What is considered 'Confidential Information' that Cinnabon will disclose during the Franchise Agreement?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
During the term of your Franchise Agreement, we or our affiliates will disclose to you, either orally or in writing, non-public information related to the System; or information that, by its nature, would reasonably be expected to be held in confidence or kept secret (collectively, "Confidential Information"). Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to: (i) the Standards and Manuals; (ii) pricing information and models; (iii) materials describing our franchise network and System; (iv) plans, layouts, designs and specifications for a prototypical Bakery; (v) our methods of preparing and serving Approved Products, including Recipes; (vi) our sources (or prospective sources) of supply and all information related to or concerning the same, including the identity and pricing structures with our Approved Suppliers; (vii) our training materials; (viii) our marketing plans and development strategies; (ix) the Franchise Agreement and any related schedules, exhibits, attachments or addenda and all terms contained therein; and (x) other information we give to you.
Source: Item 14 — Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information (FDD pages 89–91)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, 'Confidential Information' encompasses non-public details about the Cinnabon system that Cinnabon or its affiliates share with franchisees, either verbally or in writing, during the Franchise Agreement. This includes information that would reasonably be expected to be kept secret.
The Confidential Information that Cinnabon shares includes a wide array of resources and data such as the Standards and Manuals, pricing information and models, materials describing the franchise network and System, plans, layouts, designs and specifications for a prototypical Bakery, methods of preparing and serving Approved Products, including Recipes, sources (or prospective sources) of supply and all information related to or concerning the same, including the identity and pricing structures with Approved Suppliers, training materials, marketing plans and development strategies, the Franchise Agreement and any related schedules, exhibits, attachments or addenda and all terms contained therein, and other information Cinnabon provides to the franchisee.
As a prospective franchisee, understanding the scope of 'Confidential Information' is crucial because it dictates what information you must protect and cannot disclose to third parties during and after the franchise agreement. This obligation extends to your employees, who must also agree to maintain confidentiality. Violating these confidentiality terms could lead to legal repercussions and termination of the franchise agreement.
Cinnabon's broad definition of Confidential Information is typical in franchising, as franchisors need to protect their proprietary systems and methods. Franchisees should carefully review the specific terms in the Franchise Agreement to fully understand their obligations and the potential consequences of breaching confidentiality.