What is the definition of 'Approved Suppliers List' for Bens Soft Pretzels?
Bens_Soft_Pretzels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
plies and Suppliers
We provide you with a list of approved manufacturers, suppliers and distributors ("Approved Suppliers List") and approved inventory products, food products, uniforms, fixtures, furniture, equipment, signs, stationery, supplies and other items or services necessary to operate the Store ("Approved Supplies List"). The Approved Supplies List may identify the specific manufacturer or supplier of a specific product or piece of equipment.
Our Approved Supplies List also may include other specific products without reference to a particular manufacturer or supplier, or it may set forth the specifications and/or standards for other approved products. We may revise the Approved Suppliers List and Approved Supplies List. We give you the approved lists as we deem advisable. We generally do not give these lists to approved suppliers. As of the date of this Disclosure Document you are not required to purchase any products, supplies or materials from us or our affiliates, but we reserve this right in the future.
Except for any products, supplies or materials for which we designate a single source approved supplier, if you wish to purchase products, supplies, materials or equipment from other suppliers not approved by us, you must submit to us a written request to approve the proposed supplier, together with any background documents or evidence we may require. We will have the right to require you to obtain permissions from the supplier to allow our representatives to inspect the supplier's facilities and that you deliver samples from the supplier for evaluation and testing either to us or to an independent testing facility that we designate. To have an alternate supplier approved, you must first notify us in writing, submit
sufficient specifications, samples and information, along with our then current fee (which is currently $500 per day) for each person we provide for this determination plus reasonable expenses. Our criteria for approving suppliers is confidential and is not available to franchisees. You may contract only with suppliers whom we have approved. We will notify you of our approval or disapproval within 30 days of our receiving all requested information. We may revoke our approval of a supplier at any time for any reason. Upon receipt of our revocation of approval, you must cease to use or sell any disapproved products and cease to purchase from any d
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 18–22)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bens Soft Pretzels's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Approved Suppliers List is a list of approved manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors from which franchisees must purchase inventory products, food products, uniforms, fixtures, furniture, equipment, signs, stationery, supplies, and other items or services necessary to operate the store. The Approved Supplies List may identify the specific manufacturer or supplier of a specific product or piece of equipment. The list may also include specific products without reference to a particular manufacturer or supplier, or it may set forth the specifications and/or standards for other approved products.
Bens Soft Pretzels retains the right to revise the Approved Suppliers List and Approved Supplies List as deemed advisable. Franchisees are generally not given these lists to approved suppliers. As of the date of the 2025 Disclosure Document, franchisees are not required to purchase any products, supplies, or materials from Bens Soft Pretzels or its affiliates, but Bens Soft Pretzels reserves this right in the future.
If a franchisee wishes to purchase products, supplies, materials, or equipment from other suppliers not approved by Bens Soft Pretzels, they must submit a written request for approval. Bens Soft Pretzels has the right to require the franchisee to obtain permissions from the supplier to allow inspections of the supplier's facilities and to deliver samples for evaluation and testing. To have an alternate supplier approved, the franchisee must first notify Bens Soft Pretzels in writing and submit sufficient specifications, samples, and information, along with a fee of $500 per day for each person Bens Soft Pretzels provides for this determination, plus reasonable expenses. Bens Soft Pretzels will notify the franchisee of its approval or disapproval within 30 days of receiving all requested information and may revoke approval of a supplier at any time for any reason, requiring the franchisee to cease using or selling any disapproved products and cease purchasing from any disapproved supplier.