What is the minimum population within the Protected Area around the Approved Location for a Buona franchise in a non-urban location?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Protected Area will be a geographic area around the Approved Location with a minimum people population of Sixty Thousand (60,000) if the Approved Location is in a non-urban location and a one-half (1/2) mile radius around the Approved Location if it is located in an urban area.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 78–356)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee's Approved Location is in a non-urban area, the Protected Area around that location will have a minimum population of 60,000 people. This Protected Area is defined as the geographic area around the Approved Location.
This means that Buona will not establish, nor grant another the right to establish a Buona Restaurant, during the Term, within the Protected Area, without the franchisee's prior written consent, provided the franchisee is not in default of the agreement. This gives the franchisee a degree of exclusivity in their defined market area.
However, this protection has limitations. Buona retains the right to franchise or operate Buona Businesses in certain Captive Locations, even within the Protected Area. These Captive Locations include transportation facilities, educational facilities, institutional feeding facilities, and government institutions. A prospective franchisee should carefully consider the potential impact of these exceptions on their business.