Putting together the perfect welcome bags or favors for a destination wedding or out-of-town guests can be challenging, especially when you’re searching for fun, local items. Your event should be as special and interesting as you are, and you can accomplish that by adding some “local flavor.” In our newest series, Local Love, we curate some of the best regional products that your guests will adore and interview the owners to discover more about their business!
Delicious Southern Treats for Wedding Guests
This week, we interviewed Diane Pfeifer of GritsBits.com, a wonderful small business devoted to Georgia. Grits Bits ships delicious Southeast local food and gifts everywhere, adding southern flair to thousands of events all over the world.
From Georgia peach jelly beans to her trademark Grits Bits, her online store boasts a huge selection of party-perfect snacks and gifts. She even invented her trademark “Grits Bits” cheese snack biscuits and cookies baked with grits.
Q: What are a few of your most popular products?
A: “For weddings and corporate events or gifts, our Sip n Snack, which includes Grits Bits, a glass bottle Coke, Georgia peanuts, peach Jelly Belly beans, and peach-shaped chocolate, is our top seller. In addition, our variety 4-pack of Grits Bits is a big holiday seller.”
Q: Why is Grits Bits great for wedding gifts?
A: “It’s very light to ship, and you cover all taste buds. Grits Bits are double-baked like biscotti and have a 9-month shelf life. Plus, they are a fun conversation starter.”
Q: What about those who aren’t huge fans of grits?
A: “Grits tend to be a polarizing food, you either like them or you don’t. My Grits Bits snacks are baked from yummy cheese-straw, shortbread, or brownie batter to which we add grits to make them crispy, so they’re sort of ‘cheater’s grits.’ That said, we’ve had many comments through the years about how Grits Bits have been served at a party or put in a welcome bag, and a grits ‘hater’ has fallen in love with them, thus converting yet another consumer to the Grits Gospel!”
Q: We’ve heard you have quite an interesting background. What did you do before creating Grits Bits?
A: “I have had careers as a chemist and a singer/songwriter. I sang backup with Tammy Wynette and wrote two Top 20 country hits for Debby Boone. I’ve acted in commercials, recorded an album for Capitol Records, and did radio ads and wrong number messages for the phone company. Plus I wrote and self-published six cookbooks before inventing Grits Bits.”
Q: How is business now?
A: “Business has been fabulous since I started marketing to corporate and bridal customers, especially during holiday time. We strive to provide affordable Southern gifts from $5 to $50 so we hit the ‘sweet spot’ when customers are looking for a custom set between those price parameters.”
We love Diane’s entrepreneurial, hardworking spirit. When you purchase fantastic regional goods, you’re not only giving guests a taste of the region, but also supporting a great local business.
Are you using Grits Bits for your welcome bags? What else would you include in your bags?
Happy Planning!
