Must a Benihana franchisee designate a General Manager for the Restaurant?
Benihana Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
- 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.
If the General Manager ceases to be employed by Franchisee and available to manage the Restaurant, Franchisee must promptly, and in no event more than 120 days later, designate another person as General Manager, and that person must meet all criteria for a General Manager and be acceptable and approved by BNC.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 73–74)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Benihana's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is required to designate and retain a General Manager for the Restaurant throughout the franchise term. This individual must meet Benihana's educational and business criteria and be acceptable to Benihana.
The General Manager is responsible for the supervision and management of the Restaurant and must devote their full time and best efforts to this role. Additionally, the General Manager must fulfill Benihana's applicable training requirements.
If the designated General Manager leaves their position, the franchisee must promptly appoint a replacement within 120 days. This replacement must also meet all the criteria for a General Manager and receive approval from Benihana. This requirement ensures that each Benihana location has a qualified and approved manager overseeing operations at all times, maintaining brand standards and operational consistency.