Recent news from our partner franchise networks

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  Chicken Cottage unveils new “Food To Go”...

  On July 14, 2026, Chicken Cottage unveiled its innovative "Food To Go" concept in Sheffield, marking a significant step forward for the brand. This new format, tailored to the preferences of modern consumers, emphasizes efficient takeaway services...

  12 October 2026
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  Big milestone for Local Eats

  After selling over 150 franchises across the UK and becoming the UK’s fastest selling franchise in 2022, we’re proud to officially launch Local Eats in the Republic of Ireland this April. What started as a local food ordering platform has grown into...

  05 October 2026 Food - Drink
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  Graze Craze

  Why grazing is booming

  Grazing boards have become one of the food world’s defining trends — and, increasingly, a serious catering category.
  Graze Craze President Cory Hibbard puts the shift down to a change in how younger consumers want to gather. “We’re
  seeing this big shift right now with millennials and Gen Z in bringing back a desire or interest in hosting,” he says.

  “People have a stronger desire for a sense of community and gathering than they’ve had in a very long time.”
  — Cory Hibbard, President, Graze Craze

  “Younger consumers are impressed a lot less with formal entertainment methods,” Hibbard adds, “and they’re looking
  for a more casual, experiential-type opportunity.” It is a shift 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.
  Graze Craze is built for exactly this demand — premium boards, boxes and grazing tables made to order for individuals,
  corporate clients and events, with no hot kitchen or heavy fit-out. In England, founding franchisees can claim one of 190
  protected territories now.

  Read more

  03 October 2026 Franchise news
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  Jam Coding

  Jam Coding Peterborough and Croydon renew franchise...

  James Green, Risha Shah and Muhilan Pathmamohan extend their commitment to helping young people develop essential digital skills.

  Jam Coding Peterborough and Jam Coding Croydon have renewed their franchise agreements, continuing their successful work delivering engaging computing education to primary schools and young people in their local communities.

  Jam Coding Peterborough, led by James Green, and Jam Coding Croydon, run by Risha Shah and Muhilan Pathmamohan, will continue to build on their success, helping more young people develop essential digital skills through creative and inspiring computing experiences.

  James joined the Jam Coding mission in 2021. Since then, he has worked with numerous schools across Peterborough and the surrounding area, delivering after school clubs, breakfast clubs and computing curriculum lessons. As well as this James also works with the Local Authority to provide free, funded learning opportunities for young people in the region during holiday periods. Through this work, thousands of young people have benefited from additional opportunities to develop their digital skills and build confidence with technology.

  In Croydon, Risha and Muhilan have spent the past five years building their Jam Coding business and supporting the mission to equip young people with essential skills for an increasingly digital world. Their renewal marks the next chapter in that journey.

  Jam Coding is a UK based education business specialising in computing education for primary schools. Its mission is to equip the next generation of digital citizens with essential digital life skills through engaging computing experiences.

  Both renewals reflect the franchise partners’ commitment to this mission and provide an opportunity to build on the relationships and local impact established during their first five years.

  James Green, Director of Jam Coding Peterborough, commented:

  “Joining Jam Coding five years ago gave me the opportunity to build a business with a real purpose. It’s been incredibly rewarding to work with local schools and see young people grow in confidence as they develop their digital skills.

  “Renewing for another five years is an exciting next step. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved so far and look forward to reaching more schools and helping more children across Peterborough discover what they can achieve with technology.”

  Risha Shah, who runs Jam Coding Croydon alongside Muhilan Pathmamohan, commented:

  “The past five years have been a rewarding journey for us. Helping young people discover what they can achieve with technology is at the heart of why we do this, and we’re proud to be part of the Jam Coding mission.

  “We’re excited to continue that journey, building relationships with local schools and creating more opportunities for children across Croydon to develop their confidence, creativity and digital skills.”

  Roger Grogan, CEO and Founder of Jam Coding, added:

  “James, Risha and Muhilan have been fantastic partners in Jam Coding. Over the past five years, they have embraced our mission and put their hearts into delivering it across their local communities.

  “We’re delighted that they have chosen to continue this journey with us. Their commitment to helping young people develop essential digital skills is something we’re incredibly proud of.

  “We look forward to building on their achievements and continuing to work together to deliver life skills to the next generation of digital citizens.”

  If you are looking for a new opportunity supporting young people and building a meaningful and profitable business for yourself, we’d love to tell you more about how you can become a Jam Coding Franchisee

  Read more

  29 September 2026 Franchise news
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  Graze Craze

  Leadership

  Graze Craze’s global growth is led by President Cory Hibbard, named to FranchiseVoice’s Top 100 Franchise Influencers
  for 2026. Under his leadership the brand has strung together 20 consecutive quarters of growth and expanded into new
  international markets — including England.

  “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

  In England, franchisees have a hands-on local partner. “This is a proven, international brand arriving in England at
  exactly the right moment,” says 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.”

  Behind them sits the wider United Franchise Group — shared services across real estate, construction, financing,
  training and marketing — so franchisees are supported at every stage, from signing to opening and beyond.

  Read more

  24 September 2026 Franchise news
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  Graze Craze

  Backed by a global franchisor

  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.

  Read more

  17 September 2026 Franchise news