What are the consequences for a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill developer if they violate confidentiality, non-competition, or non-solicitation obligations?
Hawaiian_Bros_Island_Grill Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Each Person Company designates, including Principals, General Managers, Executive Management and any other person identified on Exhibit C, must sign an agreement undertaking to be bound by confidentiality, non-competition, and nonsolicitation covenants in the form attached as Exhibit E ("Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement").
- (a) In consideration of Company's providing operations and training to Developer and disclosing to Developer the System and other Trade Secrets, Developer and its Controlling Principals agree to the following non-competition and non-solicitation covenants:
- (i) During the term of this Agreement, Developer and each Controlling Principal, for so long as such Controlling Principal has an Ownership Interest in Developer (the "In-Term Restricted Period"), will not own or operate, directly or indirectly, or accept employment by, hold an interest in, lend money to, serve as guarantor for, or perform services in any capacity for, any Competitive Business (as defined below) that is located, operates, advertises or provides services in the United States or in any other country where a Hawaiian Bros Restaurant is located.
- (ii) Developer, for two years following the termination or expiration of this Agreement, or Controlling Principal, for two years following the termination of all of his (A) Ownership Interests in Developer; or (B) the termination or expiration of this Agreement, whichever is first (as applicable, the "Post-Term Restricted Period"), may not own or operate, directly or indirectly, or accept employment by, hold an interest in, lend money to, serve as guarantor for, or perform services in any capacity for, any Competitive Business that is located, operates, advertises or provides services in any of the following:
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- In the Development Area; or
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- Within 20 miles of any outer boundary of the Development Area; or
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- Within the area comprised of a 20 mile radius of any Hawaiian Bros Restaurant then existing or under development, whether franchised or owned by Company or any of its Affiliates or licensees; or
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- Within 20 miles of any outer boundary of any territory for which Company has granted development rights for the development of one or more Hawaiian Bros Restaurants. (iii) In addition, during the In-Term Restricted Period and the applicable Post-Term Restricted Period, neither Developer nor any Controlling Principal will, without Company's prior written consent, directly or indirectly, for itself, himself or herself, as applicable, or on behalf of any other Person, solicit, serve, cater to, divert or attempt to divert to a Competitive Business, any business or customer of any Hawaiian Bros Restaurant, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise.
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For purposes of calculating the duration of the two-year period, any time during which Developer or any Controlling Principal is in violation or breach of the covenant will be excluded. "Competitive Business" means any island-inspired or Hawaiian-themed restaurant or restaurant that advertises and serves island-inspired or Hawaiian cuisine.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 77–262)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Hawaiian Bros Island Grill developers and their controlling principals agree to non-competition and non-solicitation covenants as part of their agreement. These covenants are in place to protect Hawaiian Bros Island Grill's trade secrets and system. During the term of the Development Agreement, developers and their controlling principals cannot be involved with any Competitive Business, defined as any island-inspired or Hawaiian-themed restaurant, within the United States or any country where a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill restaurant is located.
Following the termination or expiration of the Development Agreement, the restrictions continue for a period of two years. During this post-term period, developers and controlling principals are restricted from involvement with a Competitive Business within the Development Area, within 20 miles of the Development Area's outer boundary, within a 20-mile radius of any existing or developing Hawaiian Bros Island Grill restaurant, or within 20 miles of any territory for which Hawaiian Bros Island Grill has granted development rights.
In addition to restrictions on competitive business activities, developers and controlling principals are prohibited from soliciting or diverting business or customers from any Hawaiian Bros Island Grill restaurant, either directly or indirectly. The duration of the two-year post-term restriction can be extended if a developer or controlling principal is in violation of the covenant, with the period of violation excluded from the calculation of the two-year period. Each person designated by Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, including Principals, General Managers, Executive Management and any other person identified on Exhibit C, must sign an agreement undertaking to be bound by confidentiality, non-competition, and nonsolicitation covenants in the form attached as Exhibit E.