How are specifications and standards issued to All County franchisees and suppliers?
All_County Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We formulate and modify, at our sole business judgment, specifications and standards we impose on Franchisees and suppliers. Specifications and standards are issued to Franchisees through our Operations Manual and to suppliers by written agreement.
We may require that you purchase all specified services and products from us, our affiliate, or our designated approved supplier, as we may specify periodically to you during the term of the Franchise Agreement. Approved suppliers and specifications are determined based on the current needs for operating the Franchise Business. We evaluate approved suppliers based on price, service, quality, and other commercially reasonable benchmarks. The identity of approved suppliers and these specifications are updated periodically in writing by modifying the appropriate sections of the Operations Manual. We will send you modified sections by updating our web site, through the United States mail, or by any other commercially reasonable means.
If you propose to use any brand and/or supplier that is not then approved by us, then you must first notify us in writing. You must submit sufficient information, specifications and samples concerning the brand and/or supplier so that we can decide whether the brand complies with our specifications and standards and/or such supplier meets our approved supplier criteria. In evaluating any supplier you propose, we will, subject to reasonable restrictions and conditions to protect our trade secrets and confidential information, disclose to the proposed supplier applicable standards, specifications, processes, and procedures for the item in sufficient detail to enable the proposed supplier to demonstrate fully its capacity and capabilities to supply the items. Within 90 days after we receive all requested information, we will communicate to you in writing our decision to approve or disapprove your proposed supplier.
We may disapprove any supplier whom we previously approved, and you may not, after receipt of notice of disapproval, reorder from any supplier we have disapproved.
We may terminate your Franchise if you purchase services and goods that are not according to our specifications or that are not from our approved suppliers.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 16–19)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to All County's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the specifications and standards imposed on franchisees are communicated through the Operations Manual. For suppliers, these specifications and standards are communicated through a written agreement. All County retains the sole business judgment to formulate and modify these specifications and standards.
All County may require franchisees to purchase specified services and products from All County, its affiliates, or designated approved suppliers. These approved suppliers and their specifications are determined based on the current needs for operating the franchise business and are evaluated based on price, service, quality, and other commercially reasonable benchmarks. The identity of approved suppliers and these specifications are updated periodically in writing by modifying the Operations Manual, with updates sent to franchisees via the All County website, U.S. mail, or other commercially reasonable means.
If a franchisee proposes a new supplier, they must notify All County in writing and submit sufficient information, specifications, and samples for evaluation. All County will disclose applicable standards, specifications, processes, and procedures to the proposed supplier to assess their capacity and capabilities, subject to reasonable restrictions to protect trade secrets and confidential information. All County will then communicate its decision to approve or disapprove the proposed supplier in writing within 90 days after receiving all requested information. All County may disapprove any supplier previously approved, and franchisees are prohibited from reordering from disapproved suppliers after receiving notice.
All County may terminate a franchise agreement if the franchisee purchases services and goods that do not meet the company's specifications or are not from approved suppliers. This underscores the importance of adhering to the approved supplier list and specifications to maintain compliance with the franchise agreement.