Is a Better Blend franchisee allowed to sell items that Better Blend has not approved?
Better_Blend Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
ventory and Supplies. All of your kitchen equipment must meet our specifications and be purchased only from approved suppliers. You must purchase our proprietary protein blend from our specified vendor. All of your food, supplements, beverage, packaging, and other inventory purchases must meet our specifications and be purchased only from approved suppliers. You must use a distributor that we approve.
- F. Advertising and Marketing. Except as otherwise provided in the Brand Standards Manual and advertising or marketing materials that we furnish to you, you must submit all advertising and marketing materials to us for our written approval before use. You must ensure that all advertising or marketing materials that you use are clear, factual, ethical, and not misleading; comply with our brand standards; and comply with all laws. We have the right to establish and control all digital marketing.
Except as described above regarding Better Blend Nutrition LLC, neither we nor any affiliate is currently a supplier of any good or service that you must purchase. We reserve the right to be a supplier (or the sole supplier) of a good or service in the future. None of our officers own an interest in any supplier to our franchisees other than Better Blend Nutrition LLC.
Alternative Suppliers
If you want to use a supplier that is not on our list of approved suppliers, you must request our approval in writing. We have the sole discretion to approve or reject an alternative supplier. We may condition our approval on criteria we deem appropriate, such as evaluations of the supplier's capacity, quality, financial stability, reputation, and reliability; inspections;
Source: Item 16 — RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FRANCHISEE MAY SELL (FDD pages 33–34)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Better Blend Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to strict guidelines regarding the products and services they offer. Better Blend requires franchisees to purchase specific items, such as point-of-sale systems and proprietary protein blends, from approved suppliers. The brand standards also dictate that all food, supplements, beverages, packaging, and other inventory must meet Better Blend's specifications and be sourced from approved vendors.
Prospective Better Blend franchisees need to understand that they cannot freely introduce new or unapproved products into their stores. To use a supplier not already on the approved list, a franchisee must submit a written request for approval, which Better Blend can either approve or reject at its sole discretion. This approval may be conditional, based on evaluations of the supplier's capacity, quality, financial stability, reputation, and reliability, as well as inspections, product testing, and performance reviews.
Better Blend retains the right to modify existing specifications and standards at any time by revising their manual or issuing new written directives. While Better Blend will generally evaluate intended changes before issuing new or revised specifications, they are not obligated to do so. They may also conduct limited market testing in certain outlets before implementing changes across the franchise system.
These restrictions ensure brand consistency and quality control across all Better Blend locations. While they limit a franchisee's autonomy in choosing products and suppliers, they also provide a framework for maintaining the brand's reputation and standards. Franchisees should carefully consider these restrictions and the potential impact on their business operations before investing in a Better Blend franchise.