Can Cicis solicit customers and advertise Cicis Restaurants within the Development Area?

According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cicis retains the right to solicit customers, advertise, and authorize others to advertise and promote sales from Cicis Restaurants, including within a franchisee's Development Area. They can also fulfill customer orders by providing catering and delivery services anywhere, including within the Development Area. This means that Cicis can directly market and sell Cicis Restaurants within the franchisee's exclusive territory.

This reservation of rights extends to marketing and selling products and services authorized for sale at Cicis Restaurants through alternative channels of distribution. These alternative channels include the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing, or other direct marketing sales, such as sales through grocery stores, kiosks, mail order, Internet merchandise sales, or Cicis To Go, using the Marks or other trademarks and commercial symbols, both within and outside the Development Area.

This clause indicates that while a franchisee may have exclusive development rights within a specific area, Cicis retains significant control over marketing and sales strategies. A potential franchisee should consider how Cicis's marketing activities might impact their own business and revenue within their Development Area. It is important to understand the extent to which Cicis might directly compete for customers within the franchisee's territory through these alternative channels.