Veeno
Veeno, is an Italian wine bar restaurant chain in the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 2013 by Nino Caruso and Andrea Zecchino [1] and the first outlet was opened in Manchester in November 2013. As of April 2020, the company has 8 outlets: Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Chester, Edinburgh, Leicester, Stratford-upon-Avon, Reading (franchised).
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Hospitality, Restaurant, Bar |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Nino Caruso and Andrea Zecchino |
| Headquarters | Manchester |
Number of locations | 8 |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Nino Caruso (Founder), Andrea Zecchino (Founder), Rodrigue Trouillet (Owner / Director) |
| Products | Italian wine, Italian cuisine |
| Revenue | £3m |
Number of employees | 50 |
| Website | Veeno Veeno Store |
Veeno is also present online with an e-commerce platform selling their Italian wines and spirits from their menu.
In early 2019, after the exit of one of the founders, the company went through a restructure with Rodrigue Trouillet, ex Disney executive, stepping in as Co-owner and Company Director.
Business Concept
Veeno is a gateway to Italian lifestyle.[2] Taste meets style and attention to detail is driven by passion.
Veeno is the essence of the Italian “Aperitivo”, the ritual of drinking, nibbling and relaxing while sharing moments of happiness with friends and family.
Since 2013, the Veeno team has been working hard to ensure that quality and tradition flows from the vineyard to the glass, accompanied with authentic Italian food such as meat and cheese platters, pizza, pasta, panini, bruschette and desserts.
The table service is friendly and personal, and the Veeno team are on hand to recommend and offer suggestions from across the menu.
Veeno serves wine imported from different regions of Italy, as well as from the family’s Caruso & Minini vineyard in Sicily. It also includes a comprehensive list of cocktails, beers, mocktails,and soft drinks.
Unique to Veeno and most popular are the “Wine Tasting Experiences”. These are informative and informal where customers can taste award-winning wines complemented by spuntini (appetisers) from the sharing platter.
The company has a loyalty reward scheme for customers with an app available on iOS and Android. All Veeno app customers will be rewarded for their loyalty in accumulating points, by offering complimentary drinks and food.
Franchising
Veeno has one franchise operated branch (Reading) and is looking to expand across the U.K. and internationally.
The franchise model is very affordable with low investment, a simple operation as no chefs required offering lower wage costs and straightforward table service model.[3]
Veeno provides a full turnkey solution with support on site-finding[4] and acquisition, comprehensive training programme for franchisee and staff and assistance with funding application (if required). On-going local marketing support, as well as a yearly national marketing provision via newsletters and social media. Franchisees will also have direct access to Veeno supply chain for drinks and food.
Corporate Social Responsibility
In 2019, Veeno was one of the restaurants that supported Action Against Hunger[5] and joined the Love Food Give Food campaign. The bar chain and its customers united to help vulnerable children from across the globe have a brighter future. Small table cards were distributed that let customers know a donation of £1 will be added to their bill (and can be easily removed), which can provide a day’s supply of food to a malnourished child.
In March 2020, after the Covid-19 crisis hit the UK with a national lockdown of hospitality businesses, Veeno[6] increased its engagement in e-commerce and decided to run a campaign to the support[7] the NHS during the pandemic; for all orders online, 10% of the profits will be donated to the NHS[8] through Virgin Money Giving.
Menu
Veeno’s authentic Italian menu boasts the finest cured meats and cheeses and some classics with a twist to ensure a memorable gastronomic experience.
Wine Tasting Experiences
As well as tasting award-winning wines, Veeno’s famous Wine Tasting experiences are hugely popular, all served with delicious Italian food that is perfectly paired with each wine.
A Trip to Sicily Wine Tasting
A 'Trip to Sicily’ wine tasting features some of Veeno's premium wines accompanied by authentic Italian spuntini. Customers will be introduced to the winery, the various labels to be tasted, as well as an explanation to which food best complements each of the wines. To finish, a homemade tiramisu (family recipe) will be served with a dessert wine.
Food & Wine Pairings
Veeno has four delicious Food and Wine pairings , perfect for any palette. “I Rossi”, “I Bianchi”, “Nord Italia” and “Sud Italia”. These each consist of four different incredible wines paired with light bites to complement each wine to perfection. These experiences are less formal then the “A Trip to Sicily” wine tasting but that doesn’t take away from the experience.
Wine Tasting Flights
Veeno offers the chance to taste a selection of Italy’s most renowned wine producers through three delicious Wine Flights:
Family Flights: A selection of a white, a rosé and a red premium wines from "Caruso and Minini" Veeno family vineyard in Sicily.
Moroder Flight: : A selection of Trebbiano & Malvasia, Montepulciano & Sangiovese and Verdicchio wines from “Moroder” one of the most renowned wine producers in the Marche region.
Organics Flight: A finest selection of Catarratto, Grillo, Perricone and Nero d’Avola Organic wines from the Caruso & Minini family vineyard.
Italian Afternoon Tea
As well as brunch and lunch, Veeno also offers Veeno's Italian Afternoon Tea. A twist on a quintessential English tradition, customers will be served a glass of Italian prosecco on arrival, followed by focaccia bread and bruschette that are accompanied by a selection of meats and cheeses. For those with a sweet tooth, a chocolate and mascarpone cheesecake as well as a refreshing lemon brulee cheesecake. Not to dampen a tradition - Veeno’s Afternoon tea is also served with scones, tea and coffee.
Food Menu
Veeno predominantly serves:
Il Taglieri: Authentic Italian boards with premium meet and cheese
- GRANDISSIMO: The King of boards, with a magnificent selection of meat and cheese from Italy, ideally shared by a group of friends
- GRANDE: The Queen of boards. A selection of all meats and cheeses, ideally for 2 people
- BRUSCHETTE: Chef’s selection of amazing bruschette
- PICCOLO: A wonderful sharing board with a mix of two meats, two cheeses and bruschette
- SALUMI: Ideal to try a fine selection of the best Italian best cured meats
- FORMAGGI: Perfect to taste a mix of premium Italian favourite cheeses
Le Bruschette: Bread slices with a variety of toppings
- POMODORO: An Italian classic, freshly chopped and lightly seasoned tomatoes
- PERE E TALEGGIO: Pear, taleggio soft cheese and fig jam, perfect with a mid-dry wine
- TONNO SICILIANO: Tasty and authentic. Dark tuna straight from Sicily with capers and onions
- NDUJA E SCAMORZA: A spicy spreadable sausage from Calabria with smoked cheese
- ZUCCHINE E CILIEGINO: Grilled courgettes, cherry tomatoes and rocket salad, perfectly paired with a light red wine
- PECORINO, NOCI E MIELE: Goat cheese, walnuts and honey, perfect with a fruity wine
- PESTO E POMODORI SECCHI: Pesto sauce and Sundried tomato, with a sprinkle of caciocavallo spicy cheese
- SALMONE AFFUMICATO: Smoked salmon, mascarpone and dill, perfect pairing for a glass of Prosecco
Le Pizze: Italian Artisan Pizzas
- MARGHERITA:Tomato sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil
- VEGETARIANA: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, roasted vegetables and fresh basil
- MILANO E TALEGGIO: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, salame Milano, taleggio cheese, Parmigiano, garlic and rosemary
- BRESAOLA, RUCOLA E PARMIGIANO: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, bresaola, rocket salad and Parmigiano leaves
- NDUJA E FIORDILATTE: Tomato sauce, mozzarella fiordilatte, nduja and fresh basil
- PARMA E BUFALA: Tomato sauce, mozzarella di Bufala, Parma ham
I Piatti Freddi: A selection of Italian salads
- INSALATA ORTOLANA: Mixed leaves, cherry tomatoes, raddish, onion and cucumber
- CARPACCIO DI BRESAOLA: Bresaola, a dry cured beef, rocket salad and Parmigiano leaves
- INSALATA CAPRESE: Beef tomato, mozzarella, olive oil and oregano
- INSALATA DI POLLO: Grilled chicken, mixed leaves, avocado, grilled peppers, cherry tomatoes and cucumber
- PROSCIUTTO E MELONE O FICHI: Parma ham with Cantaloupe melon or fresh figs
- INSALATA DI QUINOA: Quinoa, mixed leaves, avocado, grilled peppers, cherry tomatoes, beetroots and cucumber
Gli Spuntini: Veeno's sharing small plates, Italian style
- POLPETTINE ALLA PIZZAIOLA: Beef and veal meatballs, with a tomato, oregano and olive sauce
- LASAGNE ALLA BOLOGNESE: Stacked layers of pasta alternated with bolognaise sauce, parmesan cheese and bechamel sauce
- PARMIGIANA DI MELANZANE: Baked aubergine slices, layered with cheese and tomato sauce
- CAPONATA: Sicilian aubergine stew, with celery and capers in a vinegar sauce
- GLI SPEZIATI: Garlic Salame and Caciocavallo, a semi-hard chilli seasoned cheese.
- IL NORDICO: Soft, creamy tomino cheese grilled and wrapped in smoked speck
- I TARTUFATI: Truffle salame and truffle cheese, a combination with the noble tuber
- GLI AFFUMICATI: Speck and scamorza affumicata cheese
- IL RE E LA REGINA: Mozzarella di Bufala & Parma cured ham for the perfect combination
- IL PIATTO DEL CONTADINO: Parmigiano Reggiano 18 months cured, honey and pear.
Veeno Bars
As of March 2020, the company has 8 outlets (Manchester, Leeds Wellington, Leeds Duncan St., Bristol, Edinburgh, Leicester, Chester, Reading, Stratford-upon-Avon).
- Veeno Wine Bars
Bristol
Chester
Edinburgh
Leeds
Leicester
Manchester
Reading
Stratford
External links
References
- "veeno-shortlisted-in-english-italian-awards". casualdiningmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- Boulter, Liz (2015-12-19). "Italy embraces apericena: the student supper". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- "Veeno looks to the future". Point Franchise. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- "In the midst of Covid-19 Veeno eyes up expansion via franchising - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News". harpers.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- "Veeno supports Action Against Hunger's Love Food Give Food fundraiser". Point Franchise. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- "Veeno experiences impressive sales growth". Point Franchise. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- Cronin, Georgia. "Veeno to donate 10% of profits to NHS". MCA Insight. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
- "Veeno supports the NHS". Point Franchise. Retrieved 2020-05-06.