Does B Bops require franchisees to purchase all employee uniforms from approved suppliers?
B_Bops Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are currently required to purchase all employee uniforms and any other items bearing the "B-Bop's" logo (including paper products) from suppliers which have been approved in advance by the Company. The Company does not maintain a formal list of criteria for
approving suppliers of these items and those firms currently recognized as approved suppliers have received their approval based on the experience of B-Bop's in purchasing supplies for its ten stores. Currently, the only approved supplier for employee uniforms is Carpenter Uniform Co. of Des Moines, Iowa. Currently, the only approved supplier of items bearing the "B-Bop's" logo is Martin Brothers Distributing Co., Inc. of Cedar Falls, Iowa. Currently, the only approved supplier of the Company's shake mix is Anderson Erickson Dairy Co. of Des Moines, Iowa. None of the foregoing approved suppliers are affiliated with the Company or B-Bop's in any manner and neither the Company nor B-Bop's holds an ownership interest in any of these approved suppliers. Neither the Company nor B-Bop's will derive any revenue or other material consideration through your purchase of these items from any approved supplier. The Company estimates that approximately ninety-five percent (95%) of your total purchases associated with establishing your Franchise and approximately ninety-five percent (95%) of your total purchases associated with the ongoing operation of your Franchise must be made from suppliers approved by the Company.
In the event you propose to make purchases of employee uniforms or items bearing the B-Bop's logo from any supplier other than the approved suppliers noted above, you must notify the Company in writing and submit such samples of the items as the Company may in its discretion deem necessary in order to determine whether to approve the alternative supplier as an "approved supplier" of the particular item. The Company will undertake such review and testing of the item as it may in its discretion deem necessary to determine whether the item meets the specifications established by the Company. The Company will advise you within a reasonable period (usually thirty (30) days) whether the particular item meets the specifications and whether the supplier will be deemed an "approved supplier" for the purchase of such item.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 21–23)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to B Bops's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase employee uniforms from suppliers approved in advance by B Bops. Currently, the only approved supplier for employee uniforms is Carpenter Uniform Co. of Des Moines, Iowa. This requirement ensures uniformity in the use of the Licensed System, as stated in Item 8.
If a franchisee wishes to use a different supplier for employee uniforms, they must notify B Bops in writing and submit samples of the items for review. B Bops will then determine whether to approve the alternative supplier. The FDD specifies that B Bops does not maintain a formal list of criteria for approving suppliers, and decisions are made at the company's sole discretion. The company will advise the franchisee within a reasonable period, usually 30 days, whether the particular item meets specifications and whether the supplier will be deemed an "approved supplier".
This requirement to purchase from approved suppliers is also applicable to any other items bearing the "B-Bop's" logo, including paper products, which must be purchased from suppliers approved in advance by the company. Currently, the only approved supplier of items bearing the "B-Bop's" logo is Martin Brothers Distributing Co., Inc. of Cedar Falls, Iowa. The FDD also states that neither B Bops nor the company will derive any revenue or other material consideration through the franchisee's purchase of these items from any approved supplier.
While franchisees are generally free to purchase other items meeting B Bops's specifications from the source of their choosing, the stipulations around uniforms and logo-bearing items are important to note. This ensures brand consistency but could potentially limit a franchisee's options and possibly increase costs if the approved suppliers are not the most competitive in the market. Prospective franchisees should inquire about the process and criteria for supplier approval to understand their flexibility in sourcing these required items.