May Ben Jerrys receive compensation from suppliers based on the suppliers' dealings with the operator?

According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Ben Jerrys and its affiliates have the right to receive payments or other compensation from suppliers based on the suppliers' dealings with the Ben Jerrys operator and other franchisees. Ben Jerrys can use these received amounts for any purpose they deem appropriate.

This arrangement means that Ben Jerrys may benefit financially from the operator's purchases from designated suppliers. While this is a common practice in franchising, it's important for a prospective franchisee to understand that Ben Jerrys could be incentivized to select suppliers that provide them with additional compensation, which may or may not translate to the best prices or quality for the franchisee.

As a prospective franchisee, it would be prudent to inquire about the criteria Ben Jerrys uses for selecting and approving suppliers. Understanding how these decisions are made can help evaluate whether the supplier arrangements are primarily benefiting Ben Jerrys or also serving the best interests of the franchisees. It would also be wise to compare the prices and quality of approved suppliers with other potential suppliers in the market to ensure competitiveness.