The Forks Market to serve up second helping of Sharecuterie

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This article was published 01/01/2026 (224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cassandra Carreiro has been on quite a ride the last 2 1/2 years.

“It’s all kind of a blur,” the 35-year-old entrepreneur said. “A fever dream.”

In May 2023, Carreiro opened Sharecuterie, Winnipeg’s first drop-in, sit-down charcuterie café, at 160 Stafford St.

Now she’s preparing to open a second location at The Forks Market. Currently under construction, the 150-square-foot kiosk will serve a variety of dine-in and takeout options. It’s scheduled to open in February.

The Forks North Portage Partnership, which operates the downtown market, contacted Carreiro last summer and invited her to apply for the space.

“I was shocked because (Sharecuterie is) a newer business,” she said. “But also I thought it would be a really good fit for what I offer with the local focus.”

The company’s charcuterie boards contain artisanal items Carreiro says are produced in Manitoba or purchased from businesses in the province.

Raised in the North End, Carreiro was working as a registered psychiatric nurse when she started selling charcuterie boards on the side in October 2020. She operated the business out of ghost kitchens, shipping elaborate platters of finger foods across the city.

Carreiro quit her nursing job when she opened her Stafford Street storefront.

Since then, the business has grown to include a cocktail bar. Carreiro also uses the 1,000-sq.-ft. space for private functions and special events, such as a cookie-decorating workshop in early December.

Carreiro employs five people at the shop and plans to hire five more for The Forks location.

She says she’s learned a lot since opening the storefront. “I don’t have a business degree or anything like that, so it was a lot of learning as you go — resilience, problem solving,” she said.

Carreiro appreciates the flexibility of being her own boss and enjoys using her creativity to create charcuterie boards. She’s looking forward to bringing that creativity to The Forks.

The Forks is always trying to offer visitors the best and most exciting options, said Blair Malazdrewich, communications and marketing manager, so it made sense to partner with Carreiro to create a second Sharecuterie location.

“She was chosen based on the great work she does in her business,” Malazdrewich said. “And it’s also a great opportunity and a great way for people to enjoy food or a snack in a little bit of a different way at The Forks.”

The Forks receives more than four million visitors annually, he said, adding The Forks North Portage Partnership is excited to have Sharecuterie as part of the market.

Carreiro said the thought of having two locations makes her nervous, but she’s up for the challenge. One indication that she’s all in when it comes to her business is she’s not planning to renew her nursing licence in 2026.

“You don’t go anywhere if you don’t take risks and kind of put yourself out there,” she said of her new location. “And I think it’s a good fit. The Forks is iconic.”

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca