What reasonable restrictions and conditions may All County impose to protect trade secrets and confidential information when evaluating a proposed supplier?

According to All County's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, when a franchisee proposes a new supplier, All County may impose reasonable restrictions and conditions to protect its trade secrets and confidential information while evaluating the supplier. Specifically, All County will disclose applicable standards, specifications, processes, and procedures to the proposed supplier in sufficient detail to allow them to demonstrate their capacity to meet All County's requirements. This disclosure is subject to reasonable restrictions and conditions aimed at safeguarding All County's proprietary information.

This means that while All County is open to considering new suppliers suggested by franchisees, it will take measures to ensure that its confidential business information is not compromised during the evaluation process. The FDD states that it takes up to 90 days to evaluate new vendors or suppliers. All County retains the right to approve or disapprove any supplier, and approval will not be unreasonably withheld.

For a prospective All County franchisee, this policy highlights the importance of adhering to approved suppliers to maintain brand consistency and quality. However, it also provides an avenue for franchisees to suggest alternative suppliers if they believe it could benefit their business, provided they follow the proper notification and submission procedures. Franchisees should be prepared to provide comprehensive information about the proposed supplier and understand that All County will thoroughly assess the supplier's capabilities while protecting its own trade secrets.