What are 'Proprietary Goods' that Cinnabon franchisees must purchase from approved sources?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must purchase all of your requirements of Proprietary Ingredients, Proprietary Products, and proprietary uniforms, signs, menu boards, smallwares, materials, supplies, paper goods, equipment, and packaging (collectively, the "Proprietary Goods") from us, our affiliates, or our designated Approved Suppliers. The Proprietary Goods include printed paper, paper products, and plastic products bearing our Proprietary Marks (including, for example, dishes, containers, cartons, bags, napkins, and packaging supplies). We may require you to purchase certain trademarked product lines consisting of t-shirts, apparel, mugs, and other merchandise and products bearing the Proprietary Marks ("Trademarked Product Lines") from us, our affiliates, or our designated Approved Suppliers. In addition, if we conduct test marketing to determine consumer trends and the salability of new food or non-food products and services, you may be required to purchase a reasonable quantity of test products we specify from designated Approved Suppliers.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 59–63)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase 'Proprietary Goods' from Cinnabon, its affiliates, or designated approved suppliers. These 'Proprietary Goods' encompass a range of items critical to maintaining brand consistency and quality.
Specifically, 'Proprietary Goods' include all requirements of proprietary ingredients, proprietary products, proprietary uniforms, signs, menu boards, smallwares, materials, supplies, paper goods, equipment, and packaging. This also extends to printed paper, paper products, and plastic products that bear Cinnabon's proprietary marks, such as dishes, containers, cartons, bags, napkins, and packaging supplies.
Cinnabon may also require franchisees to purchase certain trademarked product lines, such as t-shirts, apparel, mugs, and other merchandise bearing the company's proprietary marks, from approved sources. Additionally, franchisees may be required to purchase a reasonable quantity of test products from designated approved suppliers if Cinnabon conducts test marketing to determine consumer trends and the salability of new food or non-food products and services.