What is 'Mobile Vending' for a Ben Jerrys Scoop Shop?
Ben_Jerrys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
A Scoop Shop will have a territory (the "Territory"). See Item 12 of this Disclosure Document for additional information regarding how the Territory of a Scoop Shop is determined and the activities that we and you may take within the Territory. You will market the Products to the general public. You may also market the Products away from your Shop at off-premises activities, including scooping at festivals, fairs, concerts, sporting events and other events ("Special Events"), scooping at customers' homes, offices, celebrations and other locations ("Catering") (Special Events and Catering are collectively referred to as "Off-Premises Activities"), delivery by third parties (e.g., Uber Eats, GrubHub and DoorDash) to customers' homes, offices and other locations ("On-Demand Sales"), and the scooping of Products from a mobile scooping facility such as a truck or trailer ("Mobile Vending"). You must conduct your Off-Premises Activities, On-Demand Sales and Mobile Vending according to the terms in the Franchise Agreement and according to the terms that may be contained in our Manual, or that we may provide in writing.
In association with your Shop, you may be permitted to establish a warehouse in which to store Ben & Jerry's ice cream catering and other products for Off-Premises Activities and Mobile Vending (an "Authorized Warehouse") through a "Warehouse Addendum" (Exhibit G to this Disclosure Document). If you are permitted by us to have an Authorized Warehouse, the Authorized Warehouse will be located at the location specified in the Warehouse Addendum. The Warehouse Addendum may only be used for the following purposes: Warehouse, warehouse for Products and other products, storage of catering supplies, general storage space, office space, parking for cart(s) and truck(s), and such other uses as we may specify in the Manual, or otherwise approve in writing.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 9–16)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Mobile Vending is defined as the scooping of products from a mobile scooping facility such as a truck or trailer. This is one of several 'Off-Premises Activities' that a Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop franchisee may undertake to market their products beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar location.
In addition to Mobile Vending, other Off-Premises Activities include scooping at festivals, fairs, concerts, sporting events and other events (referred to as "Special Events"), and scooping at customers' homes, offices, celebrations and other locations (referred to as "Catering"). The FDD also mentions "On-Demand Sales", which refers to delivery by third parties like Uber Eats, GrubHub, and DoorDash.
The Ben Jerrys FDD stipulates that all Off-Premises Activities, On-Demand Sales, and Mobile Vending must be conducted according to the terms in the Franchise Agreement, the Manual, or as otherwise provided in writing by the franchisor. Franchisees may also be permitted to establish an Authorized Warehouse to store ice cream and other products for Off-Premises Activities and Mobile Vending, subject to a Warehouse Addendum.