What additional requirement, besides the transfer of the Franchise Agreement, is needed to transfer or assign the Warehouse Addendum for a Ben Jerrys franchise?

According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Warehouse Addendum cannot be transferred or assigned without both the transfer of the Franchise Agreement itself and the prior written consent of Ben Jerrys. This means that if a franchisee wishes to sell their Ben Jerrys business and the associated warehouse operations, they must transfer the entire franchise agreement to the new owner.

Obtaining written consent from Ben Jerrys is a crucial step in the transfer process. Ben Jerrys likely assesses the potential transferee's qualifications, financial stability, and operational capabilities to ensure they meet the brand's standards. This requirement protects the integrity of the Ben Jerrys brand and the interests of other franchisees.

The need for written consent is a common practice in franchising, allowing franchisors to maintain control over who operates under their brand name. A prospective Ben Jerrys franchisee should be aware of this requirement and factor in the time and effort needed to obtain franchisor approval when considering a future sale or transfer of their franchise and warehouse addendum.