What am I required to do regarding the confidentiality of the Confidential Information related to Beard Papas?
Beard_Papas Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee agrees that, at all times, both during the Term of this Agreement and, after its expiration or termination, Franchisee: (a) shall not use the Confidential Information in any business or capacity other than the Beard Papa's Shop operated by Franchisee; (b) shall maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information at all times; (c) shall not make unauthorized copies of documents containing any
17.B. CEASE OPERATIONS AND PROTECTION OF THE SYSTEM
Upon expiration, termination, or Transfer of this Agreement for any reason, Franchisee shall immediately:
- (3) Permanently cease to use, in any manner: (a) the System including, without limitation, the Confidential Information, the Licensed Marks, the Business Management System Data, and the Operations Manual; (b) any methods, procedures, or techniques associated with the System in which Franchisor possesses proprietary rights or that constitute Franchisor's trade secrets;
"Confidential Information" refers to and means all of our and/or our affiliates trade secrets, methods, standards, techniques, procedures, data and information, as same may exist as of the Effective Date and as same may be developed, modified and supplemented in the future, constituting and comprising: (a) methods, specifications, recipes, standards, policies, procedures, information, concepts, programs and systems relating to the development, establishment, marketing, promotion and operation of Beard Papa's Shops; (b) information concerning consumer preferences for services, products, materials and supplies used or sold by, and specifications for and knowledge of suppliers of certain materials, equipment, products, supplies and procedures used or sold by Beard Papa's Shops; (c) information concerning customers, customer lists, email lists, database lists, product sales, operating results, financial performance and other financial data of Beard Papa's Shops; (d) customer lists and information related to Beard Papa's Shops and the Franchised Business; (e) Business Management
System Data; (f) recipes; (g) current and future information contained in the Operations Manual; and (h) Know-How.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 58–275)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Beard Papas's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have specific obligations regarding confidential information, both during the term of the Franchise Agreement and after its expiration or termination. Franchisees must not use the Confidential Information in any business or capacity other than the Beard Papa's Shop they operate. They are required to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information at all times and must not make unauthorized copies of documents containing such information.
Beard Papas franchisees must take all reasonable steps that Beard Papas requires to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of the Know-How. Upon expiration, termination, or transfer of the Franchise Agreement, the franchisee must immediately cease using the Confidential Information, Licensed Marks, Business Management System Data, and the Operations Manual. They must also stop using any methods, procedures, or techniques associated with the Beard Papas system.
Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, methods, specifications, recipes, standards, policies, procedures, information, concepts, programs, systems relating to the development, establishment, marketing, promotion and operation of Beard Papa's Shops. It also includes information concerning consumer preferences, customer lists, email lists, database lists, product sales, operating results, financial performance, Business Management System Data, recipes, and the contents of the Operations Manual.