Is Hawaiian Bros Island Grill required to grant a franchisee the same variations in standards as other franchisees?
Hawaiian_Bros_Island_Grill Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
5. MODIFICATION OF CONCEPT, TRADE DRESS AND EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
- (a) Company reserves the right to modify the Franchised Restaurant concept, Trade Dress and Standards from time to time through changes to or a supplement of the Operations Manual for a variety of reasons to protect the quality of Company's brand, products, and services. These reasons include the need to (1) respond to changes in consumer expectations and buying trends, (2) take advantage of efficiencies made possible by growth of the Hawaiian Bros Island Grill restaurant chain, (3) implement efficiencies made possible by technological advances or as a result of Company's research and development activities, (4) implement co-branding alliances with other companies, or (5) meet competition. Without limiting the foregoing rights, Company specifically reserves the right and discretion to (i) change authorized or required menu items, or change their names, recipes or image, (ii) change the Trade Dress and equipment and fixtures Standards for Hawaiian Bros Restaurants, (iii) add or change the Standards for customer services (such as Catering and Delivery Service), (iv) change uniform requirements, and (v) require the use of new or different Information Systems. Depending on the nature of the required modification, Franchisee will have a minimum of five days and a maximum of six months to complete any changes, as specified in the Operations Manual or any changes or supplements thereto.
- (b) Company requires that all Hawaiian Bros Restaurants install and maintain a computerbased Information System that permits communication between Company and Hawaiian Bros Restaurant franchisees. The Information System may involve or include an Intranet network that Company designs
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 77–262)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Hawaiian Bros Island Grill retains the right to modify the Franchised Restaurant concept, trade dress, and standards. These modifications can occur for various reasons, including adapting to consumer trends, leveraging efficiencies from the growth of the Hawaiian Bros Island Grill chain, implementing technological advancements, forming co-branding alliances, or addressing competition.
The modifications may include changes to menu items, trade dress, equipment and fixture standards, customer service standards like catering and delivery, uniform requirements, and information systems. The time frame for franchisees to implement these changes will vary between a minimum of five days and a maximum of six months, depending on the nature of the modification, as detailed in the Operations Manual.
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill also requires all restaurants to install and maintain a computer-based Information System for communication between the company and its franchisees. This system may include an Intranet network designed and administered by Hawaiian Bros Island Grill. Franchisees are obligated to install the specified computer equipment, POS systems, modems, and other equipment, and to participate in the Information System according to the standards and procedures outlined in the Operations Manual. This may also require using approved or designated service providers and installing any necessary additions, substitutions, and upgrades to the hardware and software as directed by Hawaiian Bros Island Grill.