Must a Benihana franchisee comply with all Benihana Standards?
Benihana Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Operations Manual and in other forms of communications, all of which BNC may modify in its sole discretion at any time during the Franchise Term.
- 3.2 Franchisee acknowledges that Franchisee's adherence to the BENIHANA System, the BENIHANA Standards, and the provisions of the Operations Manual are reasonably necessary, and essential to BNC, to Franchisee and to other franchisees of BENIHANA Restaurants, in order to promote the goodwill associated with the BENIHANA System and the Marks. Notwithstanding that the parties acknowledge that many of the BENIHANA Standards will be inapplicable to the design, format, operation,
and products sold at the Restaurant, Franchisee shall comply with all applicable BENIHANA Standards and operate the Restaurant in accordance with the BENIHANA System as applicable to the Restaurant. SCHEDULES 1-A, 1-B, and 1-C to this Agreement will set forth modifications to the BENIHANA System as to menu, equipment, and training that the parties agree will apply to the operation of the Restaurant.
- 3.2.1 Franchisee further acknowledges that complete uniformity may not always be possible or practical throughout all BENIHANA Restaurants, and BNC may, from time to time, permit certain deviations from the BENIHANA System or the BENIHANA Standards as BNC deems appropriate in its sole discretion. The parties agree and acknowledge that the service format of the Restaurant will necessarily require certain deviations from the BENIHANA System or the BENIHANA Standards as approved by BNC in its sole discretion.
- 3.3 Franchisee shall use the Location solely for the operation of the Restaurant in strict accordance with the applicable BENIHANA Standards. The Restaurant shall be open and in operation for such minimum hours and days specified or approved by BNC in writing, which hours may be changed from time to time by BNC.
- 3.4 Franchisee must designate and retain in its employment at all times a person to serve as the "General Manager" of the Restaurant. Franchisee shall at all times otherwise staff the Restaurant with a sufficient number of employees trained in the BENIHANA System as required by BNC. The General Manager must satisfy BNC's educational and business criteria and must be individually acceptable to BNC. In addition, the General Manager must be responsible for the supervision and management of the Restaurant, and must devote full time and best efforts to this activity. The General Manager also must satisfy BNC's applicable training requirements.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 73–74)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Benihana's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to the Benihana System and Benihana Standards, which are essential for maintaining the brand's goodwill. These standards are communicated through the Operations Manual and other forms of communication, which Benihana can modify at its discretion during the franchise term. While the agreement acknowledges that some standards may not apply to every aspect of the restaurant's design, operation, or products, franchisees are generally required to comply with all applicable standards.
Despite the general requirement for compliance, the document recognizes that complete uniformity across all Benihana restaurants may not always be possible or practical. Benihana may, at its discretion, permit certain deviations from the Benihana System or Standards. Additionally, the service format of the restaurant may necessitate deviations from the Benihana System or Standards, subject to Benihana's approval.
Furthermore, franchisees are obligated to operate their restaurants in strict accordance with applicable Benihana Standards and must use the location solely for the operation of the restaurant. Compliance with local, state, and federal laws is also a requirement of compliance with the Benihana Standards and the Benihana System. Franchisees must also comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards Requirements (PCI DSS) and any other data-related requirements designated by Benihana.