Graze Craze recognised among the franchise industry’s top performers

Graze Craze®, the international charcuterie-and-grazing franchise, is opening in England — and recruiting its first
founding franchisees across 190 protected territories. Part of United Franchise Group (UFG), the global franchisor
operating in more than 80 countries, the brand arrives on the back of one of its strongest years yet.

In the first half of 2026, Graze Craze reported a 65% year-on-year rise in same-store sales and closed the quarter on its
20th consecutive quarter of growth. It opened 23 new locations in six months, taking it past 130 worldwide with a
target of 150 by year-end and 42 more in development. The brand was also named to Franchise Direct’s 2026 Top 100
Franchises, and confirmed international expansion with newly signed master licences for England and Guyana.

Our continued growth reflects a shift in how people think about catering — and we’re having a lot of fun
leading that change.

Cory Hibbard, President, Graze Craze

That shift is being driven, in part, by younger consumers. “We’re seeing this big shift right now with millennials and Gen
Z in bringing back a desire or interest in hosting,” Hibbard has said. “People have a stronger desire for a sense of
community and gathering than they’ve had in a very long time.” It is a trend with real commercial weight: the UK
catering market is estimated to be worth in excess of £12 billion, with corporate and event catering a significant and
growing share.

For England, the opportunity is a genuine ground-floor one. This is a proven, international brand arriving in England at
exactly the right moment,”said Kishan Kotecha, Managing Director of Graze Craze England. “Our founding franchisees
get first choice of 190 protected territories, a model that needs no culinary background, and the backing of a franchisor
with 40 years of experience behind it. We’re building this deliberately and hands-on, with the right partners around our
owners.”

Graze Craze makes premium boards, boxes and grazing tables to order — for individuals, corporate clients and events.
With no hot kitchen or heavy fit-out, the cost to open is typically lower than a traditional restaurant, and a new location
can be open within around four to six months of signing.

Graze Craze England is the England arm of Graze Craze®, part of United Franchise Group (UFG) — an established global franchisor operating in more than 80 countries through its food division, Big Flavor Brands™. For a new franchisee, that heritage matters: proven systems, training, and support from day one.

It also means real infrastructure behind the brand. Real estate, construction and financing are largely handled in-house, and franchisees are guided through the process step by step. “The beautiful thing about being a young brand is that we get to lean on our shared services team amongst our brands,” says Graze Craze President Cory Hibbard.

“We certainly have the benefit of 40 years of franchising experience … we get to lean on our shared services team amongst our brands.” — Cory Hibbard, President, Graze Craze

The group’s momentum is clear. Six UFG brands were named to Franchise Direct’s 2026 Top 100 Franchises — Graze Craze among them at #61 — and in the first half of 2026 UFG’s affiliated brands opened 105 new locations and signed 148 franchise agreements worldwide.

For England, the opportunity is a ground-floor one: first choice of 190 protected territories, a model that needs no culinary background, and a new location open in around four to six months of signing.

When a large-scale opportunity to feed local healthcare professionals came in, the Graze Craze team in Modesto rose to
it in a big way — catering 3,300 Grab & Graze meals for Kaiser Permanente during Medical Professionals Week, helping
recognise the people who care for their community.

“Stories like this show the opportunity that grows when franchisees become a trusted catering resource in
their community.” — Graze Craze

It is a vivid example of Graze Craze’s corporate and events business — a core, high-value line alongside individual
orders. For a franchisee, being the go-to grazing caterer for local employers, hospitals and events can turn single orders
into standing relationships.

That same demand exists in England, where corporate and event catering is a significant part of a UK catering market
estimated in excess of £12 billion. Graze Craze’s founding franchisees can claim one of 190 protected territories now —
no culinary background required.