Under what condition must a Bens Soft Pretzels franchisee delete customer information?

Based on the 2025 Bens Soft Pretzels Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee's right to participate in the franchisor's website and intranet or extranet system, or to use the Trademarks or System on the Internet or other online communications, will terminate when the Franchise Agreement expires or terminates. This implies that upon termination or expiration of the agreement, the franchisee must discontinue all online activities related to the Bens Soft Pretzels brand. This includes any websites or online communications using the trademarks or system.

In practical terms, this means that if a franchisee's agreement with Bens Soft Pretzels ends, whether through expiration or termination, they are obligated to cease using the Bens Soft Pretzels website, intranet, extranet, trademarks, and system in any online capacity. This would likely include removing any customer information stored or used within those online platforms. The FDD does not explicitly state that customer information must be deleted, but it is a reasonable implication of the termination of online access and trademark usage rights.

Prospective franchisees should be aware that this obligation extends to all online communications and platforms associated with the Bens Soft Pretzels system. It is important to understand the full scope of these post-termination obligations and to have a plan in place for managing customer data and transitioning away from the Bens Soft Pretzels online presence upon the end of the franchise agreement. Franchisees should seek clarification from Bens Soft Pretzels regarding the specific procedures for handling customer data in such situations to ensure compliance with the agreement and relevant data protection regulations.