What is a Buona franchisee prohibited from doing regarding communication with the media during a public health crisis?

According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is strictly prohibited from speaking or communicating with the media in the event of an outbreak of a food borne illness or any other public health or safety issue, whether at the franchisee's location or any other franchised location. This restriction is put in place to ensure that Buona maintains control over its brand image and messaging during sensitive situations.

This means that if a public health crisis occurs, a Buona franchisee must immediately notify the franchisor but cannot independently address the media. The franchisor retains the right to be the sole spokesperson on these issues, ensuring a consistent and coordinated response.

This policy is designed to protect Buona's brand and reputation by centralizing communications during potentially damaging events. It is a fairly common practice in franchising, where brand consistency and reputation management are critical. A prospective franchisee should understand that they will need to defer to the franchisor in these situations and should be prepared to direct all media inquiries to the appropriate contact at Buona.