What constitutes the 'Format' of the Coffee News periodical that franchisees cannot alter?
Coffee_News Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
5.1 MAINTENANCE OF CONTENT. Except as provided for herein, Franchisee shall not edit, change, add to, eliminate from, or alter in any way the contents or format of the Periodical without the prior written consent of Franchisor. For clarity, Franchisee agrees that the unalterable characteristics of the Periodical (the "Format") include, but are not limited to, the following:
- (a) Size. Eleven inches by seventeen inches (11" x 17") page size format.
- (b) Coloring. Light brown coloring of paper.
- (c) Format. Two-sided printing with each page divided into three (3) columns, with the two (2) border columns each allowing for eight (8) advertisements arranged vertically and a center column allowing for the publication of information.
- (d) Sections. On the cover page, the center column shall be divided into 5 sections entitled as the "Coffee News" heading, "Everybody's Talking", "Quoteable Quotes", "What's Happening" and "Trivia". On the reverse side, the center column shall be divided into 4 sections referred to as "Your Weekly Horoscope", "Did You Know", "On the Lighter Side" and "Answers" (to "Trivia" section on the cover page).
- (e) Proportions of Advertisements. The proportions of all advertisements are of equal size, approximately two and seven-eighths inches by two inches (2 7/8" x 2"), in a rectangular rounded corner box with one open corner.
- (f) Advertisement Borders. The borders of advertisements are in a series of backwards and forwards "S" shapes.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 36–118)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Coffee News Franchise Disclosure Document, the 'Format' of the periodical, which franchisees cannot alter without prior written consent from Coffee News, includes specific characteristics related to size, coloring, layout, sections, advertisement proportions, and advertisement borders.
The size of the Coffee News publication must be eleven inches by seventeen inches (11" x 17"). The paper must be light brown. Each page is divided into three columns, with the two border columns each containing eight vertically arranged advertisements and a center column for publishing information.
The cover page's center column must be divided into five sections: "Coffee News" heading, "Everybody's Talking", "Quoteable Quotes", "What's Happening", and "Trivia". The reverse side's center column is divided into four sections: "Your Weekly Horoscope", "Did You Know", "On the Lighter Side", and "Answers" (to the "Trivia" section on the cover page). All advertisements must be of equal size, approximately two and seven-eighths inches by two inches (2 7/8" x 2"), in a rectangular rounded corner box with one open corner, and the borders of advertisements must be in a series of backwards and forwards "S" shapes.