What is the deadline for the Respondent to respond to the Complainant's initial letter in the Ben Jerrys ADR process?

According to Ben Jerrys' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee (the Complainant) initiates the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process by sending a letter to Ben Jerrys (the Respondent) outlining a dispute and proposed resolution, Ben Jerrys must respond within thirty (30) days of receipt of the letter. The response must include a written explanation and a response to the proposed resolution.

This initial response deadline is important because it sets the timeline for the ADR process. If Ben Jerrys fails to respond within this timeframe, it could potentially delay or complicate the resolution of the dispute. Franchisees should ensure they keep a record of the date the initial letter was sent and received to track this deadline.

Following the initial 30-day response period, if the dispute remains unresolved, the Complainant and Respondent are required to meet within sixty (60) days of the initial letter in an attempt to resolve the dispute. If that meeting does not resolve the issue, the parties will then submit the dispute to non-binding mediation.