Does Gold Star provide a list of approved suppliers in the Manual?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
e its specifications and standards to approved suppliers. Gold Star communicates its approved supplier lists and standards and specifications to you and other Franchisees in a variety of ways, including bulletins, catalogs, intranet and the Manual. Gold Star reserves the right to make revisions, deletions or additions to those standards, specifications and approved supplier lists. Gold Star may modify the list of approved items and/or suppliers, and you may not, after receipt of notice of modification, reorder any item, or order from any supplier, that is no longer approved. Franchisees are advised of modifications and revocations in writing.
You must use a real estate broker, architect, general contractor and, if applicable, civil engineer and attorney acceptable to Gold Star for the purchase or leasing of the Retail Location and the construction of your franchised Restaurant.
Approval of Alternative Suppliers.
If you want to purchase from a source that is not on Gold Star's then current approved supplier list for the item desired to be purchased, or to obtain approval to offer merchandise or services or use items that are not on Gold Star's then current list of approved merchandise, services or other items, you must submit to Gold Star a written request for approval in accordance with Gold Star's procedures then in effect for submission of requests for approval of products and suppliers. Gold Star may require that its representatives be permitted to inspect the source's facilities, that samples from the source be submitted to Gold Star or its designee for testing and evaluation and that you pay Gold Star a charge not to exceed the reasonable cost of the inspection and the actual cost of testing or other evaluation. Gold Star will notify you in writing within a reasonable time, not to exceed 60 days, after receipt of your request and samples, whether approval is granted.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 21–25)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Gold Star's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Gold Star communicates its approved supplier lists and standards and specifications to franchisees in a variety of ways, including bulletins, catalogs, intranet and the Manual. Gold Star also states that they provide a list of approved suppliers in their Manual. This list includes suppliers for chili products, food products, branded food products, branded and non-branded paper products, cleaning supplies, soda/beverages, bakery items, uniforms, signage and logo items, credit card services, equipment, furniture, architectural services, real estate brokerage services, civil engineering services, menus, marketing services, and guest feedback systems.
It is important to note that Gold Star reserves the right to make revisions, deletions, or additions to these standards, specifications, and approved supplier lists. Franchisees are advised of these modifications and revocations in writing and may not reorder any item or order from any supplier that is no longer approved after receiving notice of the modification.
If a franchisee wants to purchase from a source not on Gold Star's current approved supplier list, they must submit a written request for approval. Gold Star may inspect the source's facilities, require samples for testing and evaluation, and charge the franchisee for the cost of the inspection and evaluation. Gold Star will notify the franchisee in writing within 60 days of the request whether approval is granted. Gold Star can re-inspect facilities and items and revoke approval of any source or item that no longer meets their criteria.
Approximately 90% to 95% of a franchisee's total purchases associated with establishing and operating the Restaurant must be purchased or leased from Gold Star or Gold Star-approved suppliers, or conform to Gold Star specifications. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, Gold Star's revenues from the sale of these products to Franchisees or to suppliers who in-turn sell these products to Franchisees were $4,065,676, or approximately 16.7% of Gold Star's total revenues of $24,400,821.