How can a Chatime franchisee obtain a list of approved suppliers?
Chatime Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
A list of approved suppliers is available on request. Suppliers are required to share
shipping, distribution, and all other relevant information with us.
You are required to purchase or lease all of your products, ingredients, goods, supplies, equipment, inventory, insurance, payroll service, real estate and project management services, and accounting services, from us or one of our approved suppliers which may be one of our affiliates.
We estimate that your required purchases from approved suppliers will represent approximately 85% of the total purchases for establishing and operating your Chatime Store.
We will provide you with a list of our approved suppliers in writing as part of the Operations Manual or otherwise in writing, and we may update or modify this list as we deem appropriate.
We have the right to require you to purchase any items or services necessary to operate your Chatime Store. Currently, we have approved suppliers for the following items: (i) food products and ingredients; (ii) real estate and construction management services; (iii) construction due diligence (unless proposed site does not require such due diligence); (iv) architectural, engineering and design services related to the establishment of your Chatime Store; (v) construction site visits; (vi) signage; (vii) furniture and equipment that must be used in connection with the operation of the Chatime Store; (viii) technology set-up and ongoing services; (viii) branded and proprietary ingredients, inventory and supplies; (ix) payroll and rostering services; (x) human resource services; and (xi) initial local marketing and location launch events. Certain food products that easily spoil (e.g., fresh fruits and milk) may be purchased by you locally with our prior approval.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 22–25)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chatime's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a list of approved suppliers is available upon request. Additionally, Chatime will provide a list of approved suppliers in writing as part of the Operations Manual or otherwise in writing and may update or modify this list as deemed appropriate.
Chatime maintains a system of approved suppliers to ensure product consistency, quality, and branding standards. Franchisees are generally required to purchase products, ingredients, goods, supplies, equipment, inventory, insurance, payroll service, real estate and project management services, and accounting services from Chatime or its approved suppliers, which may include Chatime affiliates. Chatime estimates that required purchases from approved suppliers will represent approximately 85% of the total purchases for establishing and operating a Chatime store.
Chatime also has the right to require franchisees to purchase any items or services necessary to operate their Chatime store from an approved supplier. Currently, Chatime has approved suppliers for a range of items, including food products and ingredients, real estate and construction management services, architectural, engineering, and design services, signage, furniture and equipment, technology set-up, branded ingredients and supplies, payroll and rostering services, human resource services, and initial local marketing. Certain perishable food products like fresh fruits and milk may be purchased locally with Chatime's prior approval.