What happens if an Afuri Ramen Dumpling franchisee is a competitor and misrepresented themselves?
Afuri_Ramen_Dumpling Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
. Except in connection with an Afuri franchise, you will never communicate, divulge, or use in any manner, either for your benefit or the benefit or any other person, persons, partnerships, associations, companies or corporations any Confidential Information or proprietary information, knowledge or know-how concerning the System or any information we have communicated to you in written, verbal or electronic form, including intranet passwords, for the operation of your business.
- 3 COVENANT OF NON-USE. You agree not to use Confidential Information or the System, except as authorized by us. You will obligate your owners, board of directors, your employees, and your agents to the same non-use covenant. We must approve in writing any use of Confidential Information or System by you or your owners or your directors or employees.
- 4 RETURN OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. You agree that all originals and copies of records, data, reports, documents, lists, plans, drawings, correspondence, memoranda, notes, and other materials related to or containing any Confidential Information, in whatever form they exist, whether written, visual, audio, video, or other form of media, shall be our sole and exclusive property. Upon request by us, you will promptly return to us all documents or other tangible property that contains Confidential Information.
- 5 RECIPES. Without limiting the generality of the non-disclosure and non-use provisions in this Agreement, you specifically agree not to disclose or use our recipes (by yourself or by or through any other entity or individual) in any manner other than in connection with Afuri franchises pursuant to the Franchise Agreement.
6 NON-COMPETITION COVENANT.
6.1 Covenant. During the term of your association with Franchisee and for two years thereafter, you will not directly or indirectly (including by or through any other person or entity) participate as an owner, director, officer, employee, consultant, licensor, licensee, distributor, or agent, or serve in any other capacity in any business engaged in the offer, sale, or promotion of: (1) ramen, (2) other Japanese style cuisine, (3) Vietnamese pho, or (4) any business that offers products or services that are essentially the same as, or substantially similar to, the products and services that are part of the
System.
- 6.2 Geographic Scope. During the term of your association with Franchisee, the covenants described in Section 6.1 above shall apply worldwide. During the two-year period after your association with Franchisee, such covenants will apply within the Development Territory, within a 50-mile radius of the Development Territory, and within a 50-mile radius of any location or designated territory where we operate or have granted the franchise to operate an Afuri business.
- 7 NON-DIVERSION OF BUSINESS. During the term of your association with Franchisee and for two years thereafter, you will not:
- A. divert or attempt to divert any of our business or any of our customers to any competing establishment; or
- B. do anything harmful to our goodwill associated with the Marks and System.
- 8 REMEDIES: INJUNCTION AND DAMAGES. You acknowledge that any disclosure of Confidential Information will cause irreparable harm to us. You agree that it may be difficult to measure damage to us from any breach by you or your employees and agents of this Agreement. You agree that monetary damages may be an inadequate remedy for any such breach.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 50–189)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Afuri Ramen Dumpling Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are subject to non-compete agreements both during their association with the brand and for a period of time after termination or transfer of the franchise. During the term of the franchise agreement and for two years after, the franchisee cannot participate in any business that offers or sells ramen, other Japanese-style cuisine, Vietnamese pho, or any products or services substantially similar to those offered by Afuri Ramen Dumpling. This restriction applies to involvement as an owner, director, officer, employee, consultant, or agent in a competing business.
The non-compete covenant extends to the Franchise Territory and a 50-mile radius around it, as well as a 50-mile radius of any location where Afuri Ramen Dumpling operates or has granted a franchise. It also applies within the entire United States. This means that even after a franchisee leaves the Afuri Ramen Dumpling system, they are significantly restricted in their ability to operate or be involved with a similar restaurant concept within a broad geographic area.
Additionally, the FDD states that franchisees must not use Afuri Ramen Dumpling's confidential information or system, except as authorized by the franchisor. This includes recipes and other proprietary information. Franchisees are also obligated to ensure that their owners, board of directors, employees, and agents adhere to the same non-use covenant. Any use of confidential information or the system must be approved in writing by Afuri Ramen Dumpling. If a franchisee were to misrepresent themselves and operate a competing business using Afuri Ramen Dumpling's confidential information, they would be in breach of the franchise agreement and subject to legal action.