baskets is staying within a budget while trying to make it an impressive offering, especially with the usually high shipping costs offered by gift basket companies. Hickory Farms offers a gift basket as low as $19.99, and while not lavish by any means, it is a good-quality offering with a trusted name. Not only that, this gift basket ships at a flat rate of $5. Still other gift baskets offer completely free shipping, like the Hearty Bites Gift Box for around $35. Whatever your budget, there is a gift basket for you.

A box that gives back

Hickory Farms struck upon a wonderful idea - a meat and cheese gift basket that also gives back. For recipients of this specially-designated basket, a donation is made in their name for $5 to the No Kid Hungry nonprofit. We are always pleased to see when companies look for ways to encourage charitable giving.

Save even more on limited-time sales

For the more expensive meat and cheese gift baskets, checking the sale category could yield around $15 worth of savings, often with a discount on shipping, too. For example, the Grand Signature Charcuterie Board Gift Box comes with a large array of food items. This gift includes party-size Signature Beef Summer Sausage, Spicy Beef, and Sweet & Smoky Turkey Summer Sausages; Original and Three Pepper Dry Salami; Smoked Cheddar Blend; Jalapeño Cheddar Blend; Smoked Gouda Blend; Hot Pepper Bacon Jam; and Champagne Dill Mustard to create endless flavor combinations. It is usually $174.99. With the sale at the time of this review, it came in at $160 and only $9 for shipping.

Shockingly high number of complaints

Regrettably, despite holding an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, Hickory Farms consistently fails to meet customer satisfaction standards. From missing and late deliveries to quality issues, there are a number of complaints from customers. Many customers who have been loyal to Hickory Farms for decades are abandoning the company due to negative experiences in recent years. Hickory Farms doesn't seem to care, as customer service representatives don't offer efficient or friendly service, and they respond casually to real concerns, if they respond at all.

Not recommended for gift baskets

Having a great selection and a well-known brand aren't enough to compensate for a poor customer experience. As much as we wanted to like Hickory Farms for buying meat and cheese gift baskets, shopper feedback puts this retailer near the bottom of our rankings. You'll probably get more for your money (and happier results for your recipient) if you shop with one of the higher-rated gift basket retailers in our review.

The Swiss Colony

• Reasonably priced, starting at only $16
• Varied selection, add-ons available
• Buy using The Swiss Colony payment plan
• Delivery-included options
• Easy-to-navigate website

The Swiss Colony is a family-owned Wisconsin company that began in 1926. Starting with fine Wisconsin cheeses, eventually the company expanded to offer sausages, hams, and handcrafted baked treats. Not only are they the #1 gift catalog, but they also have the nation's largest hand-decorating bakery, where they create their award-winning Petit Fours, Butter Toffee, and other favorites. When you are gifting a Swiss Colony meat and cheese basket, you are also gifting a time-honored tradition filled with nostalgia for many.

Reasonably priced gift baskets

With meat and cheese gift baskets starting at only $16, The Swiss Colony has many budget-friendly options. From sausage and cheese baskets to a full breakfast spread and more, there is really something for whatever flavors your intended recipient loves. Additionally, there are affordable options for corporate gifts, making them a great choice for small businesses looking to show appreciation for their clients without going over budget.

Add-ons galore

If you want to add a little something sweet to your order, The Swiss Colony has a large selection of add-ons. Cakes, cookies, toffee, and more treats can be included for a sweet treat, or hams, pancakes, and other breakfast-type items can make for a meat and cheese nightcap plus an effortless holiday breakfast for your recipient.

Financing available

Whether you are a small business looking to remember a large group of clients or have a large family, The Swiss Colony offers a payment plan that allows you to gift everyone on your list while maintaining some financial flexibility. Swiss Colony Credit payments start with monthly payments as low as $10 per month.

Delivery included options

The Swiss Colony's best feature is their category for "Delivery Included” baskets. These baskets wrap the price of delivery into the price tag so you don't have to be surprised by high shipping costs. This is perfect when you don't want to have to go through the pain of finding a perfect basket only to realize at the end of checkout that fees and shipping put it out of your budget.

Easy-to-navigate website; negative reviews abound

The website is truly an easy-to-navigate, beautifully arranged shopping experience. That does not make up for the many negative reviews we came across. Recent reviews indicate a change in quality and freshness - with some customers saying the food received was inedible. Long-time customers have been ordering from The Swiss Colony for over 30 years, but they are increasingly leaving due to issues with food quality and size. Customers lament that the sausages are so tiny that it is embarrassing. Most customers remember years of enjoying The Swiss Colony's world-famous and very delicious petit-fours, but long-time customers say the quality has gone down so badly that they will no longer order the petit-fours, citing stale frosting, dry cake, and overall low quality. Still others say that shipping issues are not resolved well in spite of the company's satisfaction guarantee. The company cannot honor their guarantee if they don't respond to customers.

No longer a favorite

Because of the degradation of quality and shipping and customer service issues, we urge you to be wary if you are ordering from The Swiss Colony. Although you may be tempted to order your meat and cheese gift basket here for nostalgic value alone, you're not likely to come away with that same warm-fuzzy feeling you used to have when something quite possibly goes wrong. We recommend looking at the higher-ranking options on our list instead.

Gift Tree

• Over 25 gift basket options
• Prices range from $59.95 to $250+
• Discounts offered
• Reasonable standard shipping
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

Gift Tree started in 1997 out of a small apartment in Key West, Florida. Craig Bowen and his wife Esther Diez wanted to start an online company, and they landed on the idea of an online gifting service. They went viral that same year when Yahoo featured them on their website, and in the early 2000s, the founders wanted to see the company fill a need in the corporate world by selling a gift service that was specifically tailored to corporate gifting. In the 2020s, Gift Tree seems to have shifted its focus from corporate gifting to affiliate marketing and average consumer gifting, despite the challenges they faced.

Limited options

In the past, Gift Tree had more selections to choose from. Selections are basic, with a large number of customers saying that no matter what is pictured, substitutions are inevitable. Others say that in many cases, items are just missing. Customers also almost universally agree that the basket you get will not look like the one pictured on the website, if it even arrives at all.

Reasonable standard shipping, but limited

When purchasing some of the best selling meat and cheese gift baskets, we found that the standard shipping rate of around $18 was not unreasonable. There are only certain dates with standard shipping available, however. Expedited and next-day delivery were much more expensive, and any shipping to arrive on a Saturday was exorbitant. Based on what we found, we wouldn't recommend paying for a specific date of arrival, as there is a very high probability it won't arrive on time, will arrive too early, or it won't arrive at all.

Website is incomplete, no social media updates

Gift Tree completely revamped the website in 2021, yet its FAQ page is still in development. With "lorem ipsum” text filler and the answers to every question being cut and pasted copy, we wonder why this isn't complete. At the time of this review, the Facebook and Instagram channels had not been updated in over a half a year. This does not engender a lot of confidence in the Gift Tree website. As an exclusively online retailer, social media channels and the website should be updated regularly.

Discounts offered

Gift Tree consistently offers pop-up discounts. Unfortunately, many customers report that they won't honor the discount when they try to apply it at checkout. Worse, some customers believe they have gotten a discount at checkout and then get charged full price.

Satisfaction guaranteed

Gift Tree claims a 100% satisfaction guarantee but is vague about what that actually means. The returns policy is basically a store credit policy. No actual refunds are given, just store credit minus shipping. We weren't really thrilled about this policy, considering that most complaints are about missing baskets, subpar quality of food, or baskets that are misrepresented on the website. With only a store credit, it doesn't compensate the customer if it is a quality issue or an issue with misrepresentation, especially since the customer is covering shipping for a company error or shipping mishap.

Viscerally angry customer complaints

When reading about Gift Tree customer experiences, we were pretty surprised at the high level of actual anger consistently expressed. Customers were not only left feeling scammed with a high level of misrepresentation, but when they finally did get to talk to a customer service representative, they said they were treated with no respect and, in some cases, hung up on.

A gift basket company to avoid

Gift Tree's past is built on an idea to give high-quality gifting services to clients, but somehow that has been replaced with misrepresentation of products, shipping delays, missing packages, overcharges, rudeness to customers, and more. We sadly can no longer recommend Gift Tree as an option for meat and cheese gift baskets. We suggest looking at other options that we've reviewed for a great gifting experience and hope that positive change will come to Gift Tree in the future.