Maureen DiMarco always dreamed of working for herself. When she turned 40 last year, she decided to turn the dream into reality.
After many years of working as a critical care nurse, the pandemic escalated her desire to switch careers from healthcare to a small business owner. Her last day was September 1, 2021.
As self-described foodies, she and her new husband Ben, 38, a full-time sales rep and part-time musician, decided a food-based business would suit them best. After they were married last October in Central Park, followed by a reception at Robert DeNiro’s Tribeca Grill, they got to work on the new business concept; a South Jersey charcuterie board company.
Once they formed their LLC, they became Servsafe certified (Maureen completed the Servsafe Manager program) and licensed by the Burlington County Health Department. They also carry business insurance and work out of a commissary kitchen in Mount Holly, which sets them apart from other “home-based” charcuterie businesses.
The DiMarco’s officially launched Fig Charcuterie on December 15, 2021, with an ecommerce website and social media accounts.
Customers can select from pre-made boards or build their own, choosing from various popular, high-quality charcuterie board ingredients such as cured meats, cheeses, fruits & vegetables, nuts, jams and spreads, crackers, chocolate covered pretzels, and more. They offer their own logo-engraved wooden cutting board ($40) for an elegant board presentation. Customers can also add flowers and cards for an extra charge, perfect for gift-giving.
Deliveries are made on Fridays throughout Burlington and Camden Counties and they even go as far as Philadelphia, depending on availability. Free delivery is offered on orders of $45 or more.
So far, DiMarco says they are off to an excellent start with orders coming in daily. They look forward to business ramping up for the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, and wedding season.
Their first public event as a vendor will be at Mount Holly’s Fire & Ice Festival on Saturday, January 29, and they plan to participate in many more local events during the year as time allows.
“We are really excited about this new adventure,” Maureen said.
Good luck to this new small South Jersey food business.
Marilyn is a freelance writer covering the food and drink scene of South Jersey. You can find more of her writing on Philly Grub and NewsBreak.