What is a 'Required Vendor' for a Crave Cookies franchise?

According to Crave Cookies's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a 'Required Vendor' is defined as a supplier, vendor, or distributor of inputs that Crave Cookies mandates its franchisees to use. This means that as a franchisee, you may be obligated to purchase certain goods or services, such as ingredients or equipment, exclusively from vendors pre-approved or designated by Crave Cookies.

Crave Cookies retains the authority to modify vendor requirements and the status of any vendor, communicating these changes through System Standards. If a franchisee wishes to use an alternative vendor, they must seek approval from Crave Cookies, which may involve evaluations of the vendor's capacity, quality, financial stability, and overall reliability. Crave Cookies will provide a written notification of approval or disapproval within 30 days of the franchisee's request.

This requirement ensures consistency and quality control across all Crave Cookies locations, but it also limits the franchisee's autonomy in sourcing supplies. While Crave Cookies may negotiate prices with vendors on behalf of the entire system and potentially receive rebates, they assume no liability for any issues related to products or services provided by approved or required vendors, such as defects or delays. Therefore, franchisees bear the risk of vendor-related problems, highlighting the importance of Crave Cookies's vendor selection process and the franchisee's due diligence.