Does Carbones Pizzeria consider its recipes to be trade secrets?
Carbones_Pizzeria Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
a. Franchisor owns or controls secret recipes for the various items which give Carbone's pizzas their uniquely appealing quality, appearance and taste (collectively, the "Secret Recipes"). Franchisor may, under certain circumstances and in Franchisor's sole discretion, agree to provide Franchisee with the Secret Recipes. Franchisee further acknowledges and agrees that the Secret Recipes constitute "trade secrets" within the meaning of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, as adopted by the State of Minnesota (Minn. Stat. Ch. 325C) and within the meaning of any trade secrets act of any state reasonably similar in scope and application to the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Franchisee will not reveal the Secret Recipes to anyone other than the employees of Franchisee who need to know to perform their job functions, and then only as is necessary for the proper operation of the Restaurant. Franchisee agrees that no copies of the Secret Recipes shall be made except for the absolute minimum number necessary for the efficient operation of the Restaurant and that when not in use all copies of the Secret Recipes will be locked in a secure container to which only Restaurant managers or owners of Franchisee have access. Prior to revealing any part of the Secret Recipes to any employee or owner Franchisee will obtain from that employee or owner a signed agreement, in form
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 22–23)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Carbones Pizzeria's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the company considers its recipes to be trade secrets. Carbones Pizzeria states that it owns or controls secret recipes that give their pizzas a unique quality, appearance, and taste. The franchisor may provide the franchisee with these secret recipes under certain circumstances and at their sole discretion.
Carbones Pizzeria emphasizes that these secret recipes constitute "trade secrets" as defined by the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, specifically referencing the adoption of this act by the State of Minnesota. This means that Carbones Pizzeria takes legal measures to protect the confidentiality of its recipes, treating them as proprietary information that gives them a competitive advantage.
A franchisee is restricted from revealing the secret recipes to anyone other than employees who need to know them for their job functions. Furthermore, franchisees must ensure that only the minimum necessary copies of the secret recipes are made and that these copies are securely locked away when not in use, accessible only to restaurant managers or owners. Prior to sharing any part of the secret recipes with an employee or owner, the franchisee must obtain a signed agreement from that individual, in a form specified by Carbones Pizzeria, to protect the confidentiality of the recipes.