Am I required to select my Cicis site from within my Designated Area?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Franchise Agreement gives you the right to operate your Cicis Restaurant at a single location that you select and we accept. You must select your site from within a geographic area that we call your Designated Area and that is described in the Franchise Agreement. As long as you are in compliance with the Franchise Agreement, we will not, during the term of your Franchise Agreement, operate or grant others the right to operate any other Restaurant within a specified geographic area described in the Franchise Agreement (the "Protected Area"). We determine the size of the Protected Area based on various market and economic factors, such as an evaluation of market demographics, the market penetration of similar businesses, the availability of appropriate sites, and the growth trends in the market. The Protected Area generally consists of a portion of a city, county or designated market area.
The Franchise Agreement does not permit you to relocate your Cicis Restaurant. If, at any time during the term of the Franchise Agreement, you request us to consider a relocation, we will do so, but we will not be required to apply any particular standards or guidelines to our consideration. Our decision on whether to grant your request will be made in our sole discretion. You have no right of first refusal or similar rights to acquire additional franchises or establish additional Restaurants.
Other Restaurants, food aggregators, and/or third-party delivery service providers may deliver to customers located in your Protected Area and vice-versa. You may not sell any products or services sold at your Cicis Restaurant through any alternate distribution channels, including, the Internet, catalogue sales, supermarkets, convenience stores, or grocery stores.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 38–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Franchise Agreement grants you the right to operate your Cicis restaurant at a single location that you select, subject to Cicis's acceptance. A key condition is that you must choose your site from within a specific geographic area designated by Cicis as your 'Designated Area,' which will be detailed in the Franchise Agreement. This means that your site selection is restricted to a pre-defined area determined by Cicis.
As long as you comply with the Franchise Agreement, Cicis will not operate or allow others to operate another restaurant within a 'Protected Area' that is also described in the Franchise Agreement during the term of your agreement. The size of the Protected Area is determined by Cicis based on market and economic factors, including market demographics, the penetration of similar businesses, site availability, and market growth trends. Typically, the Protected Area will consist of a portion of a city, county, or designated market area.
It's important to note that the Franchise Agreement does not allow you to relocate your Cicis restaurant without Cicis's approval, which they can grant or deny at their sole discretion. Additionally, you do not have any right of first refusal to acquire additional franchises or establish additional restaurants. Other restaurants, food aggregators, and third-party delivery services may deliver to customers within your Protected Area, and you are restricted from selling Cicis products through alternative distribution channels like the Internet or grocery stores.