Who owns the customer data generated by the Crave Cookies business?

According to Crave Cookies's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Crave Cookies Franchising exclusively owns all customer data and other non-public data generated by the Business. This data is considered Confidential Information. However, Crave Cookies Franchising licenses this data back to the franchisee without charge. The franchisee can only use this data in connection with their Crave Cookies business during the term of the Franchise Agreement.

This means that while a franchisee collects customer data through their daily operations, the ownership of that data resides with Crave Cookies Franchising. The franchisee is essentially borrowing the data for the duration of their agreement. This is a fairly common practice in franchising, as it allows the franchisor to maintain control over valuable customer information and leverage it for marketing, product development, and other strategic purposes across the entire franchise system.

For a prospective Crave Cookies franchisee, this clause highlights the importance of understanding data usage and privacy policies. While franchisees can use the data to improve their local business, they cannot sell it, share it outside the franchise system, or use it for any purpose not explicitly allowed in the Franchise Agreement. Upon termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee loses the right to use the data, which remains the property of Crave Cookies Franchising.