Charcuterie Insights for Local Eateries

This report analyzes charcuterie-related demand in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.  Now is the perfect time to strategize and capture the attention of customers seeking high-quality charcuterie offerings.

Search Trends for Charcuterie Keywords
This chart illustrates the significant spike in searches during the holiday season, especially for “charcuterie boards.” “Grazing table” also shows a similar, albeit smaller, seasonal trend. “Fall charcuterie board” is a great example of a seasonal  keyword that restaurants can target in the autumn.

KEY FINDINGS

• Charcuterie is Extremely Popular: The search volume for charcuterie-related terms is very high in our region. The most popular search term, “charcuterie boards”, has an average of 18,100 monthly searches across MA, RI, and CT. This indicates a massive and engaged local audience.
• Holiday Season is Peak Season: There is a significant spike in charcuterie searches from October through December. This is a prime opportunity for restaurants to promote their charcuterie offerings for holiday parties, catering, and festive dining experiences.
• Long-Tail Keywords Reveal Specific Customer Needs: While general terms are popular, there’s a treasure trove of specific, or “long-tail,” keywords with less competition. These terms can be used to attract customers looking for something specific.

LONG-TAIL KEYWORDS: YOUR SECRET SAUCE

Long-tail keywords are more specific, multi-word search phrases. While they have lower search volume individually, they often have a higher conversion rate because they are used by people who know exactly what they want. Here’s how to leverage them:

• Catering and Events: Terms like “charcuterie catering” and “charcuterie for 30 guests” are direct leads for your catering services. Create a dedicated page on your website for charcuterie catering and use these keywords in the text.
• Brunch is a New Frontier: With growing monthly searches and low competition, “brunch charcuterie” presents a fantastic, untapped opportunity. Consider creating a brunch-themed board with items like prosciutto-wrapped melon, salami, and artisanal cheeses to capture this audience.
• Themed and Niche Boards: There’s a growing interest in themed charcuterie boards. Consider offering some of these to attract a wider audience:
  • Holiday themes: “Christmas charcuterie” and “Thanksgiving charcuterie”
  • Dietary options: “Healthy charcuterie boards,” “keto charcuterie,” and “non-pork charcuterie” (a great opportunity to highlight your delicious pork options as a superior choice).
  • International Flavors: “Italian charcuterie,” “Spanish charcuterie,” and “French charcuterie” are all searched for.

Recommendations

The data is clear: charcuterie is more than a trend; it’s a staple that customers are actively searching for, especially during the fall and winter holidays. Thomsen Foodservice customers should:

• Prominently feature charcuterie boards on your menus, using high-quality Citterio products and create special, seasonal charcuterie boards for fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Update your websites and online menus to include keywords that customers are searching for, including “charcuterie,” “charcuterie boards,” “charcuterie near me,” and relevant long-tail keywords.
• Use social media to showcase your beautiful and delicious charcuterie boards, using relevant hashtags to attract local customers.

Use your creativity and the delicious offerings of Thomsen Foodservice to drive sales, attract new customers, and make this holiday season a resounding success.