Does Carbones Pizzeria make its criteria available for approving suppliers or items?

According to Carbones Pizzeria's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Carbones Pizzeria does not make its criteria available for approving suppliers or items. However, if a franchisee would like Carbones Pizzeria to consider approving a supplier or an alternative item that has not already been approved, the franchisee must provide all information requested by Carbones Pizzeria regarding the supplier or item. Carbones Pizzeria then has 30 days from the date the information is provided to consider the supplier. Carbones Pizzeria does not charge a fee for this investigation or approval process. Carbones Pizzeria will not consider approving a supplier or item for which there is only a single supplier or item.

This policy means that while franchisees are generally restricted to using approved suppliers to maintain consistency, they do have the option to suggest new suppliers or alternative items. However, Carbones Pizzeria retains full discretion over the approval process and does not disclose the specific criteria used in making these decisions. This lack of transparency could make it difficult for a franchisee to anticipate whether a proposed supplier or item will be approved.

It is common in franchising to have approved supplier lists to maintain quality and consistency across all locations. However, the level of transparency in the approval process can vary. Some franchisors may provide detailed criteria, while others, like Carbones Pizzeria, maintain more discretion. Prospective franchisees should inquire about the typical reasons for approval or rejection of suppliers to better understand the process, even if the specific criteria are not disclosed.