Does the Cream Area Development Agreement's non-competition covenant apply to the franchisee's owners?
Cream Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
C. NON-COMPETITION DURING TERM.
We have granted you the rights in this Agreement in consideration of and reliance upon your agreement to deal exclusively with us. You therefore agree that, during the Term, you and your owners agree not to (and to use each of your best efforts to cause each of your respective current and former spouses, immediate family members, owners, officers, directors, representatives, affiliates, successors and assigns not to):
- (1) have any direct or indirect interest as an owner whether of record, beneficially, or otherwise – in a Competitive Business (defined below), wherever located or operating (except that equity ownership of less than 5% of a Competitive Business whose stock or other forms of ownership interest are publicly traded on a recognized United States stock exchange will not be deemed to violate this subparagraph);
- (2) perform services as a director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, representative, or agent for a Competitive Business, wherever located or operating; or
- (3) divert or attempt to divert any actual or potential business or customer of any Jeni's Ice Creams Scoop Shop to a Competitive Business.
The term "Competitive Business" means any business (excluding any Jeni's Ice Creams Scoop Shop operated under a franchise agreement with us) operating or granting franchises or licenses to others to operate any business for which ice cream, ice cream-based desserts or drinks, and/or other frozen desserts or drinks, or similar products represents more than 10% of the total gross revenue.
D. NON -INTERFERENCE.
During and after the Term, you and your owners agree not to (and to use each of your best efforts to cause each of your respective current and former spouses, immediate family members, owners, officers, directors, employees, representatives, affiliates, successors and assigns not to) solicit, interfere, or attempt to interfere with our or our affiliates' relationships with any customers, franchisees, lenders, vendors, or consultants.
E. NON-DISPARAGEMENT.
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
E. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE.
For two years beginning on the date of termination or expiration of this Agreement, you and your owners agree not to (and to use each of your best efforts to cause each of your respective current and former spouses, immediate family members, owners, officers, directors, employees, representatives, affiliates, successors and assigns not to): (1) have any direct or indirect interest as an owner (whether of record, beneficially, or otherwise) in a Competitive Business; and/or (2) perform services as a director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, representative, or agent for a Competitive Business, in each case, if such Competitive Business is located or operating:
- (a) within the Development Area, or
- (b) within a 5-mile radius of any other Jeni's Ice Creams Scoop Shop.
If any person restricted by this Section fails to comply with these obligations as of the date of termination or expiration, the two-year restricted period for that person will commence on the date the person begins to comply with this Section, which may be the date a court order is entered enforcing
this provision. You and your owners expressly acknowledge that you possess skills and abilities of a general nature and have other opportunities for exploiting these skills. Consequently, our enforcing the covenants made in this Section will not deprive you of your personal goodwill or ability to earn a living. The restrictions in this Section will also apply after any transfer, to the transferor and its owners, for a period of two years beginning on the effective date of the transfer, with the force and effect as though this Agreement had been terminated for such parties as of such date.
F. CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS.
All of our and your (and your owners') obligations which expressly or by their nature survive this Agreement's expiration or termination will continue in full force and effect subsequent to and notwithstanding its expiration or termination and until they are satisfied in full or by their nature expire, including all obligations relating to non-disparagement, non-competition, non-interference, confidentiality, information security, Innovations, and indemnification.
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 44–51)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, the non-competition covenants in Cream's Area Development Agreement apply to the franchisee and their owners. During the term of the Area Development Agreement, the franchisee and their owners must not have any ownership interest in a Competitive Business, perform services for a Competitive Business, or divert business from Cream to a Competitive Business. A Competitive Business is defined as any business where ice cream or similar products represent more than 10% of total gross revenue, excluding other Jeni's Ice Creams Scoop Shops.
After the Area Development Agreement expires or terminates, the franchisee and their owners are restricted from having an ownership interest or performing services for a Competitive Business for two years. This restriction applies if the Competitive Business is located within the Development Area or within a 5-mile radius of any other Jeni's Ice Creams Scoop Shop. The FDD states that if any restricted person fails to comply with these obligations as of the date of termination or expiration, the two-year restricted period for that person will commence on the date the person begins to comply with this Section, which may be the date a court order is entered enforcing this provision.
Cream states that the franchisee and their owners possess general skills and abilities and have other opportunities for exploiting these skills. Cream believes that enforcing these covenants will not deprive the franchisee of their personal goodwill or ability to earn a living. These non-competition obligations continue even after the Area Development Agreement expires or terminates, including obligations related to non-interference and confidentiality.