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Sunday, February 16th
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.
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.
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:
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!
Select any 2 Meat and Cheese Baskets to compare them head to head