Does Ella Cafe have a franchisee advertising council?

According to Ella Cafe's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, there is currently no franchisee advertising council. The FDD states, "Currently there is no franchisee advertising council that provides us with guidance or suggestions regarding advertising and marketing matters." This means franchisees do not have a formal mechanism to directly influence Ella Cafe's advertising strategies or provide input on marketing initiatives.

Ella Cafe controls the creative concepts, materials, and media used in advertising, determining placement and allocation. They may use various media such as print, television, radio, and the Internet for advertising and promotions, engaging in local, regional, or national campaigns. While franchisees do not have an advertising council, they can request an account of how the Brand Marketing Fee monies were spent each calendar year.

Although there isn't a franchisee advertising council, Ella Cafe does have the right to require franchisees to participate in a local or regional advertising cooperative. If established, each franchisee in the area would have one vote per Coffee House, and contributions would be determined by the members, ranging from 1% to 5% of Gross Sales. Ella Cafe retains the power to form, change, dissolve, or merge these cooperatives, maintaining significant control over advertising and marketing strategies.