What is the name of the affiliate that owns the Marks and System licensed to Buona?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We have 3 affiliates that sell products or services to our franchisees. The first affiliate that sells products to our franchisees is The Buona Companies, L.L.C., an Illinois limited liability company. It also manages and operates the Buona businesses owned by another affiliate Buona Beef LLC. The Buona Companies, L.L.C., also owns the Marks and System and licenses them to us. We refer to these affiliate-owned businesses as "Affiliate-Owned Business" in this Disclosure Document. The principal place of business of The Buona Companies, L.L.C. and Buona Beef LLC is 7075 Veterans Blvd., Burr Ridge, IL 60527.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 9–11)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, The Buona Companies, L.L.C. owns the Marks and System and licenses them to Chicago's Original Italian Beef Franchising LLC, the franchisor of Buona. The Buona Companies, L.L.C. also manages and operates the Buona businesses owned by another affiliate, Buona Beef LLC. The principal place of business of The Buona Companies, L.L.C. and Buona Beef LLC is 7075 Veterans Blvd., Burr Ridge, IL 60527.
This means that while Chicago's Original Italian Beef Franchising LLC is the company offering the franchise opportunity, a related company, The Buona Companies, L.L.C., controls the intellectual property (Marks and System) that defines the Buona brand. This is a fairly common arrangement in franchising, where a separate entity might hold the trademarks and systems for strategic or liability reasons.
Prospective franchisees should understand the relationship between Chicago's Original Italian Beef Franchising LLC and The Buona Companies, L.L.C. because it clarifies who ultimately controls the brand's standards and intellectual property. It also highlights that The Buona Companies, L.L.C. manages and operates Buona businesses owned by Buona Beef LLC, indicating their significant involvement in the operations of the brand. This insight can be valuable for franchisees as it provides a clearer picture of the support structure and expertise available within the Buona franchise system.