Does Brueggers Bagels have the right to designate and own the telephone numbers for a franchisee's Bakery?
Brueggers_Bagels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
in names, e-mail addresses, other electronic identifiers, and devices associated with the Bakery or the System; withdraw all advertising matter (including electronic marketing); remove from the Premises all signs, letterhead, and other articles which display the Proprietary Marks; and except as provided in Section 18.2 below not thereafter, directly or indirectly, represent yourself to the public or hold yourself out as a present or former franchisee of ours;
- 18.1.3. Deliver to us the Manuals and all other records, correspondence, and instructions in your possession or control, in any medium, that contain confidential information, trade secrets, or know-how relating to the System or the operation of a Bakery, all of which you acknowledge to be our property;
- 18.1.4. Take such action as may be necessary to cancel any assumed name registration or equivalent registration, and any e-mail address or domain name registration,
obtained by you which contains "Bruegger's" or any other Proprietary Marks, and furnish evidence satisfactory to us of compliance with this obligation within five (5) days after termination or expiration of this Agreement. You hereby appoint us your attorney-in-fact to carry out the requirements of this Section 18.1.4, if you fail to do so within such five (5) day period;
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 61)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
The 2025 Brueggers Bagels Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) does not specifically state that Brueggers Bagels has the right to designate and own the telephone numbers for a franchisee's Bakery. However, the FDD does state that upon termination or expiration of the agreement, the franchisee must take action to cancel any assumed name registration or equivalent registration, and any e-mail address or domain name registration, obtained by you which contains "Bruegger's" or any other Proprietary Marks. This suggests that Brueggers Bagels wants to maintain control over its brand identity and online presence.
Additionally, the franchisee must cease to use the confidential methods, procedures, and techniques associated with the System, the "Bruegger's" and "Bruegger's Bagels" names and marks, all other Proprietary Marks, the Works, and all other distinctive forms, slogans, signs, symbols, Web sites, domain names, e-mail addresses, other electronic identifiers, and devices associated with the Bakery or the System. This further emphasizes Brueggers Bagels' control over its brand and system.
While the FDD does not explicitly mention telephone numbers, it is possible that Brueggers Bagels may have a policy regarding telephone numbers for franchise locations. A prospective franchisee should clarify with Brueggers Bagels during the due diligence process whether the franchisor has the right to designate and own the telephone numbers for a franchisee's Bakery.