As of the date of the Crisp & Green disclosure document, have any local or regional advertising cooperatives been established?

According to Crisp & Green's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, as of the date of the document, no local or regional advertising cooperatives have been established. However, Crisp & Green retains the right to establish these cooperatives in the future for designated geographical areas.

If Crisp & Green establishes an advertising cooperative that includes a franchisee's location, participation in the cooperative and its programs is mandatory, although franchisees can opt out of price advertising. Franchisees must contribute to the cooperative as determined by its by-laws, and these contributions are credited toward the franchisee's local advertising expenditure requirements, with some exceptions for special regional promotions. Any Crisp & Green-owned restaurants or those owned by its affiliates within the designated area will also contribute to the cooperative on the same basis.

This policy means that franchisees may be required to allocate their local advertising funds through a cooperative if one is established. While this could provide benefits through coordinated advertising efforts, it also means less direct control over local marketing strategies. Franchisees should stay informed about any potential advertising cooperatives and factor this into their marketing plans and budget considerations.