What is the purpose of the Ben Jerrys Manager Advisory Council (MAC)?
Ben_Jerrys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We have organized and facilitated the growth of a council known as the "Ben & Jerry's Manager Advisory Council" ("MAC"). The MAC is composed of a representative group of managers, nominated by the Operations Team or through a systemwide nomination process, who meet periodically with us to discuss ideas, offer suggestions, as well as share mutual problems and concerns. We also support their growth through various training programs presented to them. The purpose of the MAC is, among others, to promote open communication, learn from Managers on the front lines in our system, as well as help them grow. The MAC serves in an advisory capacity and does not have the authority to directly modify our policies. However, we do acknowledge the MAC's input in as much as it represents the experience and perspective of the entire franchise system. When acting in its advisory capacity, all of the MAC's recommendations are restricted to issues related to the System and not to issues of individual locations.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 43–60)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the purpose of the Manager Advisory Council (MAC) is to promote open communication, facilitate learning from managers on the front lines, and support their professional growth. The MAC is composed of a group of managers nominated by the Operations Team or through a systemwide nomination process. These managers meet periodically with Ben Jerrys to discuss ideas, offer suggestions, and share mutual problems and concerns.
While the MAC serves in an advisory capacity and does not have the authority to directly modify Ben Jerrys's policies, the company acknowledges the MAC's input as representative of the experience and perspective of the entire franchise system. The recommendations made by the MAC are restricted to issues related to the Ben Jerrys system and not to issues of individual locations.
For a prospective Ben Jerrys franchisee, this means that the company values input from managers within the franchise system and has established a formal mechanism for gathering feedback and addressing concerns. However, franchisees should understand that the MAC's role is advisory, and Ben Jerrys ultimately retains the authority to make decisions regarding policies and procedures. The MAC focuses on systemic issues rather than individual store-level problems.