Does the Marble Slab Creamery franchise agreement allow for competition from other brands owned by affiliates?
Marble_Slab_Creamery Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
As described in Item 1, our affiliates own and operate food service businesses using our trademarks and also operate "Fatburger®," "Buffalo's Café," "PONDEROSA STEAKHOUSE®," "BONANZA STEAKHOUSE®," Hurricane Grill & Wings®," "Hurricane Sports Grill®," "Hurricane Dockside Grill®," "Hurricane BTW Burgers + Tacos + Wings," "Yalla Mediterranean®", "Elevation Burger" "Johnny Rockets", "Round Table Pizza", "Hot Dog On A Stick," "Pretzelmaker," "Marble Slab Creamery," "Fazoli's," "Twin Peaks" and "Native Grill & Wings" food service businesses. We and our affiliates own and operate mobile units under our trademarks to service special events which may occur in your protected or exclusive area. Other than "Fatburger®," "Buffalo's Café," "PONDEROSA STEAKHOUSE®," "BONANZA STEAKHOUSE®," Hurricane Grill & Wings®," "Hurricane Sports Grill®," "Hurricane Dockside Grill®," "Hurricane BTW Burgers + Tacos + Wings," "Yalla Mediterranean®," "Elevation Burger," "Johnny Rockets," "Round Table Pizza," "Hot Dog On A Stick," "Pretzelmaker," "Marble Slab Creamery," "Fazoli's," "Twin Peaks" and "Native Grill & Wings" and neither we nor our affiliates have established, nor as of the date of this disclosure document intend to establish, other franchises or company-owned restaurants providing similar food products or services under a different trademark. The goods and services and trademarks of each are described in Item 1. However, our Parent has acquired other food service chains and we and our affiliates reserve the right to do so in the future. An affiliate of ours or a franchisee or licensee may own food outlets under those trademarks. Our affiliates and their franchisees and licensees may solicit or accept orders within your territory or market area. We do not anticipate conflicts between outlets that our affiliates operate or franchise because each offer a distinct
experience and differing menus. If conflicts do arise, we and our affiliates will resolve them as we deem appropriate. The principal business addresses of our affiliates is in Item 1. We do not currently plan to maintain physically separate offices or training facilities.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 62–68)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Marble Slab Creamery Franchise Disclosure Document, Marble Slab Creamery and its affiliates retain rights to operate businesses under different trademarks, which could result in competition for franchisees. Specifically, Marble Slab Creamery's affiliates own and operate food service businesses including "Fatburger®," "Buffalo's Café," "PONDEROSA STEAKHOUSE®," "BONANZA STEAKHOUSE®," Hurricane Grill & Wings®," "Hurricane Sports Grill®," "Hurricane Dockside Grill®," "Hurricane BTW Burgers + Tacos + Wings," "Yalla Mediterranean®", "Elevation Burger" "Johnny Rockets", "Round Table Pizza", "Hot Dog On A Stick," "Pretzelmaker," "Marble Slab Creamery," "Fazoli's," "Twin Peaks" and "Native Grill & Wings".
Marble Slab Creamery and its affiliates may solicit or accept orders within a franchisee's territory or market area. The FDD states that Marble Slab Creamery does not anticipate conflicts between outlets that its affiliates operate or franchise because each offers a distinct experience and differing menus. However, if conflicts do arise, Marble Slab Creamery and its affiliates will resolve them as they deem appropriate.
This means that a Marble Slab Creamery franchisee could face competition from other food service businesses owned or operated by Marble Slab Creamery's affiliates, even within their designated territory. While Marble Slab Creamery states they don't expect conflicts due to differing menus and experiences, the final decision on resolving any conflicts rests with Marble Slab Creamery and its affiliates, which may not always align with the franchisee's best interests. Prospective franchisees should consider this potential for competition when evaluating the Marble Slab Creamery franchise opportunity.