If the General Manager of a Benihana restaurant ceases employment, how long does the franchisee have to designate a replacement?
Benihana Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
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, franchisees must always have a designated General Manager for their restaurant. This individual is responsible for the supervision and management of the restaurant, dedicating their full time and best efforts to the role. The General Manager must meet Benihana's educational and business criteria and be individually acceptable to Benihana, as well as satisfy the brand's training requirements.
Should the General Manager no longer be employed by the franchisee or available to manage the restaurant, the franchisee is required to designate a replacement promptly. The replacement must be named no more than 120 days after the previous manager's departure.
This requirement ensures that each Benihana restaurant maintains a consistent level of management and adheres to the brand's standards. The designated replacement must also meet all the criteria for a General Manager and receive approval from Benihana. This stipulation is in place to protect the Benihana brand and ensure smooth restaurant operations.