Besides Catering and Delivery Services, under what conditions can a Cinnabon franchisee sell approved products using the Marks at a location other than the Accepted Location?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, we grant to you, and you accept, a non-exclusive license to operate one Business using the Marks and the System (collectively, your "Franchised Business"). The Franchised Business will be operated only at the location specified in Schedule A (the "Accepted Location") or, if we have not yet accepted a site for the Franchised Business as of the date of this Agreement, at a location that we have accepted in accordance with this Agreement within the geographic area specified in Schedule A (the "Site Selection Area").
- 1.2 Restrictions. You have no right to (i) sublicense the Marks or the System to any other person or Entity (as defined below), (ii) use the Marks or the System at any location other than the Accepted Location, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.3 (Catering Services and Delivery Services) or as otherwise approved in writing, or (iii) to use the Marks or the System in any wholesale, e-commerce, or other channel of distribution besides the operation of the Franchised Business at the Accepted Location.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 114–399)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cinnabon FDD, a franchisee's ability to use the Cinnabon marks and system at locations other than the Accepted Location is limited. The standard franchise agreement grants a non-exclusive license to operate one Cinnabon Business at a specific Accepted Location. The franchisee generally cannot use the Cinnabon marks or system at any other location or through any other distribution channels, except for catering and delivery services as outlined in Section 4.3 of the agreement, or unless explicitly approved in writing by Cinnabon.
However, the FDD also describes exceptions for specific franchise types. For Cinnabon Concession Bakeries (food trucks) and Express Bakeries, the approved products can be sold from within a Host Facility, which is a third-party operated facility. These Concession and Express Bakeries operate with a limited selection of approved products designated by Cinnabon.
Cinnabon and its affiliates retain the right to establish or license franchises and/or company-owned businesses offering similar products under the Cinnabon marks at "Other Locations" both inside and outside the Area of Protection. "Other Locations" are defined as locations other than Streetside Locations, including airports, amusement parks, big box stores, casinos, colleges, convenience stores, farmer's markets, military bases, malls, sports venues, train stations, travel plazas, truck stops, universities, zoos, and Delivery Kitchens. This means that while a franchisee's rights are protected within their Area of Protection for Streetside Locations, Cinnabon can operate or franchise other businesses in these "Other Locations," creating potential competition for the franchisee.