Are furniture, fixtures, signage, and lighting required to be purchased from Amorino's affiliate -18°?
Amorino Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Trading, LLC, which is 100% owned by Amorino USA. Examples of the items we require you to purchase from our affiliate - 18° include: furniture, fixtures, signage, lighting, equipment, restaurant supplies, uniforms, decorations, ingredients and products to be sold at your Store.
For a traditional store, we estimate that approximately 40% to 60% of your expenditures for purchases (excluding costs relating to your real estate lease) in establishing your Store and approximately 20% to 40% of your total annual operating exp
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 32–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Amorino's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase furniture, fixtures, signage, and lighting from Amorino's affiliate, -18°. Item 8 of the FDD outlines restrictions on sourcing products and services, stating that examples of items franchisees must purchase from -18° include furniture, fixtures, signage, and lighting, among other things.
This requirement means that prospective Amorino franchisees do not have the freedom to choose their own suppliers for these essential store components. Instead, they must rely on -18° for these purchases. This arrangement ensures that Amorino maintains consistency and quality control across all franchise locations, but it also limits the franchisee's ability to negotiate prices or find potentially more cost-effective alternatives.
The FDD also states that franchisees must purchase all furniture, equipment, casework, and restaurant supplies from approved third-party vendors, and/or Amorino's affiliates Amorino Trading or -18°. This further emphasizes the limited sourcing options available to franchisees. In 2024, Amorino's affiliates derived $5,826,042.57 in revenue from the sale of products and supplies to franchisees, highlighting the financial significance of these required purchases within the franchise system.
Prospective franchisees should carefully consider the implications of these sourcing restrictions, as they can impact the overall cost of setting up and operating an Amorino store. It is important to evaluate the pricing and quality of products offered by -18° and Amorino Trading to determine if they align with the franchisee's financial goals and expectations. Additionally, franchisees should be aware that Amorino's officers own interests in these affiliated companies, which could potentially influence pricing and product selection decisions.