Is a Beverly Anns Cookie franchisee required to participate in a local or regional advertising cooperative?
Beverly_Anns_Cookie Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are not required to advertise on a local basis as an individual Beverly Ann's Business, and you are not required to spend a minimum of your gross revenues on local marketing and promotion in your Protected Territory. You are not required to participate in a local or regional advertising cooperative. We may conduct market research and testing to determine consumer trends and the marketability of new food products and services. You agree, at your sole cost and expense, to issue and offer such rebates, giveaways, and other promotions in accordance with advertising programs established by us, and further agree to honor the rebates, giveaways, and other promotions issued by other Beverly Ann's Cookie franchisees under any such program, so long as such compliance does not contravene any applicable law, rule, or regulation. You will not create or issue any gift cards/certificates and will only sell gift cards/certificates that have been issued or sponsored by us and which are accepted at all Beverly Ann's Businesses, and you will not issue coupons or discounts of any type except as approved by us. We may conduct market research and testing to determine consumer trends and the marketability of new food products and services.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 37–43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Beverly Anns Cookie's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are not required to participate in a local or regional advertising cooperative. The FDD specifies that franchisees are not obligated to advertise locally as an individual business, nor are they required to spend a minimum amount of their gross revenues on local marketing and promotion within their protected territory.
However, Beverly Anns Cookie franchisees must adhere to advertising programs established by the franchisor, including issuing rebates, giveaways, and other promotions. Franchisees are also obligated to honor promotions issued by other Beverly Anns Cookie franchisees, provided that such compliance does not violate any applicable laws or regulations.
Furthermore, franchisees are restricted from creating or issuing their own gift cards or certificates, and they must only sell those issued or sponsored by the franchisor. Similarly, franchisees cannot issue coupons or discounts without the franchisor's approval. These stipulations ensure brand consistency and control over promotional activities across all Beverly Anns Cookie locations.