Fork It Foods

What Fork It Foods does

Fork It Foods is a privately held, bootstrapped boutique catering business founded in 2017 by Jessica Licari and Joanne Walsh and headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The company designs, assembles, and delivers European-style grazing experiences — pre-packaged grazing boxes, on-site grazing tables, mobile tap trailer and tricycle service, and a private event venue (FIG) — for individuals, event hosts, and corporate clients across Chicagoland and Southeast Wisconsin, with nationwide shipping for grazing boxes.

Name

Fork It Foods

Legal name

Fork It Foods

Website

https://forkitfoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fork It Foods is a Crystal Lake, Illinois boutique caterer designing European-style grazing boxes, on-site grazing tables, mobile tap trailer service, and a private event venue (FIG) for individuals, party hosts, and corporate clients across Chicagoland, with nationwide grazing box shipping.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (72232), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Premium Gourmet & Chef-Curated Meal Kits/Prepared Meals (CRAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Boutique catering
• Grazing boxes
• Event catering
• Mobile tap trailer
• Prepared meals

Headquarters

HQ city

Crystal Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grazing Box Sales: Pre-packaged grazing boxes sold directly through their e-commerce platform for pickup and local delivery. Boxes range from individual servings (Mini, Solo) to party sizes (Let's Party, Showstopper). Also includes brunch boxes, grazing bouquets, and specialty items.
2. On-Site Grazing Table Catering: Custom-designed grazing tables created on-site for events. Includes designer setup with cured meats, artisan cheeses, seasonal produce, breads, and specialty items. Pricing starts at $1,000 for designer setup with 20-200+ guest capacity.
3. Mobile Tap Trailer Rental: Olive trailer rental with 3 taps for beverages (beer, wine, hard seltzer, mocktails) plus built-in 8-foot grazing table. $350/hour with 3-hour minimum, includes BASSET certified staff and insurance. Honey tricycle available for smaller events at $350/full day.
4. Event Space Rental: FIG private event space rental in Crystal Lake. 1000 sq ft modern chic venue for up to 45 guests. $200/hour with 3-hour minimum plus $400 food minimum. Includes tables, chairs, self-serve bar, tiered grazing display, and dedicated staff.
5. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in denominations from $10 to $100, delivered via email with no expiration date or processing fees.
6. Boutique Catering Add-Ons: Premium catering services including canapes, florals, china/glassware rental, tiered grazing displays, bartending staff, and seasonal menu items. Coordinated with partners like Twisted Stem florals and Dish & Decor vintage rentals.
7. Heat and Eat Meals: From-scratch frozen meals available for pickup or delivery. Made fresh and frozen for convenience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fork It Foods designs, assembles, and delivers European-style grazing boxes, grazing tables, and boutique catering for events and individual customers. Their core lineup includes pre-packaged grazing boxes in six sizes (serving 1 to 15+ guests), brunch boxes, grazing bouquets, salads, and sandwiches, sold through e-commerce with pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping. They also provide on-site grazing table design for private events, mobile tap trailer and tricycle rentals, a private event space (FIG), and ancillary retail items such as signature jam, flatbreads, and gift cards.

Product overview

Fork It Foods is a boutique catering business offering artisanal grazing experiences and food services. Their core product line consists of pre-packaged Grazing Boxes in six sizes (Mini, Solo, Date Night, Cocktail Party, Let's Party, Showstopper) plus Brunch-themed boxes and Grazing Bouquets. They provide on-site Grazing Tables for events serving 20-200+ guests, with designer setup starting at $1000. Mobile services include Olive the Tap Trailer ($350/hr) and Honey the Ice Cream Tricycle. The company operates FIG, a 1000sq ft private event space ($200/hr with 3-hour minimum) with coworking capabilities. Additional offerings include retail items (Apricot Habanero Jam, Almond Spread, Crackers, Flatbreads, Deviled Eggs), catering services (canapes, florals, china rental, bartending), and workshops. All products feature locally-sourced ingredients from regional farms and vendors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grazing Boxes Pre-packaged grazing boxes in six sizes (Mini $20, Solo $30, Date Night $55, Cocktail Party $96, Let's Party $245, Showstopper $335) filled with cured meats, artisan cheeses, fruits, vegetables, crackers, spreads, nuts, and sweets. Available for pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping.
• Brunch Grazing Boxes Brunch-themed grazing boxes in Let's Party (8-12 servings) and Showstopper (15+ servings) sizes, featuring breakfast meats, cheeses, house-made brunch items, seasonal fruits and vegetables, granola, yogurt parfait, pastries, bagels, smear, and spreads.
• Grazing Bouquets Handheld, compostable cone-shaped grazing displays filled with cheeses, meats, berries, grapes, dried fruit, olives, crackers, and sweet treats. Sold in sets of six bouquets for $80.
• Seasonal Fruit Platter Hand-selected seasonal fruit platter featuring ripe fruits arranged with a signature creamy fruit dip.
• Crudite Platter A selection of seasonal vegetables served with Yayas almond spread for 8-10 people. Gluten-free and vegan.
• Grazing Salads Fresh salads in Garden, Italian, Greek, and Pear varieties. $70 each, serves 12 as a side.
• Gourmet Picnic Salads House-made 5-quart picnic salads in Pesto Pasta, Herbed Potato, Mediterranean Chickpea, and Broccoli Bacon varieties, serving 10-12 people. $85 each.
• Gourmet Petite Sandwiches Petite sandwiches available in Caprese, Turkey Brie, and Ham & Aged Cheddar varieties. Sold in sets of six sandwiches for $35.
• Heat and Eat Frozen Meals From-scratch frozen meals prepared fresh and frozen for convenient pickup or delivery.
• On-Site Grazing Tables Custom-designed grazing tables set up on-site at events serving 20-200+ guests, featuring cured meats, artisan cheeses, seasonal fruits and vegetables, breads, crackers, olives, spreads, dried fruit, nuts, and locally sourced specialties. Pricing starts at $1,000 with designer setup.
• Boutique Catering Services Customizable catering options including grazing centerpieces, brunch grazing, dessert grazing, themed grazing, canapes, florals, china and glassware rental, tiered grazing displays, bartending and service staff, and seasonal canapes.
• Olive Tap Trailer Rental Chicagoland and Southern Wisconsin's first mobile grazing-and-tap trailer with three taps and a built-in 8-foot grazing table, serving beer, wine, hard cider, seltzer, champagne, and non-alcoholic beverages. $350/hour with a 3-hour minimum, includes BASSET-certified staffing and insurance.
• Honey Ice Cream Tricycle Rental A restored ice cream tricycle available for events, serving custard, boozy pops, gelato, or grazing items. $350 for a full day rental.
• FIG Private Event Space 1,000 sq ft modern chic private event space at the Crystal Lake storefront for up to 45 guests. Includes tables, chairs, self-serve bar, tiered grazing display, lounge area, WiFi, and SONOS speaker. $200/hour with 3-hour minimum plus $400 food minimum.
• Coworking Space Coworking space available Monday-Thursday 8am-4pm with high-speed WiFi, coffee, tea, water, and daily lunch grazing. Half day $20, full day $40, private office $55/day, full space rental $300/half day.
• Workshops In-store workshops such as the Soil and Spade Edible Planter Workshop ($95, includes plants, premium potting mix, fiber planter bowl, and grazing) designed for grazers looking to elevate their social gatherings.
• Apricot Habanero Jam Signature jam pairing sweet apricot with habanero heat, featured in grazing boxes and tables. $15 per jar.
• Almond Spread Seven Seeds Almond Hummus spread made in Wisconsin, sold in various flavors. $10.
• House Crackers House crackers available for individual purchase. $5.
• Gluten Free Crackers Gluten-free cracker option for dietary-restricted customers. $6.50.
• Fork It Flatbread Half-baked flatbreads frozen for home enjoyment, available in Bacon Goat Cheese Habanero Jelly, Margarita, and Brie & Pear varieties. $18 each.
• Gourmet Deviled Eggs Gourmet deviled eggs in Traditional, Bloody Mary, Dill Pickle, and Bacon flavors. 24 deviled eggs per order for $40.
• Stuffed Mini Peppers Mini sweet peppers stuffed with herb goat cheese and topped with everything bagel seasoning. 24 pepper halves per order.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards delivered by email with no expiration date and no processing fees. Available in denominations from $10 to $100.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Twisted StemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFloral partner providing flowers for grazing tables and events. Located in Crystal Lake, IL. Mentioned as a premium add-on for events at the FIG venue.
• Dish and Decor Vintage RentalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVintage glassware and china rental coordinated to match event themes. Partner for premium events requiring china/glassware. Located in Lake in the Hills, IL.
• Konrads BakerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal baker providing deluxe dessert options including petit fours, cupcakes, macarons, cookies, and luxe tarts for grazing tables. Located in Lake in the Hills, IL.
• Atmosphere FarmminorOthersLocal farm partner sourcing ingredients. Located in Woodstock, IL.
• Boars HeadminorOthersArtisan cured meat supplier. Located in Chicago, IL.
• Bushel & PeckminorOthersLocal ingredient supplier. Located in Beloit, WI.
• Dad's FarmminorOthersFarm partner for fresh produce. Located in Southwest, MI.
• Tribe Country FarmsminorOthersLocal farm providing fresh produce and greens. Located in Woodstock, IL.
• Turano BreadminorOthersArtisan bread supplier. Located in Chicago, IL.
• YaYas (Seven Seeds)minorOthersAlmond hummus/spread supplier. Located in Williams Bay, WI.
• Conscious CupminorOthersCoffee partner for events and workshops. Located in Crystal Lake, IL.
• Underground MeatsminorOthersArtisan meat supplier. Located in Madison, WI.
• Lake Geneva Country MeatsminorOthersPremium meat supplier. Located in Lake Geneva, WI.
• Nichols FarmminorOthersFarm produce supplier. Located in Marengo, IL.
• Middlebury FarmsminorOthersFarm partner. Located in Harvard, IL.
• Rush Creek DistillingminorOthersLocal spirits partner. Located in Harvard, IL.
• Ethereal ConfectionsminorOthersDessert partner. Located in Woodstock, IL.
• Just 4 You TreatsminorOthersTreats and baked goods supplier. Located in McHenry, IL.
• Madam GardensminorOthersLocal garden/farm partner listed among community partnerships.
• Sew hopdminorOthersLocal business partner. Located in Huntley, IL.
• MUM117minorOthersLocal business partner. Located in Crystal Lake, IL.
• The Quarry Cable ParkminorOthersLocal entertainment venue partner. Located in Crystal Lake, IL.
• Plank RoadminorOthersTaproom partner. Located in Elgin, IL.
• Peace MarketplaceminorOthersLocal marketplace partner. Located in Orland Park, IL.
• Ellie StyledminorOthersStyling partner. Located in Lake Forest, IL.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Graze Craze: National charcuterie/grazing-box franchise that sells pre-packaged grazing boxes and boards for individuals and events. Closest direct comparable to Fork It Foods' grazing-box product line, with a much larger scale and franchise model.
• Olive and Cocoa: Curated gourmet gift box company shipping prepared food gifts (cheese, charcuterie, sweets) nationwide. Comparable to Fork It Foods' DTC shipping boxes and gift-card offering as a premium giftable food product.
• Boarderie: Direct-to-consumer gourmet grazing board company specializing in large, pre-built charcuterie boards shipped nationwide. Overlaps with Fork It Foods' grazing-box and grazing-table offerings, particularly the Showstopper / large-format boxes.
• Charcuterie Chick: Boutique charcuterie board and grazing-table business offering customizable boards and grazing tables for events, with online ordering. Operates in a similar artisanal, event-driven niche as Fork It Foods.
• The Cheese Board Company: Sells artisan cheese boards, grazing boxes, and grazing platters for events and personal consumption. Direct comparable on the grazing-board/charcuterie-box product line.

Broad incumbents

• Harry & David: Large, established gourmet gift food retailer selling fruit baskets, cheese, charcuterie, and prepared gifts nationwide. Demonstrates the scale potential of a giftable food brand but operates at far greater breadth and scale than Fork It Foods.
• ezCater: Online catering marketplace connecting corporate buyers with local caterers. Not a direct competitor, but relevant adjacent ecosystem for how Fork It Foods could scale corporate catering distribution.
• Edible Arrangements: National franchise selling fruit-based arrangements and giftable food products through retail storefronts and e-commerce. Comparable as a giftable-food DTC brand with physical retail presence, though product category differs.

Emerging players

• Magnolia Market: Lifestyle brand with food/gifting offerings, retail storefront, and event venue operations. Comparable as a multi-format boutique brand combining retail, venue, and curated food experiences — similar to Fork It Foods' venue + grazing model.

Regional players

• Amazing Grazing Chicago: Chicago-area charcuterie board and grazing table provider serving weddings, corporate events, and private parties. Closest geographic competitor for Fork It Foods' on-site catering business in Chicagoland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagramtagembed.com/instagram-widget
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fork-it-foods

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fork It Foods