Does the Cicis franchise agreement grant the franchisee any exclusivity with respect to the Designated Area?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
This Agreement does not grant you any exclusivity with respect to the Designated Area.
Our willingness to agree to your proposed Location means only that it meets the criteria that we have established solely for our own purposes, which may be different than your own.
Even if we have suggested or assisted you in finding the Location, you may not rely upon our agreement regarding the Location as our representation, promise, warranty, or guarantee that your Restaurant will be profitable or otherwise successful, that the Location satisfies your own requirements, or for any other purpose whatsoever.
- (3) We agree that, except as provided in this Agreement and subject to your full compliance with this Agreement and any other agreement between you or your affiliates and us or our affiliates, we and our affiliates will not, during the Term, establish, or authorize any Person other than you to establish, a Cicis Restaurant identified by the Marks within the area identified on Attachment A or Attachment A-1, as applicable (the "Protected Area").
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cicis Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise agreement does not grant franchisees any exclusivity within their designated area. However, Cicis does grant a "Protected Area."
The agreement specifies that Cicis and its affiliates will not establish or authorize anyone else to establish a Cicis restaurant identified by the Marks within the franchisee's Protected Area during the term of the agreement, provided the franchisee is in full compliance with all agreements.
However, Cicis retains significant rights even within the Protected Area. They can establish and operate Cicis To Go Restaurants, operate restaurants under other trade names, and offer similar products through other channels like the Internet. They also retain rights to operate within "Reserved Areas" such as large retail establishments, food courts, airports, hospitals, schools, hotels, and stadiums, even if these are located within the Protected Area. This means that while a franchisee has some territorial protection, Cicis retains considerable freedom to operate and authorize other businesses, including other Cicis concepts, within the same general area.