A CATERING company which responded to last year’s Covid-19 lockdown by switching to a home delivery business, has announced plans to create five new jobs after bumper growth.
Gourmet Grazing NI was forced to cease operations in March 2020 after just 12 months in business.
But a new ‘Grazing Box’ range proved a hit with the corporate world in the new working from home era, leading to an eight-fold growth for the start-up business.
The company is now looking to recruit five new staff in 2022.
Bank of Ireland, Power NI, PwC, Next, A&L Goodbody, Channel 4 and KPMG were among the start-up’s customers.
Founder Emma Shuter has now introduced the firm’s first postal boxes, with the aim of delivering fresh, seasonal grazing produce across the north.
Recalling how the March 2020 lockdown had impacted her events catering business, she said: When the restrictions were implemented we were unable to operate and overnight all our orders were cancelled.
“I had to adapt very quickly and created a Grazing Box filled to the brim with cheese, charcuterie, antipasti, home-made caramelised walnuts, other nuts, artisan crackers, fresh berries, dried fruit and homemade chutneys.
“The first night that I added the new box to our social channels, we received 120 orders, so I knew I was on to something and from there the demand continued to grow.”
Now looking ahead to an expansion of the home delivery business with postal boxes, she added: “We’re very thankful for our continued growth and have strong plans in place to support this including the creation of five new jobs in 2022 and an expansion of our online deli and product offering.”
