Can Apricot Lane require a franchisee to discontinue selling merchandise not specifically approved by COUNTRY VISIONS?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We may establish and modify in our sole discretion standards and specifications regarding the merchandise that may be carried and the services that may be provided from the Franchised Business, including approved vendors and the type, brand, amount and variety of merchandise to be carried. You must abide by all such standards and specifications. We can in our sole discretion require you to discontinue offering for sale any merchandise or services not specifically approved by COUNTRY VISIONS or the merchandise of any vendor specifically approved by COUNTRY VISIONS. Our standards and specifications and modifications, including approved vendors, may be part of the Confidential Operations Manual or provided in any other format as we determine. A list of required and recommended vendors is currently provided to you as part of the initial merchandise plan. We may also issue standards and specifications for products, materials and supplies used in the Franchised Business, including approved vendors, types and brands of products, materials and supplies. All products, materials and supplies used in the Franchised Business must meet these standards and specifications. We may limit the number of approved suppliers with whom you may deal, designate sources that you must use and/or refuse any of your requests to approve a supplier or merchandise for any reason, including that we have already designated an exclusive source (which might be us or our affiliate) for a particular merchandise, goods or services or if we believe that doing so is in the best interests of the COUNTRY VISIONS system.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 17–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Apricot Lane's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Apricot Lane, under the discretion of COUNTRY VISIONS, can require franchisees to stop selling merchandise that COUNTRY VISIONS has not specifically approved. This includes the merchandise of any vendor not specifically approved by COUNTRY VISIONS. The standards and specifications for merchandise can be found in the Confidential Operations Manual or in another format determined by Apricot Lane. A list of required and recommended vendors is provided as part of the initial merchandise plan.
Apricot Lane can also modify standards regarding the merchandise that may be carried, including approved vendors and the type, brand, amount, and variety of merchandise. Franchisees must follow these standards and specifications. COUNTRY VISIONS may limit the number of approved suppliers, designate sources that franchisees must use, and/or refuse requests to approve a supplier or merchandise for any reason, including if they have already designated an exclusive source for a particular merchandise, goods, or services or if they believe that doing so is in the best interests of the Apricot Lane system.
Franchisees are required to carry merchandise from vendors that COUNTRY VISIONS has determined consistently account for a significant amount of sales by the stores, as these products help shape the total image of the stores. Apricot Lane reserves the right to issue specifications about the amount and variety of such merchandise franchisees are required to carry. If COUNTRY VISIONS develops private-label or exclusive merchandise, franchisees must carry it and keep a representative selection of the products at all times.