Who is responsible for paying the costs associated with the inspection and testing of a potential alternate supplier for Churchs Chicken?
Churchs_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you want to obtain items from a non-approved supplier or distributor, you (or the supplier or distributor) must make a written request to us seeking approval. As a condition of our approval, we may require that the supplier or distributor allow our representatives to inspect its facilities and that the supplier or distributor deliver samples, at our option, either to us or to an independent laboratory that we designate for testing before we will grant our approval. The approval process ranges from 30 days for simple items to 18 months for highly complex food formulas, which require more extensive testing. You or the supplier or distributor must pay a charge not to exceed our reasonable cost of inspection and the actual cost of testing. We do not currently charge an additional fee to approve suppliers and distributors, but we reserve the right to do so. We reserve the right, at our option, to periodically reinspect the facilities and products of any approved supplier or distributor. We have the right to revoke our approval if we find that a supplier or distributor no longer meets our standards. The process of reviewing possible suppliers and distributors includes many factors, such as inspecting and testing sample products to determine whether the products meet ourstandards, inspecting a proposed distributor's physical plant and similarstepsto assure compliance with our standards for quality, food safety and sanitation. If we conclude that an approved supplier or distributor no longer meets our standards, we will revoke our approval of that supplier or distributor.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 31–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Churchs Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee wishes to use a non-approved supplier, the franchisee or the potential supplier is responsible for covering the costs associated with the inspection and testing required for approval. This includes the reasonable cost of inspection by Churchs Chicken's representatives and the actual cost of testing samples, which may be sent to Churchs Chicken or an independent laboratory.
The approval process for alternate suppliers can vary significantly. Simple items may only take about 30 days to approve, while more complex food formulas could take up to 18 months due to the need for more extensive testing. Churchs Chicken does not currently charge a fee for approving suppliers or distributors, but they retain the right to implement such fees in the future.
Churchs Chicken also reserves the right to periodically reinspect the facilities and products of any approved supplier or distributor to ensure they continue to meet the required standards. If a supplier or distributor no longer meets these standards, Churchs Chicken has the right to revoke their approval. This ongoing monitoring helps maintain quality and consistency within the Churchs Chicken system. The process includes inspecting and testing sample products to determine whether the products meet Churchs Chicken's standards, inspecting a proposed distributor's physical plant and similar steps to assure compliance with their standards for quality, food safety and sanitation.
For a prospective Churchs Chicken franchisee, this means that switching to an unapproved supplier could involve significant upfront costs for inspections and testing. Franchisees should carefully weigh these costs against any potential savings from using an alternate supplier. It is also important to factor in the time required for the approval process, which could be lengthy, especially for complex food items.