For a Black Bear Diner franchise, what must the approved suppliers possess to be considered adequate?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
aurant Operation
Purchases and Suppliers. You must buy all food and beverage items including produce and dry goods, ingredients, kitchen and other equipment, furnishings, supplies, materials, paper products, and other items used or offered for sale at the Franchised Restaurant only from suppliers (including manufacturers, distributors, and other sources) that satisfy our then-current standards and specifications; possess adequate quality controls and capacity to supply your needs promptly and reliably; and have received our approval. We reserve the right to approve and/or designate, from time to time, contractors, manufacturers, vendors, distributors, suppliers, producers, terms, and distribution methods for any goods and services, which include insurance, products, equipment, supplies, and materials. You must purchase all goods and services required for the operation of your Black Bear Diner Restaurant from an approved supplier (which may be only one supplier for any given good or service) under the terms and in the manner we designate. If we or our affiliates designate that such goods and/or services are to be purchased through approved third party suppliers, then you must purchase such goods and/or services from such suppliers according to the terms and in the manner which we approve. We may designate only one exclusive supplier for any product and/or service.
If we designate one or more exclusive suppliers for a particular good or service, you may not request to utilize an alternative supplier. However, if an exclusive supplier has not been designated and you desire to use any item, service or supplier in operating the Franchised Restaurant that we have not approved (for items or services that must meet our specifications or require supplier approval), you will first send us sufficient information, specifications and/or samples for us to determine whether the item or service complies with our standards and specifications or the supplier meets our criteria. We may charge a reasonable fee for inspection and/or testing, not to exceed $1,000, and will decide within a reasonable time, typically 30 days, after receiving all requested information whether any proposed item or service meets our specifications or if you may purchase or lease items or services from a proposed supplier. We apply the following general criteria in approving a proposed supplier: ability to provide sufficient quantity of product; quality of products and/or services at competitive prices; production and delivery capability; dependability and general reputation of the supplier and willingness to pay us a fee to join our key vendor network. In addition, suppliers of food products must meet our standards for testing and auditing to assure quality, safety and nutrition. We will notify you in writing of our decision regarding the approval or disapproval of any supplier or item or service. In addition, we will notify you in writing of our revocation of approval of any supplier, or of any item or service no longer meeting our specifications. You may be required to sign contracts with third party suppliers in the f
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 22–26)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Black Bear Diner Franchise Disclosure Document, to be considered an adequate supplier, they must satisfy Black Bear Diner's standards and specifications, possess adequate quality controls, have the capacity to supply needs promptly and reliably, and have received Black Bear Diner's approval. Black Bear Diner retains the right to approve or designate contractors, manufacturers, vendors, distributors, suppliers, producers, terms, and distribution methods for goods and services, including insurance, products, equipment, supplies, and materials. Franchisees must purchase all goods and services required for their Black Bear Diner restaurant from an approved supplier, which may be a single exclusive supplier for any given good or service, under the terms designated by Black Bear Diner.
If a franchisee desires to use an unapproved item, service, or supplier, they must first provide Black Bear Diner with sufficient information, specifications, and/or samples for evaluation. Black Bear Diner may charge a reasonable inspection or testing fee, not exceeding $1,000, and will decide within approximately 30 days whether the proposed item or service meets their standards or if the franchisee may purchase from the proposed supplier.
The general criteria Black Bear Diner applies in approving a proposed supplier include the ability to provide a sufficient quantity of product, quality of products and/or services at competitive prices, production and delivery capability, dependability, general reputation, and willingness to pay a fee to join their key vendor network. Suppliers of food products must also meet Black Bear Diner's standards for testing and auditing to assure quality, safety, and nutrition. Black Bear Diner will provide written notification of their decision regarding the approval or disapproval of any supplier, item, or service, as well as any revocation of approval for suppliers or items no longer meeting their specifications.