How are members of the Gold Star Chili Franchisee Advisory Council elected?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Gold Star Chili Franchisee Advisory Council (the "Council") advises GSCAA on advertising policies. Currently, members of the Council are existing Franchisees (or their respective owners) and are elected by majority vote of Gold Star's Franchisees. Gold Star has the power to form, dissolve or change the Council. The Council serves in an advisory capacity only and does not have operational or decision-making power. Gold Star may, in its sole discretion, expand, modify or eliminate the Council or its responsibilities and is under no obligation to conduct any future advertising program with respect to written governing documents.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 26–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Gold Star's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the members of the Gold Star Chili Franchisee Advisory Council are existing franchisees or their owners. These members are elected by a majority vote of all Gold Star franchisees.
The Franchisee Advisory Council advises Gold Star on advertising policies. However, Gold Star retains the power to form, dissolve, or change the council as it sees fit. The council's role is purely advisory, meaning it does not have any operational or decision-making authority.
Gold Star has the discretion to modify or eliminate the council and its responsibilities and is not obligated to conduct future advertising programs according to any written governing documents. This means that while the council provides input, Gold Star ultimately controls advertising policies and the council's existence.