We had the good fortune of connecting with Helen Greenaway and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Helen, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’m a foodie and an organizer. Someone who likes to put things into the right places. Strange as it sounds, it’s an outlet for my creative thinking. I’ve always wanted to put my education of food and nutrition to good use. Recipes and cooking have always held my interest and fascinated me. Sticking to a tried and tested recipe is boring to me. I like to adapt and change everything and look for a way to make it different. Charcuterie gives me the opportunity to design and organize flavors in a beautiful and unusual way. To provide delicious, nutritious platters, with unique flavor combinations, with the added benefit of my English background and knowledge of more unusual cheeses, chutneys and charcuterie.

Pre pandemic, I was already thinking about what I wanted to be doing more of day by day. My children are becoming more independent as they enter the higher levels in school, giving me more time on my hands to get involved in something I love to do. I had no idea what it took to run a business, end to end, alone and from scratch. But, the challenge motivated me more. A dear friend of mine suggested looking into Charcuterie creations and once I started researching I knew this was what I wanted to do. In an already saturated market, I realized that I would need some individuality and flair to make this a little bit different from everyone else. That was my mission. To put my ideas into reality and to set this in motion. If living through a pandemic taught me anything, it is that life is short and we should follow our dreams. I’m a people person who loves to bring a crowd together. What better way to do that, than by providing tasty food platters to gather around.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As I was creating the brand of Boxed Bites 2 Go, I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to be somewhat different to all the other Grazing and Charcuterie companies out there. I take pride in sourcing high quality, unusual cheeses and charcuterie, rather than the everyday, easy to find regulars. My customers are always intrigued with the added accoutrements and surprised by how well they pair together. I wanted YOU, my customers, to have some input into your grazing experience. Boxed Bites 2 Go allows YOU to SELECT your personal cheesy favorites from a menu, rather than us choosing for you (although we do have a “Let Us Choose For You” option).

Beginning this Autumn and Winter, I will be offering a new and uniquely different grazing option. I want to bring some of my English cultural heritage into these grazing boxes. I moved here almost 20 years ago, and since then, have not found an option to purchase, authentic British baked goods that are freshly made from scratch. My cooking background started during High School. I had an incredible Home Economics teacher. Added to that, my mum is the best cook I know!!! Some of my childhood afternoon tea favorites are Fruited Scones, Bakewell Tart and a light and fluffy Victoria Sandwich cake to name a few. And so I decided, I can do this. I can bake my favorites and more. Let me give others the opportunity to taste these delicious English treats and incorporate them into my charcuterie grazing boxes. It falls right back to my original philosophy of, let’s do something different. I want to stand out in an already competitive market, not jut merge in and amongst. I don’t know of any other Atlanta charcuterie companies with an English owner so this is a way to set myself apart in a different way. I’ve created a brand that people love and now is the time to evolve, grow and offer more. These will be seasonal and selective and I promise keep you wanting more.

In addition to Charcuterie Grazing boxes, platters, char-cute-rie cups and grazing tables, I also offer Public, and Private in-home (or office) Charcuterie 101 Workshops. I want to share some of my knowledge with you so that you too can enjoy creating. Please know that we are licensed by the GA Department of Agriculture and work from a Commissary kitchen. I love what I do and am passionate about this business I”ve created.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spots in this city are Kennesaw Mountain (the top), Piedmont Park (all of it), and historic Marietta Square. All different in their own ways, but each spotlighting some history to the city of Atlanta. There are many wonderful restaurants and bars in Atlanta and the suburbs. A personal favorite during my entire 20 years here is, Canoe. Their menu offers so much flavor and variety and reminds me in many ways of restaurants in England that I used to frequent.

Areas (or villages as we call them in England), with a good pedestrian area and lots of outside dining/drinking areas such as Roswell, Woodstock, or Alpharetta are places I like to venture out to. Each has a downtown area with lots to see and do. When I first moved here, almost 20 years ago, I lived in Atlanta, right in the heart of midtown on Ponce de Leon Avenue. How I wish it was then, what it is now (perhaps I would never have moved to the ‘burbs). Ponce City Market is an incredible addition to that area now. However, the northside of town is home to me, and there’s so much so see and do. Come and check it out! And get a British style grazing box while you’re here….

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My friend Lori, a superstar event planner, was my motivator, my encourager, my biggest supporter and continues to be so. She deserves the credit for the initial idea and for giving me the courage to do it. The hardest part of starting a business is taking that first leap. Believing in yourself and just following what your heart tells you is right. Lori showed me that you have to be a little bit crazy to run a successful business but it’s totally possible if you believe in yourself. It takes all of your being, daily, and while prepared for that, being an entrepreneur and small business owner takes effort and grind beyond what I ever thought possible. BUT, the rewards are huge. They say that happiness comes from within. I can honestly say that I’ve found my happy. My husband, kids and friends are my biggest supporters. Always intrigued with what’s coming next. I have a huge amount of gratitude for the wonderful community in which I live who offer unwavering support and keep me busy with constant orders. I can honestly say that this is the best move I’ve ever made. So thank you Lori, for pushing me outside of my comfort zone and telling me I could do this!

Website: www.boxedbites2go.com

Instagram: @boxedbites2go

Facebook: @boxedbites2go

Other: boxedbites2go@gmail.com

Image Credits
Nick Rhodes, Coalesce Films, Boxed Bites 2 Go

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