Does Black Bear Diner have to approve any particular supplier?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee agrees to purchase from Franchisor's designated supplier, which may include Franchisor or its affiliates, certain items necessary for the interior decoration of the Franchised Restaurant ("Décor Package") consisting of decorations including framed bear posters, photographs of local historical sites, photographs of local school activities, wallpaper featuring the black bear theme and other related items. A complete list of items included in the Décor Package is included in Exhibit B to this Agreement. In addition, Franchisee agrees to purchase from Franchisor's designated supplier, which may include Franchisor or its affiliates certain wood bear images featuring a rustic hand-carved of bears in various settings ("Carved Bear Package"). A complete list of the items included in the Carved Bear Package is included in Exhibit C to this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 56–243)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Black Bear Diner Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase specific items from suppliers designated by Black Bear Diner. Specifically, franchisees must purchase a "Décor Package" and a "Carved Bear Package" from Black Bear Diner's designated suppliers, which may include Black Bear Diner itself or its affiliates. The Décor Package includes items such as framed bear posters, photographs of local historical sites and school activities, and wallpaper featuring the black bear theme. The Carved Bear Package consists of rustic, hand-carved wood bear images.
This requirement ensures that all Black Bear Diner locations maintain a consistent brand image and meet the franchisor's standards for appearance and trade dress. By mandating the purchase of these specific décor items from approved suppliers, Black Bear Diner aims to control the uniformity and quality of the restaurant's interior design.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that a portion of their initial investment will be directed towards purchasing these mandatory décor items from Black Bear Diner's chosen suppliers. It also means that franchisees have limited flexibility in sourcing these items independently, as they must adhere to the franchisor's specifications and approved vendors. The complete lists of items included in both the Décor Package and the Carved Bear Package are detailed in Exhibits B and C of the Franchise Agreement, respectively, which a potential franchisee should review carefully.