What is the definition of 'Approved Supplies List' for Bens Soft Pretzels?
Bens_Soft_Pretzels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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
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 Supplies List is a list of approved manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, as well as approved 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. Bens Soft Pretzels may revise the Approved Suppliers List and Approved Supplies List as they deem advisable.
The Approved Supplies 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. 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 (currently $500 per day) for each person Bens Soft Pretzels provides for this determination, plus reasonable expenses. Bens Soft Pretzels will notify the franchisee of their approval or disapproval within 30 days of receiving all requested information and may revoke approval of a supplier at any time for any reason. Upon revocation, the franchisee must cease using or selling any disapproved products and cease purchasing from any disapproved supplier.