Can Cinnabon and its affiliates independently access customer information collected by the franchisee?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- B. Access to Customer Information. All Customer Information that you or your thirdparty vendors collect from customers and potential customers in connection with your Franchised Business must be furnished to us at any time that we request it. In addition, we and our affiliates, through the Computer System or otherwise, have the right to independently access the Customer Information.
- C. Use of Customer Information. You must only use Customer Information to market Approved Products to customers in accordance with the policies that we may establish periodically and applicable Laws. You may not sell, transfer, or use Customer Information for any purpose other than marketing Approved Products and the Franchised Business. We and our affiliates may use Customer Information in any manner or for any purpose. You must secure from your customers, prospective customers, vendors, and others all consents and authorizations, and provide them all disclosures, that applicable Law requires to transmit Customer Information to us and our affiliates, and for us and our affiliates to use that Customer Information, in the manner that this Agreement contemplates.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 114–399)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cinnabon and its affiliates have the right to independently access customer information collected by franchisees. Specifically, all customer information that a franchisee or their third-party vendors collect must be furnished to Cinnabon upon request. Furthermore, Cinnabon and its affiliates can independently access this information through the computer system or other means. Customer Information includes names, contact information, financial information, purchasing history, market research data, and other personal information relating to customers and prospective customers of the Cinnabon franchised business.
This means that as a Cinnabon franchisee, you are obligated to provide all collected customer data to Cinnabon and must also allow them independent access to it. Cinnabon and its affiliates have broad rights to use this customer information for any purpose. The franchisee, however, is restricted to using the information only to market approved products in accordance with Cinnabon's policies and applicable laws. The franchisee is explicitly prohibited from selling, transferring, or using customer information for any purpose other than marketing approved products and the franchised business.
Therefore, prospective Cinnabon franchisees should be aware that they must secure all necessary consents and authorizations from customers, vendors, and others to transmit customer information to Cinnabon and its affiliates. Franchisees must also provide all necessary disclosures to these parties, as required by applicable law, to allow Cinnabon and its affiliates to use the information as contemplated in the agreement. This includes ensuring that customers are aware of and consent to Cinnabon's potential use of their data for various purposes.