Is participation in Cicis' Marketing Programs mandatory for franchisees?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
vely responsible for the terms and conditions of employment of your employees, including recruiting, hiring, firing, training, compensation, work hours and schedules, work assignments, safety and security, discipline, and supervision. You agree to manage the employment functions of your Restaurant in compliance with the Laws.
7. MARKETING AND RELATED FEES
- A. Participation in Marketing and Promotional Programs. We may, from time to time, develop and administer marketing and sales promotion programs designed to promote and enhance the collective success of all Cicis Restaurants, including national, regional, or local programs and limited time offers (each an "LTO") that promote the brand, particular products, or gift cards and other loyalty programs (the "Marketing Programs"). You will participate in all such Marketing Programs, at your expense, in accordance with the terms and conditions we establish for each program.
- (1) All products we require you to offer under any mandatory LTO (or the ingredients for such products) will be automatically shipped to you by our designated supplier within 10 days following the announcement of the LTO unless, within such 10-day period, you have placed an order for the required products (or the ingredients for such products) with our designated supplier in quantities sufficient to satisfy our requirements for the LTO. If you order less than the required amount, our designated supplier will automatically ship the balance to you. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, you shall be responsible for cost and expenses associated with your purchase or automatic supply by our designated suppliers of the products (or the ingredients for such products) and services required by you to offer any LTO.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, participation in Marketing Programs is mandatory for franchisees. Cicis may develop and administer marketing and sales promotion programs, including national, regional, or local programs and limited time offers (LTOs). Franchisees are required to participate in all Marketing Programs at their own expense, following the terms and conditions established by Cicis for each program.
For any mandatory LTOs, Cicis will ensure that the required products or ingredients are automatically shipped to the franchisee by a designated supplier within 10 days of the LTO announcement. However, if the franchisee orders sufficient quantities of the required products or ingredients from the designated supplier within that 10-day period, automatic shipment will not occur. If the franchisee orders less than the required amount, the designated supplier will automatically ship the remaining balance. The franchisee is responsible for all costs and expenses associated with purchasing or receiving these automatically supplied products or ingredients.
In addition to participating in the Marketing Programs, franchisees must contribute 5% of their Restaurant's Net Sales to the Fund and spend at least 1% of their Restaurant's Net Sales on approved local marketing programs. If the Restaurant is located within a Cooperative area, contributions to the Cooperative are also mandatory. Cicis has the right to designate any geographic area with two or more Cicis Restaurants as a Cooperative for marketing purposes, and franchisees are required to participate in any such Cooperative.