What replaced the Food Service Provider Franchise Agreement for Ben Jerrys in 2012, and who is it available to?
Ben_Jerrys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
From April 2002 until April 2012, we offered a Food Service Provider Franchise Agreement ("FSP Agreement"), which was typically offered to institutions and/or providers of food and other managed services, contract feeders, and the like.
In 2012, the FSP Agreement was replaced by the Special Venue Franchise Agreement ("Special Venue Agreement"), which was made available to any operator who had access to a special or limited purpose, limited access, or captive audience facility, or other type of institutional account (including, for example, airports and other public transportation facilities, parks, stadiums, business and industrial complexes, government offices, military bases, educational institutions and facilities, health care facilities, theaters, museums, art centers, zoos, warehouse clubs, amusement centers, and casinos).
As the old FSP Agreements expire, we migrate them to the Special Venue Agreement.
Further, as old Scoop Shop Franchise Agreements which were entered into for locations having a limited purpose, limited access or captive facilities expire, we migrate them to the Special Venue Agreement.
We had 22 Special Venue Scoop Shops (including shops operating under the FSP Agreement) open at least one month during the 52-week period ending on December 31, 2024.
Source: Item 19 — FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPRESENTATIONS (FDD pages 76–81)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Food Service Provider Franchise Agreement (FSP Agreement) was replaced in 2012 by the Special Venue Franchise Agreement. The FSP Agreement was previously offered to institutions and providers of food and managed services. The Special Venue Agreement is available to any operator with access to a special or limited purpose, limited access, or captive audience facility, including locations like airports, parks, stadiums, business complexes, government offices, military bases, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, theaters, museums, zoos, warehouse clubs, amusement centers, and casinos.
Ben Jerrys migrates existing FSP Agreements to the Special Venue Agreement as they expire. Similarly, Scoop Shop Franchise Agreements for locations with limited access or captive facilities are also transitioned to the Special Venue Agreement upon expiration. As of December 31, 2024, there were 22 Special Venue Scoop Shops operating, including those still under the old FSP Agreement.
It is important to note that the standard Franchise Disclosure Document does not cover the Special Venue Scoop Shops program. A separate Special Venue Scoop Shop Franchise Disclosure Document is available upon request, which prospective franchisees should review carefully if they are considering this type of location.