Is Gold Star required to approve any particular supplier or item?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The COMPANY shall not be required to approve any particular supplier or item.
- 7.4 Modification of Products.
The COMPANY may from time to time modify the list of approved Products and/or suppliers in the Manual or otherwise in writing, and FRANCHISEE shall not, after receipt of notice of such modification, reorder any Product, or order from any supplier, that is no longer approved.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 53–163)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Gold Star's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Gold Star is not required to approve any particular supplier or item. However, franchisees are able to request approval from Gold Star for suppliers or products that are not on the company's current approved list.
If a Gold Star franchisee wants to purchase from an unapproved source or offer items not already approved, they must submit a written request for approval. Gold Star has the right to inspect the supplier's facilities, request samples for testing and evaluation, and charge the franchisee for the reasonable cost of the inspection and actual testing costs. Gold Star will then notify the franchisee in writing within a reasonable time, not exceeding 60 days, whether the approval is granted.
Gold Star also reserves the right to reinspect facilities and items periodically and may revoke approval of any source or item that no longer meets the company's criteria. Gold Star may modify the list of approved products and suppliers, and franchisees must stop reordering any product or ordering from any supplier that is no longer approved after receiving notice of the modification.