Charleston, S.C. — For Owner Candice Culbertson Hudnall, and many other members of the hospitality industry, the world turned upside down on March 13, 2020, when Gov. McMaster shut down the state due to the threat of Covid-19. “It was a devastating time for many, particularly in the hospitality industry,” says Wigfield. “I asked our team, ‘how can we pivot quickly to answer the needs of the Charleston community, while also keeping people working?’” The solution was The Hamby Market, which became both a way to give back to the Lowcountry, as well as a means of survival for the company.
With the entire state shut down, Hamby was set for a huge loss thanks to a drastically decreased catering business. However, the expansion of The Market allowed Hamby to pivot their business model in order to survive. Through “grit and hustle,” the Hamby team came together to provide a convenient and safe way to feed Lowcountry families, and for Wigfield, this collaboration and teamwork has been the key to success. “When I shared the news with Team Hamby about the Small Business Champion Award, everyone just cheered,” says Wigfield. “Being recognized for our efforts of doing what we could do to survive and also feed the Charleston community – it’s really special.”
Hamby Catering & Events is a staple in the Charleston Community and has been the recipient of multiple culinary awards and national recognition. Formerly owned by the Hamby family, Candice Culbertson Hudnall along with her father Wayne Culbertson purchased the company in 2017; seven years after Candice first joined the Hamby Team as a marketing and operations specialist. Candice is a 2004 graduate of Clemson University where she served in both student government and her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi.