As it relates to Brueggers Bagels, on what date does Caribou's fiscal year end?

According to Brueggers Bagels's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Caribou's fiscal year ends on the Tuesday closest to December 31 each year. This is relevant because the financial statements provided in the FDD are audited financial statements for Caribou as of December 31, 2024, and December 26, 2023, and for each of the years ended December 31, 2024, December 26, 2023, and December 27, 2022.

For a prospective Brueggers Bagels franchisee, understanding the fiscal year-end of Caribou is important because Caribou guarantees the obligations to Brueggers Bagels franchisees. This guarantee is included as an exhibit in the FDD. Therefore, the financial health and reporting of Caribou directly impact the security of this guarantee.

Knowing the specific day of the week that marks the end of the fiscal year allows for precise tracking and comparison of financial performance across years. While many companies use a calendar year-end (December 31), some, like Caribou, use a week-based system to better align with business cycles or operational periods. This can provide a more accurate picture of financial performance by avoiding partial week reporting.