What is a Churchs Chicken franchisee required to do to ensure quality, service, and cleanliness at the franchised restaurant?
Churchs_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
System, at such times or on such schedule as Cajun may determine. Cajun shall not be required to give prior notice to Franchisee of an inspection. If Franchisee fails an inspection, Cajun may require Franchisee to reimburse Cajun for all costs (both out-of-pocket and internal overhead) incurred by Cajun to conduct a follow-up inspection.
10. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND UNIFORMITY OF OPERATION
In recognition of the mutual benefits that come from maintaining the reputation enjoyed by the System, Franchisee shall comply with all of the requirements of the System as set forth in the Manual or otherwise, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Franchisee shall comply with the following:
A. Standards, Specifications and Procedures
- (1) Franchisee shall operate the Franchised Restaurant in conformity with those uniform standards, specifications and procedures as Cajun may from time to time prescribe in the Manual or otherwise in writing, to ensure that quality, service and cleanliness are uniformly maintained and to refrain from any deviation from these standards and from otherwise operating the Franchised Restaurant in any manner which reflects adversely on Cajun's name, goodwill or Proprietary Marks.
- (2) Franchisee shall maintain in sufficient supply and use only those ingredients, products, materials, supplies, and paper goods as conform to Cajun's standards and specifications, and to refrain from using non-conforming items without Cajun's prior consent.
- (3) Franchisee shall sell or offer for sale only those products and menu items that: (a) have been expressly approved for sale in writing by Cajun; (b) meet Cajun's uniform standards of quality and quantity; and (c) have been prepared in accordance with Cajun's methods and techniques for product preparation. Franchisee shall refrain from selling any products and menu items that are not approved by Cajun or for which Cajun has withdrawn approval.
B. Approved Products, Equipment, Distributors and Suppliers
- (1) Franchisee shall purchase all ingredients, products, materials, supplies, and other items required in the operation of the Franchised Restaurant which are, or incorporate, trade secrets of Cajun, as designated by Cajun ("Trade Secret Products"), only from Cajun or from suppliers and distributors designated by Cajun.
- (2) Upon 30 days' prior notice that Cajun has designated or changed an exclusive beverage supplier or suppliers for any or all beverage products and equipment within the System ("Designated Beverage Products"), Franchisee shall purchase all such Designated Beverage Products solely from Cajun's designated beverage supplier or suppliers.
- (3) Franchisee shall purchase all ingredients, products, materials, supplies, paper goods, and other items required for the operation of the Franchised Restaurant, except Trade Secret Products and Designated Beverage Products, solely from suppliers and distributors who demonstrate, to the continuing reasonable satisfaction of Cajun, the ability to meet Cajun's reasonable standards and specifications for such items; who possess adequate quality controls and capacity to supply Franchisee's needs promptly and reliably; and who have been approved in writing by Cajun and such approval has not thereafter been revoked.
- (4) Franchisee shall use only the fixtures, furnishings, equipment (including, without limitation, fryers, grills, ovens, warmers, refrigerators, freezers, waste disposal units, dishwashers, and display cases) and signs (including digital menuboards) that Cajun has approved for Church's Restaurants as meeting its specifications and standards for quality, design, appearance, function and performance.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 68–406)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Churchs Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to specific standards, specifications, and procedures to maintain quality, service, and cleanliness. Franchisees are expected to operate their restaurants in accordance with the uniform standards prescribed in the manual or in writing by Churchs Chicken. This ensures that quality, service, and cleanliness are consistently maintained, and franchisees must avoid any actions that could negatively impact Churchs Chicken's brand or reputation.
To meet these standards, franchisees must use only ingredients, products, materials, supplies, and paper goods that conform to Churchs Chicken's standards and specifications. They are prohibited from using non-conforming items without prior consent. Additionally, franchisees can only sell or offer products and menu items that have been expressly approved in writing by Churchs Chicken, meet the company's quality and quantity standards, and are prepared according to Churchs Chicken's methods and techniques. Selling unapproved items or those for which approval has been withdrawn is not allowed.
Furthermore, franchisees are responsible for promptly addressing customer complaints regarding food quality, service, or cleanliness. They should strive to resolve complaints immediately, and if that's not possible, use their best efforts to find a solution as quickly as possible. If Churchs Chicken believes that the franchisee has not adequately addressed a complaint or that intervention is necessary to protect the system's goodwill, Churchs Chicken may resolve the complaint themselves and charge the franchisee for the associated costs.