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For Paul Carter and his wife Marcia, a visit to the British & International Franchise Exhibition was the first step in a journey that would ultimately take them out of long-established corporate careers and into business ownership. Today, they’re the owners of Anytime Fitness Didcot. But when they first visited the exhibition in January 2024, they had no firm idea what their future business would look like.
Golden Corral®, America’s largest buffet restaurant brand, is setting its sights on the UK as it looks for experienced restaurant operators and franchise partners to spearhead its expansion into the market. Established more than 50 years ago, Golden Corral has grown to more than 340 restaurants across the continental United States, alongside four restaurants in Puerto Rico. Now, the brand is looking across the Atlantic as it seeks partners capable of introducing its distinctive combination of choice, value and family-friendly hospitality to British diners.
Harry Ramsden’s has unveiled Harry’s Hut, a new compact restaurant format inspired by the humble beginnings of one of Britain’s most iconic fish and chips brands. The first Harry’s Hut has opened at The Tower Hotel on St Katharine’s Way, close to Tower Bridge, placing the brand at the heart of one of London’s best-known visitor destinations.
Harry Ramsden’s has signed a master franchise agreement with Franchise India Ventures to launch and grow the iconic British restaurant brand across India, with plans to open at least 60 restaurants over the next 10 years.
Two new Greensleeves Lawn Care franchisees are putting their training into practice as they take their first steps into business ownership following lengthy careers in IT and telecoms. Mark Bailey has launched Greensleeves Surrey & Sussex Borders after 30 years in IT, while Scott Maltby has taken over Greensleeves West Notts following 25 years in telecoms with BT and Openreach. Both were looking for a new direction but have brought very different experience and perspectives into their first weeks with the network.
PILAT3S has expanded its UK footprint with the opening of its first London standalone studio in Putney. Featuring 17 Reformers and the brand’s signature premium studio design, the new location brings the full PILAT3S experience to Southwest London. In addition to its group class schedule, the studio is the first franchise in the UK to introduce PILAT3S Personal Training (PT), a small-group training concept for up to three participants.
TaxAssist Accountants is celebrating after winning Excellence in Branding at the 2026 East Anglian Marketing Awards. The award celebrates bold, distinctive and consistent brand identities and rebrands that successfully combine strategic thinking with creative execution.
GYMPODS, the private gym concept that gives members and PTs their own fully equipped workout space, is launching a nationwide franchise expansion and looking for partners to bring the brand to towns and cities across the UK. Founded by fitness industry veterans Mike and Simon, who have more than 50 years of combined industry experience, GYMPODS opened its first London location in late 2022 following two years of development and testing.
British franchise brands have once again taken podium positions at last night’s European Franchise Awards organised by the European Franchise Federation (EFF). Winning British brands were domiciliary home care brand Caremark, Franchisor of the Year (Bronze); Marlene Meyer, Mini First Aid, Franchisee of the Year (Silver) and Natalia Shvarts from Excello Law, Industry Expert (Bronze.)
A new Panku franchisee is already seeing impressive results just six weeks after taking over the Japanese food counter in ASDA, Shirley, achieving his best-ever sales week, demonstrating the potential for business growth with the right support. Since taking over the counter, Md Abul Kalam Azad has continued to build momentum, with sales growing week-on-week as he puts his experience into practice, benefitting from the support of the wider Wonderfield Group, the parent company behind Panku and YO!
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