by UFG | Apr 9, 2024 | News
Let’s get one thing straight, food is art and charcuterie boards take that art to a new level. Pronounced as “shahr-koo-tuh-ree”. You’ve probably seen it on your Twitter, Instagram, and all over the internet while randomly scrolling on your feed. This trendy elegant looking feast is a beautiful and creative way of combining food on a serving board.
Usually consisting of meat, nuts, cheese, dried fruits, fresh fruit, dips, bread, and crackers, the amazing thing about charcuterie is the never-ending options and possible selection of flavor in any way you want it. The not so amazing thing about charcuterie is it can be time-consuming, expensive and challenging for those with a not-so-artistic-eye.
That’s where Graze Craze comes in and lucky for us Pensacolians, one just opened in Gulf Breeze at 3329 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. Located next to Winn Dixie in the old Papa Murphy’s space, you will find the new Graze Craze store front who Grand Opening is today, April 9th at 11:30am.
Local franchise owners, Jocelyn and Paul Sanders, have always wanted to open their own business and when they found a connection with Graze Craze, they took a leap of faith. Graze Craze, Inc. was founded in 2018 by Kerry Sylvester, an Air Force veteran. Jocelyn’s husband, Paul, is a retired helicopter after a 20 year career in the United States Navy.
“My husband is a retired Navy helicopter pilot and I’m a trained mental health therapist. When we decided to plant our roots here permanently with our two little ones, we knew it was time to work for ourselves,” said Jocelyn. “My husband came across a veteran franchise opportunity and Graze Craze was one of the options.”
Jocelyn also frequently visited her sister in Charlotte where they would often visit a small mom and pops shop that offered charcuterie board and grazing tables and she wished there was something similar in Pensacola.
“My sister and I would always go grab a little box and go to the park so the kids can play and we can have real food and not their left over goldfish and peanut butter crackers,” she said. “I always thought how perfect it would be to have something similar here to take to the beach or to a picnic and before we knew it, my husband and I were signing the dotted line.”
At Graze Craze, they believe in using the best class ingredients and celebrating everything. Their cheeses and meats are not ones you will find widely at the grocery store and their dips are made in-house. It’s also important to Jocelyn and Paul to make sure they are sourcing local ingredients as much as they can which includes a local honey and a neighbor’s olive oil business.
Walk in their redesigned space and see a front counter with a ”grazologist” (someone who curates your board for you), a menu board and a grab ‘n go fridge. There is no indoor seating, but there is a small conference style room for guests to come and discuss catering options. They can accommodate large parties and weddings up to 200 people or small intimate gatherings or single serving charcuterie cups.
Jocelyn and the store manager prepared a picnic board for me before I left and the taste and quality was second to none. If you can’t make their Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting today at 11:30am, make sure you check them out this weekend before all your beach activities. Follow along on their Facebook for updates on today and their hours.
by UFG | Apr 8, 2024 | News
Cannoli Kitchen Pizza™ has named restaurant executive Andrew DiMatteo as its Operations Manager. Cannoli Kitchen Pizza is a part of United Franchise Group™ (UFG).
An experienced restaurant executive, DiMatteo will serve on the brand’s leadership team and spearhead its new franchisee training program, as well as oversee operations for Cannoli Kitchen Pizza. DiMatteo was born and raised in Connecticut, but his parents were born in Sicily, where he spent most of his childhood summers. Most recently, DiMatteo served as Vice President of Operations for a privately owned, multi-unit Italian restaurant brand focusing on handmade pizzas and both new and traditional dishes.
“With Andrew’s culinary and restaurant training and his family’s Italian roots, he’s a perfect fit for this role. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him on our leadership team,” said Austin Titus, President of Cannoli Kitchen Pizza.
The brand will hold its first training school in May and provide seven weeks of learning: two weeks in the classroom at their global headquarters in West Palm Beach, three weeks on-location at the Deerfield Beach restaurant and two weeks at new franchise locations.
“I spent most of my life in the restaurant business, learning with family and friends and loving every aspect of it,” DiMatteo said. “As I step into this new role, I look forward to tapping into my depth of knowledge, years of experience and Italian roots to help Cannoli Kitchen Pizza and our incredible franchise owners grow and succeed.”
DiMatteo lives in South Florida with his wife, their 2-year-old son and the family’s German Shepherd. Besides English, he is fluent in Italian and Spanish.
by UFG | Apr 7, 2024 | News
Creamy tzatziki sauce, crunchy falafel recipes, crumbly feta cheese, and warm pita bread are only a few items people can look forward to while visiting some of the best Mediterranean restaurants around the United States. While fancy original restaurants are fun for a date night, there is something to be said about a familiar chain, especially if you spot one in a not-so-familiar town. The good news is that, with the Mediterranean diet becoming increasingly popular among diners, there are some chains people are likely about to see springing up from the woodwork. In other words, they are set to be everywhere!
Mediterranean cuisine is known and widely regarded for its wide array of spices and fresh ingredients, namely fruits, vegetables, olive oil, different grains, seafood, and lean meats. These are all influenced by the culinary traditions of places along the Mediterranean basin, making it a healthy option for those who enjoy eating out now and again. From the popular menu options offered at Luna Grill to the familiar aromas of cumin, saffron, and coriander spilling out the doors of CAVA locations, Mediterranean cuisine lovers will be pleased to know that healthy, fast-casual options are going to continually grow into the norm. Here are some examples you may see down the street soon.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill
In a 2021 statement posted on the restaurant’s website, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Brand President Bob Anderson discussed developing 150 new locations of the fast-growing Mediterranean chain by 2024. As of April that year, there were only 21 restaurants in total, the first opening in Nevada in 2011. As of March 2024, that number includes nearly 60 currently operating locations, with many more set to open. Apparently, people just can’t get enough of The Great Geek’s simple yet delicious food options, allowing the company to expand its brand at such a quick rate across the nation.
Priding itself as being a “home away from home” establishment, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill makes its food daily from scratch and with the freshest ingredients, making Greek gyros, salads, bowls, pita bread, and soups taste like they came straight from your own kitchen. Go for a personal gyro or share a Mezze Plate full of dolmades, falafel, hummus, and spanikopita with a friend. Either way, there is clearly no way to order incorrectly when it comes to The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill’s hearty menu.
by UFG | Apr 4, 2024 | News
Ray Titus is CEO of United Franchise Group (UFG), a global leader for entrepreneurs with brands in over 1,600 locations in 60 countries.
We’re well into 2024, but it’s not too late to set a new course with goals to move the needle in your career or business. In fact, this might be the perfect time. With mindsets focused on the path ahead, you’re in a position to move forward without distractions. It’s time to see where you want to go and determine the steps you’ll take to get there.
I’ve always believed in goal setting, and I believe so strongly in it that we’ve hired a manager at my company whom we call our “dream coach”—a designated professional who meets with all employees to guide them in achieving their business and personal goals. We don’t want them to focus all their energy on business at the expense of their personal lives; balancing the two makes for the kind of well-rounded person we want on our team, and adding new personal skills can make you a better business leader.
Setting Yourself Up For Success
One mistake many people make when setting goals is to have too many. I believe in setting three goals each year; if you’re stretching yourself with challenging objectives, three is plenty. I can see going as high as five if something really fires you up, but any more than that is a to-do list.
As you decide your goals, look for the sweet spot: not too hard but not too easy. They should make a significant difference for your company while exciting and inspiring you. For example, signing three new clients a week is probably impossible; you’ll likely feel defeated and want to give up in the first week. But three a year will barely register, and you’ll likely get bored.
A critical part of the goal-setting process is planning lead measures, the actionable steps you or your staff will take to hit each goal. You need two or three steps for each goal, making them measurable and time-bound so you’ll know if you’ve reached your mark. For instance, if your team decides to increase revenue by a certain amount, you might decide that each member will make a certain number of sales calls and hit a budget number each week. To earn the year’s target amount, how much must you bring in each quarter, month and week?
Once you’ve set your destination, here are some ideas for getting there.
Five Career Resolutions
These are not goals in themselves but projects and behaviors that can help you reach the big-picture objectives of your year.
1. Become a mentor. Offer to guide a new employee or one who’s just joined your team. Not only will you help the mentee learn new skills they can contribute to company growth, but you’ll stay up to date on technology and business terms. (I’ve found you never learn faster than when you have to teach someone else.)
2. Volunteer to manage a new project. Step up and take charge of a revenue- or knowledge-building endeavor. A project that needs you to recruit and assemble a team is ideal, but stepping into someone else’s leadership shoes also offers opportunity.
3. Read regularly. I encourage our employees to read at least one new book each month, more if possible. Whether it’s a business book or something that educates and motivates another aspect of your life, you will likely discover three or four ideas you can use.
4. Embrace change. Many people have trouble with change, but it’s the only constant in business; every day, it seems to come faster and faster. Change for change’s sake isn’t always good, but neither is resisting it because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” Be one of the organization leaders who welcomes new developments and owns the change, and you may rise even faster than you dreamed.
5. Honor the winners. This is a critical step in any goal process. If you don’t acknowledge big goals when you hit them, what are you telling your team—that they weren’t important enough? When your team performs well, show your appreciation with recognition dinners, award ceremonies or anything else that makes a big deal about it. People love being part of winning teams, and shining a spotlight on them is essential.
Goal!
Knowing what you want in life for your career and your personal life is the key to getting it, and I’ve found that putting those dreams in writing is the most crucial step you can take toward achieving it; this solidifies your commitment and makes it more real. Get started now, and by year’s end, you’ll likely have many reasons to call it a successful year.
by UFG | Apr 3, 2024 | News
Vast Coworking Group™ (Vast), the world’s largest privately-owned franchisor of coworking spaces, announced today its year-over-year performance in 2023 where it closed out the year with double-digit increases in key benchmarks. Vast, which in 2023 was comprised of leading coworking franchises Venture X® and Office Evolution®, achieved a 21% increase in systemwide sales and 16.5% increase in systemwide membership, respectively.
The company also reported that it opened 11 new locations – nine Venture X and two Office Evolution – and added 295,578 square feet to its global footprint across both brands. Earlier this year, Vast expanded its network with the acquisition of pioneering flexible workspace concept Intelligent Office®, which elevated Vast to the third largest global coworking network with over 190 locations, 40,000 members, and 2.4 million square feet of space in eight countries worldwide.
“2023 was a remarkable year for Vast and positioned us for the strides we’ve already made in the first quarter of 2024. Our past achievements and successes have propelled our ongoing growth and opened us up to new opportunities that we’re excited to seize this year. We see ourselves as a dominant force in the private sector of coworking and we are excited to continue growing both our Vast network and member community as demand for flexible workspace remains at an all-time high,” said Jason Anderson, President of Vast Coworking Group™.
In 2024, Vast is accelerating franchise development among its brands with five Venture X and five Office Evolution locations forecasted to open within the next six months. The company signed 34 franchise agreements in 2023 across its Venture X and Office Evolution brands that will continue to fill its development pipeline with domestic and international locations. Both Venture X and Office Evolution expanded into Portugal last year, marking the initiation of Office Evolution and Venture X’s expansion into additional global territories.
Amid Vast’s ongoing growth and success, the company has promoted several longstanding leaders to its executive team, both recognizing their numerous contributions as well as strengthening the company’s leadership as it enters a significant growth period. They include:
- Paula Mercer, former VP of Operations, has been promoted to Vice President of Vast. Since joining United Franchise Group™ 16 years ago, Mercer has been an integral part of the team, known for her unwavering drive, exceptional leadership skills, and ability to motivate those around her. In her elevated role, Mercer will continue to steer Vast toward innovative solutions and more incredible successes.
- Tammy Senter has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, Venture X. Previously serving as a National Sales Manager for Venture X, Senter has significantly impacted the brand’s growth and service quality and has developed a strategic vision for Venture X which she will apply to her new role.
- Brad Johansson has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, Office Evolution. Johansson previously served as Director of Operations and has been a Franchise Business Consultant to the brand for over six years. A franchising veteran, Johansson will leverage his forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of the coworking model to spearhead initiatives that will elevate Office Evolution, with a focus on innovative solutions, community engagement, and operational agility to meet the evolving needs of members.
- Darcy Masciotro, CFE has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, Intelligent Office. With more than 16 years of multi-unit leadership and franchise operation experience, coupled with a high-energy leadership style, Masciotro will lead Intelligent Office’s operations with a focus on enhancing efficiency, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that the brand’s coworking spaces continue to be vibrant hubs of creativity and productivity.
“Having the right people in the right roles is fundamental to any company’s success and we are incredibly fortunate to have such passionate individuals as part of our team, many of whom have been involved with United Franchise Group for several years. Each of their unique experiences and strengths add so much to our organization and will be instrumental in taking Vast to the next level,” said Ray Titus, CEO of United Franchise Group. “The expansion of Vast’s leadership team signifies the fast-paced growth trajectory the company is on, and we are looking forward to what’s to come.”
Vast Coworking Group™ is an affiliated company of United Franchise Group™ (UFG), the global leader for entrepreneurs with over 1600 franchises in more than 60 countries and 2500+ franchisees.
