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Hickory Farms Review

Sunday, February 16th

2025 Meat and Cheese Basket Reviews

Hickory Farms Review 2 Star Rating

Hickory Farms

2 Star Rating
  • 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.

Best Meat and Cheese Baskets

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.

Best Meat and Cheese Baskets

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.

Where Can You Find the Best Meat and Cheese Gift Baskets?

Gift-giving can be a daunting task. With the trending popularity of charcuterie boards, a meat and cheese basket can be the perfect gift. After all, whether for a birthday or client celebration, there's a meat and cheese gift basket that will cover it.

Valentine's Day? There is a meat and cheese basket that comes with chocolate and wine. What about a romantic gift for your husband? There are heart-shaped boxes full of laser-engraved hearts for him. Additionally, a variety of gift baskets are available to accommodate any budget, ranging from under $25 to extravagant arrangements priced at $400 and beyond.

The Best Meat and Cheese Baskets Compare Meat and Cheese Baskets Compare Meat and Cheese Basket Reviews What are the best Meat and Cheese Baskets Best Meat and Cheese Basket Reviews

Meat and Cheese Basket FAQ

Most meat and cheese baskets also contain savory accompaniments like nuts, olives, dried fruits, and more. They are basically charcuterie in a basket. There are even vegetarian options! In recent years, charcuterie boards have entered the market and have been wildly popular and aren't going away. There truly is a charcuterie for everyone's taste - and everyone loves a charcuterie board. It's a great gift idea!
We recommend looking for baskets according to the event you are commemorating. You can also base your choice on what the recipient prefers. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for, most companies offer add-ons and customization, so the possibilities are endless!
The most popular type of meat and cheese basket is a truly gourmet offering of exclusive meats and cheeses combined with a few sweet treats. Look for brands that you can't find at your local market.
Yes! You can add a special note, hide the cost, and many companies also offer an option to include a personalized card with the order. A few companies offer an instant e-card, so your recipient knows to look out for a gift basket!
Absolutely it is! Meat and cheese gift basket companies agree that wine is a great pairing and offer wine add-ons or include wine in their baskets. You will be charged a small fee, and someone 21 or older must be present to sign for the delivery.
One of the main advantages of purchasing a meat and cheese basket is there is a basket for every budget! Expect to pay as little as $30 up to thousands of dollars for luxury baskets.
That depends on the vendor you select. Some companies offer a selection of "shipping included” baskets, if you're looking to save a bit of money.
The only limitations that may occur are the gift baskets that contain alcohol: there are certain states that don't allow delivery of wine. Most companies allow for international delivery, but some require certain ways to place orders for international delivery.
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Meat and cheese gift baskets also come with picnic hampers, beautifully carved and crafted wooden charcuterie boards, sturdy, well-made crates, and more. Some companies specialize in creating unique presentations for gift baskets, while others offer a more straightforward option with high-quality foods at a discounted price. You can get a plain block of cheese and sausage or go for a decadent array of fine wine and gourmet cheese and meats to commemorate a long-anticipated promotion.

Not all gift basket companies are created equal, though. Some companies misrepresent baskets in online pictures: when the gift is delivered, it is much smaller than anticipated. Still other companies may overpromise delivery dates and times, and you end up with a ruined event because the gift basket didn't arrive when it was needed

Consider these criteria to help you narrow down the possibilities and find the perfect gift basket for your recipient:

  • Variety and quality. Are the items in your basket high-end or gourmet? Are they exclusive to the company or something you would find at your local grocery store? Is the basket, crate, or container a quality-made item that can be kept and used or repurposed?
  • Price. Is it a good value for the money? Don't forget to compare it with similar options at other stores. Will the gift basket store offer free shipping, discounts, or coupons to sweeten the deal? Are there any hidden fees?
  • Shipping. Are the shipping fees very high? Is there a shipping club or discount that you can apply? Is shipping guaranteed? Can baskets be delivered on the weekends? Is last-minute overnight or next-day shipping available?
  • Customer service. Check out the company's reputation. Do customers say that the experience was a positive one - both for themselves and for their recipients? Does the company have lots of repeat customers who are consistently happy?

To help you find the best meat and cheese baskets for your gift-giving occasion, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the most popular companies on the market. So, the next time you're struggling to find the right gift, consider a meat and cheese gift basket. It's sure to impress and delight the recipient!

Compare Meat and Cheese Baskets

Select any 2 Meat and Cheese Baskets to compare them head to head

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  • Boarderie
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  • Wisconsin Cheese Company
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  • Hickory Farms
  • The Swiss Colony
  • Gift Tree
Boarderie vs Harry & David Boarderie vs Williams Sonoma Boarderie vs 1-800-Baskets Boarderie vs Wisconsin Cheese Company Boarderie vs The Gift Basket Store Boarderie vs Gourmet Gift Baskets Boarderie vs Hickory Farms Boarderie vs The Swiss Colony Boarderie vs Gift Tree Harry & David vs Williams Sonoma Harry & David vs 1-800-Baskets Harry & David vs Wisconsin Cheese Company Harry & David vs The Gift Basket Store Harry & David vs Gourmet Gift Baskets Harry & David vs Hickory Farms Harry & David vs The Swiss Colony Harry & David vs Gift Tree Williams Sonoma vs 1-800-Baskets Williams Sonoma vs Wisconsin Cheese Company Williams Sonoma vs The Gift Basket Store Williams Sonoma vs Gourmet Gift Baskets Williams Sonoma vs Hickory Farms Williams Sonoma vs The Swiss Colony Williams Sonoma vs Gift Tree 1-800-Baskets vs Wisconsin Cheese Company 1-800-Baskets vs The Gift Basket Store 1-800-Baskets vs Gourmet Gift Baskets 1-800-Baskets vs Hickory Farms 1-800-Baskets vs The Swiss Colony 1-800-Baskets vs Gift Tree Wisconsin Cheese Company vs The Gift Basket Store Wisconsin Cheese Company vs Gourmet Gift Baskets Wisconsin Cheese Company vs Hickory Farms Wisconsin Cheese Company vs The Swiss Colony Wisconsin Cheese Company vs Gift Tree The Gift Basket Store vs Gourmet Gift Baskets The Gift Basket Store vs Hickory Farms The Gift Basket Store vs The Swiss Colony The Gift Basket Store vs Gift Tree Gourmet Gift Baskets vs Hickory Farms Gourmet Gift Baskets vs The Swiss Colony Gourmet Gift Baskets vs Gift Tree Hickory Farms vs The Swiss Colony Hickory Farms vs Gift Tree The Swiss Colony vs Gift Tree
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