From whom must a Crab N Spice franchisee purchase Lemon Garlic Seasoning?

According to Crab N Spice's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase Lemon Garlic Seasoning directly from Crab N Spice. Crab N Spice is the only approved supplier for this product. This requirement is part of a broader set of restrictions on sourcing products and services, as detailed in Item 8 of the FDD.

This means that a prospective Crab N Spice franchisee cannot source Lemon Garlic Seasoning from any other supplier, even if they find a cheaper or seemingly equivalent product. This restriction ensures quality control and consistency across all Crab N Spice franchise locations, but it also limits the franchisee's ability to negotiate prices or find alternative suppliers for this particular item.

While franchisees are generally required to purchase food products and supplies from Crab N Spice's approved suppliers, Lemon Garlic Seasoning is specifically designated to be purchased directly from Crab N Spice. Although the FDD mentions a process for requesting approval of alternative suppliers, this process does not appear to apply to Lemon Garlic Seasoning, as Crab N Spice explicitly states they are the only approved supplier for this product. Franchisees should consider the potential costs and limitations associated with this mandatory purchasing arrangement when evaluating the Crab N Spice franchise opportunity.