Are managerial level employees at a Black Bear Diner required to sign confidentiality agreements?

According to the 2025 Black Bear Diner FDD, franchisees may be required to have certain individuals sign confidentiality agreements. These individuals can include shareholders, officers, directors, partners, employees, members, managers, and even the franchisee's spouse. The specific form of the agreement must be approved by Black Bear Diner.

This requirement ensures that sensitive information regarding the Black Bear Diner system remains protected. This information includes trade secrets, recipes, food specifications, operational methods, management techniques, and other confidential business details. Franchisees must not disclose this confidential information to anyone, except for employees who need access to it to operate the restaurant.

For a prospective Black Bear Diner franchisee, this means they should be prepared to implement and enforce confidentiality agreements with key personnel. This is a standard practice in franchising to protect the brand's proprietary information and maintain a competitive advantage. Franchisees should factor in the administrative effort and potential legal costs associated with these agreements.