For many families in Ahwatukee, the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without at least one tasty specialty from The Honey Baked Ham Company.
Toni Gilbert opened The Honey Baked Ham Company franchise in Ahwatukee in 2008.
“I knew we needed to be in the community, so Ahwatukee was the first place I went when I made the leap to franchisee,” she says.
Since then, customers have flocked to the store at 5030 E. Ray Road – especially right before Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
“Honey Baked is a family tradition, so the holidays would not be the same without our HoneyBaked Ham or HoneyBaked Turkey Breast in the center of the table,” Gilbert says, adding that her store also offers HoneyBaked BBQ Ribs, Beef Roasts, BBQ Roasts, Peppered Bacon, Heat & Serve Side Dishes, desserts and, starting this holiday season, fully cooked and seasoned HoneyBaked Prime Rib.
While Gilbert’s store offers lunch, family meals and catering all year long, the holidays are definitely the busiest times of the year.
Gilbert, who has worked for the brand since she was hired as a seasonal employee in 1988, and currently owns four Honey Baked Ham franchises throughout the Valley, is humbled and honored to know that her store’s delicious food plays a key role in so many Ahwatukee families’ holidays.
To make sure things run extra smoothly during these busy times, Gilbert calls upon her own family members to help.
“We are a locally owned business, and it is all hands on deck during our peak season,” she says.
“Our catering customers will see my husband Brett delivering their lunches for meetings or holiday parties. My oldest son Caleb is a firefighter, but will work his off shifts glazing our hams and turkeys during the peak weeks of the holidays.”
Gilbert’s youngest son Logan will head to the store after his day job to help box up the gifting products for their B2B customers.
“And of course, my parents join in the fun making fundraiser deliveries to our nonprofits that we partner with. During those peak days, we all do what we need to do to ensure our customers are taken care of.”
What helps set HoneyBaked Ham apart, which in turn keeps customers coming back over and over, is the company’s commitment to quality and taste.
As Gilbert notes, the iconic HoneyBaked Ham is a natural ham with no added water, that is prepared fresh every day in the store.
“The depth and dimension of the flavor of our ham is like nothing else on the market. It’s the ideal balance of savory and sweet,” she says.
“First, our HoneyBaked Ham starts with a rigorous selection process. The meat is smoked for up to 24 hours with our special blend of hardwood chips, then they are hand-crafted in our stores with the secret sweet crunchy glaze.”
Gilbert, who was the 2023 Recipient of the International Franchise Association Franchisee of the Year, is proud that she and her family help make Ahwatukee families’ holidays extra special.
“I love sharing ‘HoneyBaked Happiness,’ whether it’s for a customer’s holiday meal or when they stop by for lunch,” she says.
“I literally breathe, sleep and dream HoneyBaked Ham, and finding ways to bring it to more people.”
HoneyBaked.com/Stores/2519 | 480.598.3000
“I love sharing ‘HoneyBaked Happiness,’ whether it’s for a customer’s holiday meal or when they stop by for lunch." Toni Gilbert