Can Bang Cookies inspect a potential supplier's facilities?
Bang_Cookies Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
If you want to purchase or lease a source restricted item from a supplier that has not been previously approved or designated by us in writing, you must send us a written request for approval and submit additional information, samples, and testing data that we may request. We may charge you a fee equal to the costs and expenses that we incur in reviewing and evaluating an alternate supplier, product, and/or service requested by you. We may request that you send us samples from the supplier for testing and documentation from the supplier for evaluation. We may also require, subject to our discretion, that we be allowed to inspect the supplier's facilities. We will notify you of our approval or disapproval within a reasonable time not exceeding 60 days after we receive your written request and all additional information and samples that we request. We may, in our sole discretion, withhold our approval. We do not make our procedures or criteria for approving suppliers available to our System franchisees, except that when evaluating the approval of a particular supplier, among other things, we consider: whether the supplier can demonstrate to our reasonable satisfaction the ability to meet our standards, specifications and production requirements, the suppliers quality control, whether or not we are the exclusive supplier of the particular item, whether or not our affiliate or affiliates are the exclusive supplier of the particular item, and whether or not the suppliers approval, in our sole determination, will allow us to advance the overall interests of the System and our company.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 24–28)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Bang Cookies's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee wants to purchase or lease source-restricted items from a supplier not previously approved by Bang Cookies, the franchisee must submit a written request for approval. As part of this process, Bang Cookies may request additional information, samples, and testing data.
Bang Cookies may also charge a fee to cover the costs of reviewing and evaluating the alternate supplier, product, or service. The document specifies that Bang Cookies may require that they be allowed to inspect the supplier's facilities, subject to their discretion. Bang Cookies will then notify the franchisee of their approval or disapproval within 60 days after receiving the written request and all required information.
This means that Bang Cookies retains the right to assess potential suppliers to ensure they meet the brand's standards. While not guaranteed, the possibility of a facility inspection is part of the approval process for new suppliers. This protects Bang Cookies's brand standards and quality control, but it also adds a layer of complexity and potential cost for franchisees seeking alternative suppliers.