Does a Big Apple Bagels franchise primarily focus on retail or wholesale operations?
Big_Apple_Bagels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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BAGELS Franchisees all offer similar products primarily through retail distribution, under the trademarks "Big Apple Bagels," "My Favorite Muffin," and "Brewster's," plus designs, and such other trademarks, service marks and commercial symbols (the "Marks") as BAB authorizes from time to time.
A BAGELS Store may sell "Big Apple Bagels" branded bagels and cream cheese spreads, "My Favorite Muffin" branded muffins, and "Brewster's" branded coffee to the public. BAGELS Stores display signage for all 3 branded items. However, the primary exterior sign will be 1 and only: "Big Apple Bagels."
You may be in competition with others offering comparable services and products to retail consumers. You will have to compete with other specialty retail bagel stores and bakery cafes and to an extent, with other outlets offering similar products. You should realize that this industry, including the retail sale of bagels, is highly competitive and such competition affects both BAB and its franchisees.
There are no regulations specific to the retail bagel and muffin business. You must comply with all local, state and federal health and sanitation laws in operating your BAGELS Store. As a seller of food and beverage items, your activities are regulated by, and you are solely responsible for complying with, at your own expense, the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and the United States Department of Agriculture and those federal and state laws and regulations relating to food and nutrition labeling and claims, including the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. §101 et seq. (the "Act"), as amended by the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the regulations promulgated
thereunder, including the rule mandating calorie content on menus and complete nutritional information available in the Store. The FDA mandate for calories and nutritional information went into effect on May 7, 2018. You must also comply with any and all nutrition labeling requirements imposed by federal, state or local law which may be enacted after the issuance date of this disclosure document. You must also at your own expense comply with security standards established by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, in connection with credit card transactions.
A. BAGELS Production Store Franchise
BAB will grant to certain qualified persons ("you") franchises to own and operate a BAGELS Production Store at a specific location, under the BAB Marks in accordance with the terms of its standard Franchise Agreement (the "Franchise Agreement") attached as Exhibit B.
A "BAGELS Production Store" is a store which has the capacity for the production, baking, retail and wholesale distribution, and on-site consumption of bagels and muffins, and the production, retail distribution and on-site consumption of cream cheese spreads, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, coffee beverages and soft drinks.
Other than Brewster's branded coffee and My Favorite Muffin branded muffins, the food and drink products utilized in the BAGELS Production Store must be purchased from approved suppliers and/or must meet established standards and specifications.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATE (FDD pages 10–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Big Apple Bagels Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise primarily focuses on retail distribution. BAGELS Franchisees offer products such as bagels, muffins, and coffee under the trademarks "Big Apple Bagels," "My Favorite Muffin," and "Brewster's" primarily through retail channels. The document specifies that the primary exterior signage for a BAGELS store will be "Big Apple Bagels," indicating the brand's focus on retail visibility.
While the primary focus is retail, Big Apple Bagels franchisees may have the option to participate in a wholesale program. If in good standing and at the discretion of BAB, franchisees can sell unbranded bagels and muffins or "Jacobs Bros.®" branded bagels on a wholesale basis by executing a Wholesale Program Addendum. This addendum allows franchisees to sell certain products, excluding coffee and cream cheese, to retailers or other distribution parties for resale to the ultimate consumer within a defined Wholesale Market Area.
Additionally, franchisees can participate in a catering program. By executing a Catering Program Addendum, franchisees can sell Big Apple Bagels® brand bagels, sandwiches and cream cheeses, Brewster's® brand coffee, and My Favorite Muffin® brand muffins within a defined Catering Marketing Area. Both the wholesale and catering programs are subject to the terms and conditions of the Franchise Agreement.
In summary, while Big Apple Bagels franchises primarily operate as retail stores, franchisees have opportunities to expand their business through wholesale and catering programs, subject to approval and adherence to specific addendums and agreements.