For Carls Jr., what is the franchisee required to do with certificates of completion for food safety certification programs?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee must furnish to CJR, within five days after its receipt, a copy of all inspection reports, warnings, citations, certificates and/or ratings resulting from inspections conducted by any federal, state or municipal agency with jurisdiction over the Franchised Restaurant. CJR's System Standards for health and safety are set forth in the OPM and other written materials. To the extent that any federal, state, or municipal agency's health and safety standards exceed those set forth in CJR's System Standards, the Franchised Restaurant must meet the federal, state, or municipal agency's standards to be in compliance with CJR's standards. Without limiting the foregoing, Franchisee and all required employees of Franchisee must obtain and maintain all necessary and required licenses and certificates for food service and food handling as may be required by applicable local rules and regulations or the OPM.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 75–76)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must furnish copies of certificates related to food safety to Carls Jr. Franchisees are required to provide Carls Jr. with copies of all inspection reports, warnings, citations, certificates, and ratings they receive from federal, state, or municipal agencies that have jurisdiction over the franchised restaurant. This information must be provided to Carls Jr. within five days of the franchisee receiving it.
This requirement ensures that Carls Jr. is aware of any issues or concerns raised by regulatory agencies regarding food safety at the franchised location. It allows Carls Jr. to monitor compliance with health and safety standards and to take corrective action if necessary. The FDD also states that Carls Jr.'s system standards for health and safety are detailed in the Operations Procedure Manual (OPM) and other written materials. If any federal, state, or municipal agency's health and safety standards exceed those set by Carls Jr., the franchised restaurant must meet the stricter standards to comply with Carls Jr.'s requirements.
Furthermore, the franchisee and all required employees must obtain and maintain all necessary licenses and certificates for food service and food handling as required by local rules, regulations, or the OPM. This underscores the importance of adhering to food safety protocols and maintaining proper documentation to demonstrate compliance with these standards. By mandating the submission of inspection-related documents, Carls Jr. aims to maintain high standards of health and safety across all its franchised restaurants, protecting both customers and the brand's reputation.