Who is responsible for the costs associated with gaining supplier approval for Beverly Anns Cookie?
Beverly_Anns_Cookie Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you want to use or sell a product or service that we have not yet evaluated or if you want to purchase or lease a product or service from a supplier or provider that we have not yet approved (for services and products that require supplier approval), you must follow the policies and procedures contained in our Brand Manual. Our approval generally will be based on the supplier's ability to consistently make the manufactured product to our standards, requirements, and/or specifications; the supplier's willingness to protect our confidential information; production, delivery, and service capability to meet supply and service commitments; and other criteria detailed in the Brand Manual. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to notify you within 60 days after receiving all requested information and materials whether you are authorized to purchase or lease the product or service from that supplier or provider. Costs associated with gaining approval may be your responsibility and/or the supplier's where existing suppliers are capable of providing an existing product. We may periodically re-inspect approved suppliers' facilities and products, and we reserve the right to revoke our approval of any supplier, provider, product or service that does not
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF SERVICES AND PRODUCTS (FDD pages 29–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Beverly Anns Cookie's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the costs associated with gaining supplier approval may be the responsibility of either the franchisee or the supplier. If a franchisee desires to have a non-approved supplier designated as an approved supplier, they must submit samples and a written statement to Beverly Anns Cookie.
Beverly Anns Cookie has the discretion to charge the cost of evaluating a proposed new vendor, supplier, or product to the franchisee, the vendor, or the supplier. This indicates that the financial burden for supplier approval is not fixed and can be allocated by Beverly Anns Cookie.
For existing products where there are capable existing suppliers, the costs associated with gaining approval may be the responsibility of the franchisee or the supplier. Beverly Anns Cookie will use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the franchisee within 60 days after receiving all requested information and materials whether they are authorized to purchase or lease the product or service from that supplier or provider. This flexibility allows Beverly Anns Cookie to manage supplier relationships and potentially negotiate costs, but it also introduces uncertainty for the franchisee, who may need to budget for these potential expenses.