Charcuterie boards are fun, but putting them together can be such a pain in the ass that it can strip some of the joy out of the experience. This is why pre-made boards can be a godsend, but they’re generally pretty one-size-fits-all. What if you want a bit more control?
Cheese Me cut out the middleman with their three handy tiers of pre-made boards, whether you’re just looking for a personal snack (Cheese Me), having a few friends over (Cheese Us), or organizing a certifiable shindig (Cheese Everyone). These cute boxes come in a nice, cheesy palette with fun, chunky typography and a very satisfyingly symmetrical design by Truffl. These boxes are not just designed to help bolster a party but become an event in and of themselves, with an attractive look that’s worth capturing in photos.
Introduction: Reimagining the Charcuterie Experience
Cheese Me puts the ‘cute’ in charcuterie boards with perfectly packaged on-demand kits that make enjoying perfect bites of cheese, meat and crackers effortless and delightful.
In a culinary culture where the art of crafting and enjoying charcuterie boards is both a ritual and a statement of sophistication, Cheese Me has emerged as a game-changer. The brand has ingeniously transformed the traditional charcuterie board into a playful, accessible, and mess-free experience that caters to the palates of casual snackers and connoisseurs alike — effortlessly and on-demand.
Brief: Streamlining Artisanal Indulgence
Cheese Me, a burgeoning small, female-owned business, faced a challenge: how to scale the personalized charm of made-to- order charcuterie boards without losing its essence. The answer lay in innovative packaging that preserved the brand’s commitment to quality while increasing convenience, enjoyment, and fun. This solution allowed Cheese Me to streamline its operations and expand its reach, offering customers an on-demand indulgence that could be delivered within the hour. Or as we like to say, “Less Whine. More Cheese.”
Brand Strategy: Curating Moments, Not Just Meals
Cheese Me’s brand strategy is built on the pillars of accessibility, indulgence, and entertainment. Imagined as ‘The TikTok of Charcuterie Boards,’ the brand taps into the zeitgeist of shareable, engaging moments in which “the camera eats first” but your taste buds are a quick second. With a tone that’s cheeky yet charming, the brand positions itself as the life of any party, an entertainer that makes every moment cheese-worthy. The brand’s playful personality guides consumers to create a series of gourmet Perfect Bites that transcend snacking into memorable moments that “aim to cheese.”
Brand Identity: A Palette of Playfulness and Charm
Cheese Me’s identity is a visual feast, as appetizing as its offerings. The logo—a stylized wordmark accompanied by a whimsical dripping cheese icon in the brand’s signature octagonal shape—exudes playfulness and accessibility. The brand’s color palette, a vibrant ensemble of reds and yellows, is as bold and inviting as the flavors it encapsulates. Typography is carefully chosen to balance charm with readability, ensuring that each box is not just a container but a part of the experience. Illustrations, custom shapes, and layouts interplay to guide users through the Cheese Me journey, one delightful bite at a time.
Packaging: The Heart of Cheese Me’s Innovation
The packaging stands at the forefront of the brand’s innovation. Each box is fully plastic-free and made using food-safe cardboard stock. The packaging has been custom-engineered into a signature octagonal shape that quickly becomes as recognizable as the brand’s graphic language.
Cheese Me’s packaging comes in three sizes. The ‘Cheese Me,’ ‘Cheese Us,’ and ‘Cheese Everyone’ boxes serve individual, small group, and large gatherings, respectively, each with a unique signature color, size, and set of ingredients ensuring the right fit for every occasion.
Each box invites users to explore a world of cheese, meat, and accouterments with elevated ease. Lids playfully share the contents of their boxes while affixing into the base of each box. Central to the experience, the underside of each lid serves as a visual menu of delicious “Perfect Bites” that combine the curated ingredients into unique taste combinations. Guests are instructed to follow these guides to create the perfect bite every time. These lids also serve as plates for on-the-go snacking at picnics or anywhere the moment takes you.
The Cheese Me: Small in Size, Not in Experience
The ‘Cheese Me’ box is an individual’s playfield for flavor—with dividers segregating ingredients, similar to an adult version of a Lunchables.
A ‘Perfect Bite’ station in the center, contains crackers tucked underneath, which are then placed atop the station to assemble delicious gourmet bites with cheeses, meats, and toppings. Underneath each ingredient, the box includes a playful message such as “less board, more cheese” creating moments of delight throughout your experience.
The Cheese Us: Praise Cheese-Us, It’s Delicious
Featuring a vibrant yellow color story, the medium-sized Cheese Us Box is designed for groups of 4-6. Including a wider selection of gourmet ingredients, perfectly arranged and tightly packed to maintain integrity during delivery.
The Cheese Everybody: A Party in a Box
While the Cheese Everybody is a replacement for a party-size charcuterie board. Featuring the widest mix of ingredients, the box has something for everyone. Adding to the experience, a separate cracker box affixes perfectly to the side of the Cheese Everybody.
Brand Photography: Say Cheese
Cheese Me’s photography includes sculptural “Perfect Bite” photography with inventive recreations of each perfect bite with a focus on indulgence. The brand’s lifestyle photography builds off of themes of play and community with the inclusion of game boards, the stacking of boxes, and the inclusion of scenes of delicious bites and paired beverages.
Conclusion – Less bored. More Cheese.
Life is great. Cheese is better. That’s why Cheese Me’s brand and packaging offering is designed to spread more cheese- worthy moments by transforming the headache of making cheese boards into a handcrafted delight. The result is a memorable and experiential offering that has helped this female-owned small business based in Atlanta to share its heartfelt creations not only in its hometown but also across the US with nationwide shipping.
