factual

Is the Crave non-compete agreement dependent on any other agreement?

Crave Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

(the "Agreement") is made and entered into this | |----------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | (the "Effective Date"), by CRAVE Franchising, LLC, a | | Wyoming limited liability company | , an individual, residing | | ("Franchisor"), and | | | at | ("Covenantor"), in connection with a franchise | | agreement executed by Franchisor and | ("Principal" and "Franchisee"). | WHEREAS, Franchisor and Franchisee are parties to a franchise agreement executed on or about the Effective Date hereof (the "Franchise Agreement"), whereby Franchisor has granted Franchisee the right to use certain trademarks, including, the registered trademark "CRAVE Hot Dogs Barbecue" and design mark, and certain proprietary products, services, promotions and methods (the "System") to establish and operate a Crave restaurant (the "Restaurant") pursuant to the System**;**

WHEREAS, Covenantor may have access to some or all of the confidential information, knowledge, know-how, techniques, contents of the Crave operations manual and other materials used in or related to the System and/or concerning the methods of operation of the System (collectively referred to as "Confidential Information");

WHEREAS, the Confidential Information provides economic advantages to Franchisor and licensed users of the System, including Franchisee;

WHEREAS, Franchisee has acknowledged the importance of restricting the use, access and dissemination of the Confidential Information, and Franchisee therefore has agreed to obtain from Covenantor a written agreement protecting the Confidential Information and further protecting the System against unfair competition; and

WHEREAS, Covenantor acknowledges that the execution of this Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement are in partial consideration for, and a condition to the granting of, the rights granted in the Franchise Agreement to Franchisee, and that Franchisor would not have granted these rights without the execution of this Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement by Covenantor.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and obligations contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

1. Confidentiality Agreement.

  • a. Covenantor shall, at all times, maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information and shall not at any time disclose or permit the disclosure of the Confidential Information.
  • b. Covenantor shall not at any time make copies of any documents or compilations containing some or all of the Confidential Information without Franchisor's express written permission.
  • c. Covenantor shall surrender any material containing some or all of the Confidential Information to Franchisor, upon request, or upon termination of the Franchise Agreement.

d. Covenantor shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, do any act or omit to do any act that would or would likely be injurious or prejudicial to the goodwill associated with the System.

2. Covenants Not to Compete.

  • a. In order to protect the goodwill and unique qualities of the System, and in consideration for the disclosure to Covenantor of the Confidential Information, Covenantor further agrees and covenants that during the term of the Franchise Agreement, Covenantor shall not, for Covenantor or through, on behalf of or in conjunction with any person or entity:
    • (i) divert, or attempt to divert, any business or customer of any Crave outlet or of other franchisees in the System to any competitor, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise, or
    • (ii) participate as an owner, partner, director, officer, employee, consultant or agent or serve in any other capacity in any restaurant or food service business featuring menu items which are the same or substantially similar to those offered in the Crave System.
  • b. In further consideration for the disclosure to Covenantor of the Confidential Information and to protect the goodwill and unique qualities of the System, Covenantor further agrees and covenants that, upon the termination of the Franchise Agreement and continuing for two (2) years thereafter, Covenantor shall not, for Covenantor or through, on behalf of or in conjunction with any person or entity:
    • (i) divert, or attempt to divert, any business or customer of any Crave outlet or of other franchisees in the Crave System to any competitor, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise, or
    • (ii) participate as an owner, partner, director, officer, employee, or consultant or serve in any other managerial, operational or supervisory capacity in any restaurant or food service business featuring menu items which are the same or substantially similar to those offered in the Crave System within ten (10) miles of the Designated Territory or any Crave outlet location.

Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 63–253)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Crave's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Spouse Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement is dependent on the Franchise Agreement. Specifically, the document states that the execution of the Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement by the Covenantor (likely the spouse of the franchisee) is a condition for Crave granting rights to the franchisee under the Franchise Agreement. Crave states it would not grant these rights without this agreement in place.

This means that the spouse or partner of a Crave franchisee must also sign a non-compete agreement. This agreement protects Crave's confidential information and system from unfair competition. The spouse's agreement is in consideration for the rights granted to the franchisee in the Franchise Agreement.

The spouse's non-compete agreement includes confidentiality clauses, preventing the disclosure of confidential information related to the Crave system. It also restricts the spouse from engaging in any activity that could harm the goodwill associated with the Crave brand. During the term of the Franchise Agreement, the spouse is prohibited from participating in any restaurant or food service business with similar menu items to Crave.

Upon termination of the Franchise Agreement, the spouse is further restricted for two years from engaging in a similar business within ten miles of the Designated Territory or any Crave outlet location. These restrictions are acknowledged as reasonable to protect Crave's business interests. This is a fairly common practice in franchising to ensure that those close to the franchisee also have a vested interest in protecting the brand and its confidential information.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.