Does Burneys Sweets More disclose the criteria used to evaluate proposed suppliers?
Burneys_Sweets_More Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Method of Approving Suppliers. To use a supplier, product, service, or vendor that we have not already approved, you must first submit to us certain information including product specifications, costs, product components, performance history, product samples, supplier information or photographs, and any other relevant information. We will evaluate the proposed good, service, or supplier based upon certain criteria and determine if you are approved to use the alternate good, service, or supplier. We do not make the criteria available to you. If the good, service, or supplier meets our criteria, you may use it. We do inform you that we generally evaluate technical and performance properties of the good, service, or supplier, including design, appearance, product reliability, durability, the manufacturer's warranties, quality control methods, taste, ingredients, financial ability of the product's producers and distributors, supplier history and reputation, and supplier capacity. Our review is generally completed in 90 days. If we do not approve of the supplier, good, or service within 120 days, then that good, service, or supplier is deemed not approved and you must not use that supplier, good, or service. We will advise you in writing of our decision. We impose these restrictions to safeguard the integrity of both the System and our Marks. We reserve the right to revoke approval for any good, service, or supplier for any reason, and you must cease to use the good, service, or supplier upon 30 days' notice from us. If you request that we evaluate a good, service, or supplier, you will pay all fees and costs incurred by us to obtain the necessary information and to conduct the evaluation. Additionally, if the supply or equipment source is approved you will pay us at the time the alternate supplier is approved and prior to ordering from the alternate supplier, an administrative fee equal to 15% of the value of the item(s) purchased. We reserve the right to revoke approval for any item or supplier for any reason and you must cease to use the item or supplier upon 30 days' notice from us.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 20–23)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Burneys Sweets More's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally required to use suppliers approved or designated by Burneys Sweets More. If a franchisee wants to use an alternate supplier, they must submit information for evaluation. While Burneys Sweets More does evaluate proposed suppliers based on certain criteria, the specific criteria are not made available to franchisees.
However, Burneys Sweets More does inform franchisees that the evaluation generally considers technical and performance properties, including design, appearance, product reliability, durability, manufacturer's warranties, quality control methods, taste, ingredients, the financial ability of producers and distributors, supplier history and reputation, and supplier capacity. The review process typically takes 90 days, but if no decision is made within 120 days, the supplier is deemed not approved.
Burneys Sweets More retains the right to revoke approval for any supplier for any reason with 30 days' notice. If a franchisee requests an evaluation, they will be responsible for all associated fees and costs. Additionally, if the supplier is approved, the franchisee will pay an administrative fee equal to 15% of the value of the items purchased from the alternate supplier.
This policy ensures that Burneys Sweets More maintains control over the quality and consistency of products used in its franchises, but it also means franchisees have limited flexibility in sourcing their own suppliers and may incur additional costs if they choose to seek approval for an alternate supplier.