What items must Carvel franchisees purchase and install as directed by Carvel?
Carvel Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ntractor will not in any way be our endorsement of your architect or general contractor or render us liable for your architect's or general contractor's performance. When you refresh or remodel your Shoppe, we may require you to obtain, at your expense, a site survey and design solution from us, our affiliates, or a designated vendor.
You must purchase and install, at your expense, all fixtures, furnishings, equipment (including a Computer System), décor and signs, as we direct. If we modify our menu, we may require you to purchase additional equipment to prepare and store new menu items. You may not install on or about your Shoppe any merchandise, furnishings, interior or exterior décor items, supplies, fixtures, equipment or utensils unless they have been approved by us in writing. You must purchase these items only from an Approved Supplier unless we specify otherwise.
You are required to purchase most of the components of the Computer System that we specify from Approved Suppliers. Currently, we have Approved Suppliers for our POS System and for certain software that you must use in your Shoppe, including the Learning Management System. We also require you to use designated Approved Suppliers for point-to-point encryption ("P2PE") solutions (hardware and software) that are used in cooperation with your POS System to provide secure and compliant payment processing services. Full Shoppes and Express Shoppes will be required to use this designated POS System; Hosted Express Shoppes and Ice Cream Trucks may use another, approved POS System with prior approval from us. If we require you to use any proprietary software or to purchase any software from a designated vendor, you must execute any software license agreements that we or the licensor of the software require and any related software maintenance agreements.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 52–56)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Carvel's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must purchase and install fixtures, furnishings, equipment (including a Computer System), décor, and signs as directed by Carvel. These purchases are made at the franchisee's expense.
If Carvel modifies its menu, franchisees may be required to purchase additional equipment to prepare and store new menu items. Franchisees cannot install any merchandise, furnishings, interior or exterior décor items, supplies, fixtures, equipment, or utensils in their Carvel Shoppe unless they have been approved in writing by Carvel. These items must be purchased only from an Approved Supplier, unless Carvel specifies otherwise.
Carvel franchisees are also required to purchase most of the components of the Computer System that Carvel specifies from Approved Suppliers. This includes the POS System and certain software, such as the Learning Management System. Franchisees must also use designated Approved Suppliers for point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solutions, including hardware and software, that are used with the POS System to provide secure and compliant payment processing services. Full Shoppes and Express Shoppes will be required to use this designated POS System; Hosted Express Shoppes and Ice Cream Trucks may use another, approved POS System with prior approval from Carvel.
Furthermore, Carvel requires franchisees to accept major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) and other major payment methods (such as Apple Pay and Google Pay) for customer purchases, participate in Carvel's Gift Card and Loyalty Programs, and participate in Carvel's in-shop mobile and online ordering program. These programs may require that franchisees invest in additional equipment and incur fees from the credit card processing vendors, gift card processing vendors, and other hardware and software vendors that Carvel designates.