Does Crave Cookies have an advertising council composed of franchisees?
Crave_Cookies Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Advertising council. We do not have an advertising council composed of franchisees. The franchise agreement does not give us the power to form an advertising council.
Advertising Fund. You and all other franchisees must contribute to our Marketing Fund. Your contribution is 2% of gross sales per week. We reserve the right to have other franchisees contribute a different amount or at a different rate. Outlets that we own are not obligated to contribute to the Marketing Fund. We administer the fund. The fund is not audited.
If less than all marketing funds are spent in the fiscal year in which they accrue, the money will remain in the Marketing Fund to be spent in the next year.
No money from the Marketing Fund is spent principally to solicit new franchise sales.
Market Cooperatives. Crave Cookies Franchising may establish market advertising and promotional cooperative funds ("Market Cooperative") in any geographical areas. If a Market Cooperative for the geographic area encompassing the Location has been established at the time Franchisee commences operations hereunder, Franchisee shall immediately become a member of such Market Cooperative. If a Market Cooperative for the geographic area encompassing the Location is established during the term of this Agreement, Franchisee shall become a member of such Market Cooperative within 30 days. Crave Cookies Franchising shall not require Franchisee to be a member of more than one Market Cooperative. If Crave Cookies Franchising establishes a Market Cooperative:
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 22–29)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crave Cookies' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the company does not have an advertising council composed of franchisees. The document explicitly states that the franchise agreement does not grant Crave Cookies the authority to establish such a council. This means that franchisees do not have a formal mechanism for directly influencing the brand's advertising strategies at a national level.
However, Crave Cookies may establish market advertising and promotional cooperative funds ("Market Cooperative") in any geographical areas. If a Market Cooperative exists for the franchisee's location when they start operating, they must immediately join. If a Market Cooperative is created during the franchise agreement term, the franchisee must join within 30 days. Crave Cookies will not require a franchisee to be a member of more than one Market Cooperative.
Each Market Cooperative will be organized and governed in a form and manner determined by Crave Cookies. The activities are decided by a majority vote of its members, and Crave Cookies is entitled to attend and participate in any meeting. The purpose of each Market Cooperative is to administer regional advertising and marketing programs and develop standardized promotional materials for use by the members in local advertising and promotion, subject to Crave Cookies' approval. The dues to be paid by members of the Market Cooperative, including Franchisee, will be determined by a majority vote of the Market Cooperative, but not less than 1% and not more than 5% of Gross Sales.