What is the scope of the Associate's agreement regarding noncompetition with FSI and Company concerning Fat Shack?
Fat_Shack Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
plicate the Confidential Information.
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- Noncompetition Covenant. Associate covenants and agrees that, during the term of his or her Affiliation, except while conducting Company's business in a manner authorized by FSI and Company, Associate shall not, either directly or indirectly through any member of Associate's immediate family, separate business entity or otherwise:
- a. have any direct or indirect interest as a disclosed or beneficial owner in a "Competitive Business," as defined below;
- b. perform services as a director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, representative, agent or otherwise for a Competitive Business;
- c. divert or attempt to divert any business related to, or any customer or account of Company's FAT SHACK Restaurant, FSI's business, or any other FSI franchisee's business; or
- d. divert or attempt to divert the employment of any employee of Company, FSI, FSI's affiliates, or another FSI franchisee, to any Competitive Business.
The term "Competitive Business" as used in this Agreement means any business operating, or granting franchises or licenses to others to operate a restaurant or other business deriving more than 10 percent of its gross receipts, excluding gross receipts relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages, from the sale of sandwiches, burgers and wings (other than another FAT SHACK Restaurant operated by Company); provided, however, Associate will not be prohibited from owning securities in a Competitive Business if such securities are listed on a stock exchange or traded on the over-the-counter market and represent 2 percent or less of that class of securities issued and outstanding.
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- Post-Termination Covenant Not to Compete. Associate covenants and agrees that, for a period of two years after the earlier of (i) the effective date of termination or expiration of Associate's Affiliation with Company, or (ii) the effective date of termination or expiration of Company's Franchise Agreement, neither Associate, nor any member of Associate's immediate family, shall have any direct or indirect interest, as a disclosed or a beneficial owner, investor, partner, director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, representative or agent or in any other capacity, in or with any Competitive Business located or operating within a 10-mile radius of the location of Company's FAT SHACK Restaurant, or within a 10-mile radius of any other FAT SHACK Restaurant, whether franchised or owned by FSI or its affiliates. If Associate or any member of Associate's immediate family breaches this Section, then the two-year period under this Section shall start on the date that Associate or its family member, as applicable, is enjoined from such activity or ceases such activity, whichever is later.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 53–223)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Fat Shack's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, associates are subject to both non-disclosure and non-competition agreements. During their affiliation with the Fat Shack franchise, associates are prohibited from having any direct or indirect interest in a "Competitive Business," defined as any business deriving more than 10% of its gross receipts (excluding alcohol sales) from the sale of sandwiches, burgers, and wings. This restriction does not prevent associates from owning securities in a Competitive Business if those securities are listed on a stock exchange or traded over-the-counter and represent 2% or less of the outstanding securities.
Associates are also restricted from performing services for a Competitive Business as a director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, representative, or agent. They cannot divert business from the Company's Fat Shack Restaurant, FSI's business, or any other FSI franchisee's business, nor can they attempt to divert the employment of any employee of Company, FSI, FSI's affiliates, or another FSI franchisee to any Competitive Business.
Post-termination, the non-competition covenant extends for two years after the earlier of the termination of the associate's affiliation or the termination of the Company's Franchise Agreement. During this period, associates and their immediate family members are prohibited from having any direct or indirect interest in a Competitive Business within a 10-mile radius of the Company's Fat Shack Restaurant or any other Fat Shack Restaurant, whether franchised or owned by FSI or its affiliates. If an associate breaches this covenant, the two-year period restarts from the date the associate is either legally stopped from the activity or ceases the activity, whichever is later. This agreement aims to protect Fat Shack's confidential information, market share and employee base.