Who administers the Advertising Fund for Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurant?

We will administer the Advertising Fund. (Franchise Agreement – Sections IV.B., IX and X)

We will direct all programs financed by the Advertising Fund, with sole discretion over the creative concepts, materials and endorsements used and the geographic, market and media placement and allocation of the programs. The Advertising Fund may be used to pay the costs of preparing and producing video, audio and written advertising materials; administering regional and multi-regional advertising programs, including, without limitation, social media and electronic media advertising, purchasing direct mail and other media advertising and employing advertising, promotion and marketing agencies to provide assistance; and supporting public relations, market research and other advertising, promotion and marketing activities. The Advertising Fund periodically will furnish you with samples of advertising, marketing and promotional formats and materials at no cost. Multiple copies of such materials will be furnished to you at our direct cost of producing them, plus any related shipping, handling and storage charges. We do not collect the same amount as an Advertising Fee from all Golden Krust franchisees, but reserve the right to do so. We may reduce or waive (and we have reduced or waived) the advertising fee in certain instances and for certain franchisees, including, but not limited to franchisees who are shareholders or employees (along with their children and/or heirs) of the franchisor or its affiliates. There are franchisees who pay a lower or no advertising fee.

The Advertising Fund will be accounted for separately from our other funds and will not be used to defray our general operating expenses, except for such reasonable salaries, administrative costs, travel expenses and overhead as we incur in activities related to the administration of the Advertising Fund and its programs, including, without limitation, conducting market research, preparing advertising, promotion, and marketing materials and collecting and accounting for contributions to the Advertising Fund. We may spend, on behalf of the Advertising Fund, in any fiscal year an amount greater or less than the aggregate contribution to the Advertising Fund in that year, and the Advertising Fund may borrow from us or others to cover deficits or invest any surplus for future use. All interest earned on monies contributed to the Advertising Fund will be used to pay advertising costs before other assets of the Advertising Fund are expended. We will prepare an unaudited annual statement of monies collected and costs incurred by the Advertising Fund and furnish it to you upon written request. We have the right to cause the Advertising Fund to be incorporated or operated through a separate entity at such time as it deems appropriate, and the successor entity will have all of the rights and duties described here.

Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, OPERATIONS MANUAL, WEBSITE, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 18–23)