Where must a Brueggers Bagels franchisee keep the manuals?
Brueggers_Bagels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must maintain strict secrecy of the recipes and manufacturing processes, the Manuals, our training materials, our approved suppliers and supply arrangements, advertising and promotional plans, sales performance, financial records, and other information and materials that we designate as confidential. You may not reproduce any portion of the confidential information or make it available to any unauthorized person. You may reveal confidential information only to those of your employees who must have access to it in order to operate the Bakery, and to your contractors and landlord with our prior written approval. The Manuals and all other confidential materials remain our and our affiliates' property. You must keep the Manuals in a secure place on the Premises of the Bakery or if held electronically, in a secure and protected system. You must promptly tell us when you learn about unauthorized copying or use of any confidential information or the Works. We have no obligation to take any action, but we will respond to this information as we think appropriate.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 47–48)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brueggers Bagels's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the manuals, which contain confidential information, must be kept in a secure location. Specifically, the franchisee must keep the manuals in a secure place on the premises of the bakery. If the manuals are held electronically, they must be kept in a secure and protected system.
This requirement ensures that sensitive information regarding Brueggers Bagels's operational procedures, recipes, and other proprietary information remains protected from unauthorized access. This is a common practice in franchising to maintain brand consistency and protect trade secrets.
Furthermore, the franchisee is responsible for informing Brueggers Bagels if they become aware of any unauthorized copying or use of the confidential information or the Works, although Brueggers Bagels is not obligated to take any action in response. The franchisee may only reveal confidential information to employees who need access to it to operate the Bakery, and to contractors and landlords with prior written approval from Brueggers Bagels.