- Words by Darcy Nybo Photography by Lia Crowe

Entrepreneurs are always looking for a service or product that is so good, so unique, so wonderful, that it can含羞草研究社檛 help but succeed. The Graze Company is built on these concepts含羞草研究社攁nd it continues to thrive and grow every single day.

Tucked inside in Kelowna, offers a cornucopia of edible art, featuring an array of sweet and savoury feasts packed into handy to-go boxes or offered as full-table spreads. You can also find beautiful entertaining accompaniments like luxurious cheese knives and trays. This is a place that offers a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

In 2018, the original Graze Company in Vancouver was ready to expand, and Sheena Barbour, born in the Okanagan but living in Calgary, thought this Alberta city would be the perfect spot to 含羞草研究社渆levate any gathering beyond gastronomic delight含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社渃raft moments of beauty that will be remembered for a lifetime含羞草研究社� by opening a Graze Company there.

After following The Graze Company since its conception, she was not only in love with the concept, but also the brand identity, their innovation, and the sense of community around them. She opened the doors to The Graze Company Calgary in October 2019.

含羞草研究社淲e had an amazing start in Calgary, then COVID-19 hit just a short five months after opening,含羞草研究社� Sheena recalls. Suddenly, no one was hosting dinner parties or events.

含羞草研究社淲e shut down for a few weeks, and then had the brilliant idea to create the Wine & Unwind DIY Kit. The kit comes with all the ingredients and step-by-step instructions on how to create your very own charcuterie board paired with your choice of red, white or ros茅 wine.

含羞草研究社淚t was a hit; people were bored, and it was a fun activity to do from the comfort of their homes. Since then, we have launched a number of new products including the mini boxes含羞草研究社攑erfect for one含羞草研究社攁nd charcuterie cups which are great for maintaining social distancing at large events and weddings.含羞草研究社�

As the pandemic raged and then subsided, the company continued to create new boxes含羞草研究社攍ike the upscale Champagne & Caviar Box, for example含羞草研究社攁nd to thrive as a business. It seemed the time was right to open in Kelowna, and so in October 2021, Sheena launched The Graze Company Okanagan.

Foodie from childhood

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e been a foodie since I was a child,含羞草研究社� says Sheena, laughing as she adds, 含羞草研究社淢y home was filled with warmth, delicious smells and yummy food. I remember when I was little with my mother and grandmother in the kitchen helping out. I used to have a recipe box with cards my mother gave me, and I would write down recipes she taught me. I would clip recipes I wanted to make out of magazines and to this day still have the box. I grew up in a family that loved to entertain friends and family and would watch cooking shows such as Julia Child and The Galloping Gourmet.含羞草研究社�

Sheena含羞草研究社檚 passion for food continued into her 20s when she first started travelling overseas to Asia and Europe. She also worked at one of her favourite wineries, Mission Hill, where she continued to broaden her culinary experience. And, in fact, Sheena含羞草研究社檚 connections with various wineries have allowed Graze to offer Canadian wines with its various boards and boxes.

含羞草研究社淭oday, our most asked-for boxes are our original Graze boxes that come in small, medium and large, as well as our birthday boxes,含羞草研究社� Sheena says. 含羞草研究社淭he birthday boxes have crackers and a beverage, either a sparkling ros茅 lemonade or a mini-Moet champagne. They also have locally made pink macaroons and cake pops and truffles含羞草研究社攁nd one of my favourites含羞草研究社攁 Merlot cheddar.含羞草研究社�

Bored with boards?

含羞草研究社淚mpossible!含羞草研究社� says Sheena. 含羞草研究社淲e work with the most beautiful products for the best customers. We have an amazing team of women in our kitchen who help feed the soul of our business. If anything, I feel inspired every day!含羞草研究社�

Connecting to community

Food aside, the other thing Sheena loves about Graze is how it connects to the communities it serves.

含羞草研究社淚 am beyond fortunate with the support I get from both the Calgary and Kelowna communities,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭he connections I have made and built with my vendors are also amazing. We use mostly local products, and that includes our artisanal jellies and jams. It含羞草研究社檚 the best feeling to hear that a client received a Graze Box as a gift and is now using us to gift someone else!含羞草研究社�

She adds: 含羞草研究社淪upporting the communities that allow us to run our business has always been at the forefront for me. Since opening both locations, we make sure to always support the charities in our community that give back to those in need.含羞草研究社�

Holiday boxes and workshops

含羞草研究社淐hristmas is the busiest season of the year for us含羞草研究社攁nd the season that含羞草研究社檚 the most fun,含羞草研究社� says Sheena. 含羞草研究社淣ot only do we get to create the most beautiful holiday-inspired Graze Tables for large events, we also work around the clock to fulfill corporate gifting orders.含羞草研究社�

This year, Graze is launching some of Sheena含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社減ersonal favourites,含羞草研究社� like the Holiday Charcuterie Tree, the Holiday Box with Wine, and a Holiday Dessert box, which will include chocolate ornaments, handcrafted by a local chocolatier.

Workshops are also ongoing, helping to emphasize the heart of the brand: 含羞草研究社渢o enjoy good food and wine with good company.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淲e recently have restarted our workshops and they are not to be missed,含羞草研究社� Sheena says. 含羞草研究社淓xpect to enjoy great wine with feature sommeliers, while learning how to create a show-stopping charcuterie board.含羞草研究社�

The Kelowna location will be partnering in the new year with top winery groups, such as Black Swift Vineyards, for workshops.

As continues to expand and flourish, it含羞草研究社檚 easy to see that what started as a passion project has grown to a business beyond their wildest dreams.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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