What standards and procedures must a Ben Jerrys franchisee follow regarding the use of social media?

According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to the standards and procedures set by Ben Jerrys regarding their use of social media. These standards and procedures, which Ben Jerrys may periodically issue in the Manual or in writing, apply to the franchisee's use of blogs, social networks like Facebook and Instagram, professional networks like Linked-In, live blogging tools like Twitter, virtual worlds, file, audio, and video sharing sites, and other similar social networking media or tools. The standards apply if these media or tools reference the Proprietary Marks or involve the Ben & Jerry’s system or the franchisee's Scoop Shop.

This means that a Ben Jerrys franchisee's online presence and activities on social media platforms must comply with the brand's guidelines. These guidelines likely aim to protect the brand's image, ensure consistent messaging, and maintain quality control across all online representations of Ben Jerrys.

For a prospective franchisee, this implies that they will need to familiarize themselves with and strictly follow Ben Jerrys's social media policies. Failure to comply with these standards could potentially lead to a breach of the franchise agreement. It would be prudent for a potential franchisee to inquire about the specifics of these social media standards during the due diligence process to fully understand the scope of these requirements.