Must a Bojangles franchisee purchase food items, ingredients, equipment, furnishings, supplies, materials, services and other items from suppliers approved in writing by Bojangles?
Bojangles Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ructures advertising the Bojangles restaurant or displaying any of the Franchisor's logos or trade names without Franchisor's prior written consent.
- J. Franchisee shall comply with all requirements of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
- K. Franchisee shall purchase all food items, ingredients, equipment (including, without limitation, technology equipment, components and software), furnishings, supplies, materials, services and other items used or offered for sale at the Restaurant solely from suppliers (including manufacturers, distributors and other sources) who demonstrate, to the continuing reasonable satisfaction of Franchisor, the ability to meet Franchisor's then-current standards and specifications for such items; who possess adequate quality controls and capacity to supply Franchisee's needs promptly and reliably; and who have been approved in writing by Franchisor and not thereafter disapproved. If Franchisee desires to purchase any products or retain any services to be used or offered for sale in the Restaurant from an unapproved supplier, Franchisee shall submit to Franchisor a written request for such approval, or shall request the supplier itself to do so, and Franchisor, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether such supplier shall be approved. Franchisor shall have the right to require that its representatives be permitted to inspect
the supplier's facilities, and that samples from the supplier be delivered to Franchisor or to an independent laboratory designated by Franchisor for testing. A charge not to exceed the reasonable cost of the inspection and the actual cost of the test shall be paid by Franchisee or the supplier.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 82)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bojangles's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase all food items, ingredients, equipment, furnishings, supplies, materials, services, and other items used or offered for sale at the restaurant exclusively from suppliers who meet specific criteria. These suppliers must demonstrate their ability to consistently meet Bojangles's standards and specifications, maintain adequate quality controls, possess the capacity to reliably and promptly supply the franchisee's needs, and, most importantly, have been approved in writing by Bojangles. This approval process ensures that all suppliers meet the brand's requirements for quality and consistency.
This requirement means that a prospective Bojangles franchisee cannot freely choose their suppliers. They must select from a list of approved suppliers or seek approval for new suppliers. To gain approval for an unapproved supplier, the franchisee must submit a written request to Bojangles, or the supplier can do so directly. Bojangles has the sole discretion to determine whether to approve the supplier. Bojangles also has the right to inspect the supplier's facilities and require samples for testing, with the franchisee or supplier bearing the costs of inspection and testing.
Bojangles retains the right to re-inspect approved suppliers and revoke approval if they fail to continue meeting the brand's criteria. This ongoing oversight helps maintain quality and consistency across all Bojangles locations. Furthermore, franchisees are required to purchase and install all fixtures, furnishings, equipment, decor, and signs as directed by Bojangles in the manual or in writing. They must also obtain prior written consent from Bojangles before installing any unapproved items on the premises. This ensures that the restaurant's appearance and functionality align with the brand's standards.
In summary, Bojangles maintains strict control over its supply chain and restaurant aesthetics to ensure brand consistency and quality. Franchisees must adhere to these requirements, which may limit their flexibility but also provide assurance that they are using approved, high-quality products and services.