factual

Can other 7 Brew franchisees compete within a franchisee's Area of Protection?

7_Brew Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

with our system and the Marks.

During the franchise term, we and our affiliates will not own or operate, or allow another franchisee or licensee to own or operate, another Traditional 7 BREW Store that has its physical location within an "Area of Protection" described in an exhibit to the Franchise Agreement. Your Area of Protection will be a radius from the walls of the Store's building equal to either 1.5 or 2 miles depending on the size of the Metropolitan Statistical Area in which your Store is located. However, there are no restrictions whatsoever on our and our affiliates' activities with respect to Non-Traditional 7 BREW Stores physically located within the Area of Protection, including our and our affiliates' right to own and operate and to grant others the right to own and operate such Non-Traditional 7 BREW Stores within the Area of Protection. Because of our and our affiliates' rights with respect to Non-Traditional 7 BREW Stores physically located within the Area of Protection, you will not receive an exclusive territory. You may face competition from other

franchisees, from outlets that we own, or from other channels of distribution or competitive brands that we control.

Except for your rights with respect to Traditional 7 BREW Stores physically located within the Area of Protection, we and our affiliates retain all rights with respect to all 7 BREW Stores, the Marks, the offer and sale of products and services that are similar to, competitive with, or dissimilar from the products and services your Store offers and sells, and any other activities we and they deem appropriate, whenever and wherever we and they desire. Those rights include the following:

  • (1) to own and operate, and to allow other franchisees and licensees to own and operate, Traditional 7 BREW Stores at any physical locations outside the Area of Protection (including at the boundary of the Area of Protection) and on any terms and conditions we and they deem appropriate;
  • (2) to own and operate, and to allow other franchisees and licensees to own and operate, Non-Traditional 7 BREW Stores at any physical locations inside and outside the Area of Protection and on any terms and conditions we and they deem appropriate;
  • (3) to offer and sell and to allow others (including franchisees, licensees, and other distributors) to offer and sell, inside and outside the Area of Protection and on any terms and conditions we and they deem appropriate, products and services that are identical or similar to and/or competitive with those offered and sold by 7 BREW Stores, whether such products and services are identified by the Marks or other trademarks or service marks, through any advertising media, distribution channels (including the Internet and retailers), and shipping and delivery methods and to any customer, no matter where located (provided that, subject to clauses (4) and (5) below, we and our affiliates will not operate or allow others to operate food trucks within the Area of Protection offering and selling products that are identical or similar to and/or competitive with those offered and sold by 7 BREW Stores);
  • (4) to acquire the assets or ownership interests of one or more businesses offering and selling products and services similar to those offered and sold at 7 BREW Stores (even if such a business operates, franchises, or licenses "Competitive Businesses," including food trucks), and operate, franchise, license, or create similar arrangements for those businesses once acquired, wherever those businesses (or the franchisees or licensees of those businesses) are located or operating, including within the Area of Protection;
  • (5) to be acquired (whether through acquisition of assets, ownership interests, or otherwise, regardless of the transaction form) by a business offering and selling products and services similar to those offered and sold at 7 BREW Stores, or by another business, even if any such business operates, franchises, or licenses Competitive Businesses (including food trucks) inside or outside the Area of Protection; and
  • (6) to engage in all other activities the Franchise Agreement does not expressly prohibit.

We and our affiliates need not compensate you if we engage in these activities.

Except under the DRR described below, you have no options, rights of first refusal, or similar rights to acquire additional franchises.

Your right to operate the Store is limited to products prepared and sold, and services provided, at the Store's physical location. It does not include the right to distribute products and services over the Internet, on a wholesale basis (for resale to another retailer or wholesaler), through delivery, or through other supply or distribution channels anywhere (for example, unapproved mobile apps, catalog sales, mail-order sales, infomercials, or telemarketing).

You may not develop, maintain, or authorize any Digital Marketing or Social Media mentioning or describing the Store or displaying any Marks without our prior written approval and, if applicable, without complying with our Brand Standards for such Digital Marketing and Social Media. Except for the System Website and approved Digital Marketing and Social Media, you may not conduct commerce or directly or indirectly offer or sell any products or services using any Digital Marketing, Social Media, or website.

While we have the right to do so (as described above), we currently do not operate or franchise, or have current plans to operate or franchise, any businesses under a different trademark that sell or will sell goods or services similar to those that our franchisees sell.

Our affiliates retain these same rights. Item 1 describes our current affiliated franchise systems, their principal business addresses, the goods and services they sell, whether their businesses are franchised and/or company-owned, and their trademarks. These affiliated brands maintain offices and training facilities that are physically separate from our franchise network's offices and training facilities. While these affiliated brands are generally not direct competitors of our franchise network given the products or services they sell, certain categories of beverage products are currently sold by our system and by 2 of our affiliated franchise systems (under each system's respective trademarks and proprietary recipes or formulas), as described in Item 1. All businesses that our affiliates and their franchisees operate may solicit and accept orders from customers near your business.

Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 45–49)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to 7 Brew's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee's Area of Protection offers limited protection against competition. While 7 Brew and its affiliates will not operate or allow another franchisee to operate a Traditional 7 Brew store within a franchisee's Area of Protection, this protection does not extend to Non-Traditional 7 Brew Stores. The Area of Protection is defined as a radius of 1.5 or 2 miles from the store's building, depending on the size of the Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means a 7 Brew franchisee could face competition from other franchisees operating Non-Traditional stores, outlets owned by 7 Brew, or other distribution channels and competitive brands controlled by 7 Brew, even within their Area of Protection.

The FDD specifies that 7 Brew and its affiliates retain all rights concerning 7 Brew stores, trademarks, and the sale of similar products and services, except for the franchisee's rights regarding Traditional 7 Brew stores within their Area of Protection. These retained rights include the ability to operate or allow others to operate Non-Traditional 7 Brew stores inside and outside the Area of Protection. They can also sell products and services identical or similar to those offered by 7 Brew stores through any advertising media, distribution channels, and shipping methods.

This lack of an exclusive territory is a significant consideration for potential franchisees. The Development Rights Rider (DRR) grants franchisees the right to construct and operate Traditional 7 Brew stores within a specific territory, but it does not provide rights for Non-Traditional stores. Furthermore, 7 Brew retains the right to delay a franchisee's development of additional stores if they are deemed unprepared to meet operational standards. Prospective franchisees should carefully evaluate the potential for competition from both Traditional and Non-Traditional 7 Brew stores, as well as other distribution channels, when considering a 7 Brew franchise.

The FDD also states that 7 Brew does not need to compensate franchisees if they engage in activities that may impact their business. While 7 Brew currently does not operate or franchise businesses under different trademarks that sell similar goods or services, certain beverage products are sold by 7 Brew and two of its affiliated franchise systems. These affiliated brands can solicit orders from customers near a franchisee's business, and 7 Brew has no obligation to resolve conflicts that may arise between its system and affiliated franchise systems regarding territory, customers, or support.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.