Durham opening delivers strong early traction: thousands of guests in first months
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Veeno Durham: A New Player in Hospitality
Following its launch, Veeno Durham has reported strong momentum, welcoming thousands of visitors in its first couple of months and quickly building local visibility. This rapid growth highlights the effectiveness of its unique value proposition in the hospitality sector, making it an attractive option for those looking to invest in a franchise.
Franchise Veeno
Veeno, inspired by the Italian tradition of “aperitivo,” focuses on creating a vibrant venue that caters to diverse social experiences. It is not just limited to traditional dining; instead, it serves as an ideal spot for after-work drinks, romantic dates, celebrations, and group gatherings. Such versatility is essential for attracting different clientele and fostering a sense of community.
Early traction like this is crucial for potential franchise candidates. It demonstrates the appeal of a venue that embraces experience-led, drinks-plus-food concepts. This approach not only encourages repeat visits but also enhances word-of-mouth referrals, making it easier for franchisees to build their business.
For franchisees, a successful start like that of Veeno Durham supports faster brand awareness, a stronger community presence, and a solid foundation for ongoing local marketing efforts. When customers feel connected to the brand, they are more likely to return and recommend it to others, further bolstering the franchise’s success.
In summary, Veeno Durham is setting a strong precedent in the hospitality sector with its unique offerings, enhancing the potential for franchise growth in a competitive market.
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England launch
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.
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.
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.