What must a Carvel franchisee follow when producing Approved Products?

According to Carvel's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee is required to produce any Approved Products, they must strictly follow Carvel's Recipes. This includes using only the product components, ingredients, flavoring, and garnishes that meet Carvel's then-current Standards. Additionally, franchisees must use only containers, cartons, bags, boxes, napkins, and other paper goods and packaging bearing Carvel's then-currently approved text and designs, and that otherwise meet Carvel's then-current requirements, specifications, and quality standards.

This means that a Carvel franchisee has very little flexibility in how they prepare and present the products. They must adhere to the precise recipes and standards set by Carvel, ensuring consistency across all franchise locations. This is a common practice in franchising, as it helps to maintain brand uniformity and customer expectations.

The franchisee is also restricted to using only approved packaging and materials. This further reinforces brand consistency and ensures that the products are presented in a manner that aligns with Carvel's brand image. These restrictions extend to the varieties, forms and packages that Carvel has approved.

These strict guidelines are in place to protect the Carvel brand and ensure that customers receive a consistent product and experience at any location. While this may limit a franchisee's creativity, it also provides a proven framework for producing and selling Carvel products.