What are the inventory requirements for a Marble Slab Creamery Restaurant?
Marble_Slab_Creamery Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must offer the specific brand and/or product "mix" that we require in the Manuals determined either by percentage of inventory stocked or percentage of your Restaurant's retail space. We may, in our sole discretion, change these specifications periodically, change the authorized products and services at our discretion, and designate specific products or services as optional or mandatory. You must offer all items that we designate as mandatory. You may sell products only in the varieties, forms, and packages that we have approved. If we revoke approval of a previouslyapproved product that you have been selling, you may continue to sell the product only from your existing inventory for up to 30 days following our disapproval. We have the right to shorten this 30 days if, in our opinion, the continued sale of the product would prove detrimental to our reputation.
We have the right to automatically order and ship to you, and you must timely pay for, "convenience shipments" of certain goods, including inventory and promotional items needed for limited time offers, special promotions, etc. We anticipate that there will be 4 to 6 primary promotions during each calendar year that could involve these automatic shipments. Costs for in-store POP materials and in-store signage are normally paid for through the Fund while costs for printing of coupons and flyers are normally paid by the franchisee (with these costs counting toward fulfillment of the required local marketing spending requirement). Other costs incurred, which would vary from promotion to promotion, include the cost of ingredients related to the making of promotional products, and any special packaging, wraps or boxes. The amount of these costs will vary based on the volume of sales of the promotional item(s) and duration of the promotion. These costs are a part of a franchisee's normally occurring costs of goods sold and are not expected to be material to a franchisee's operations.
The recipes, formulations, and specifications for all products are trade secrets belonging exclusively to us and our affiliates. You must purchase and sell certain (a) specified beverage items (i.e. sodas), (b) other products ancillary to the preparation of certain menu items, and (c) branded paper products and product packaging, from our then-current approved supplier, which may modify upon written notice to you, and we may receive rebates or other consideration from this supplier based on the volume of purchases made by our franchisees. You must use our designated supplier for the loyalty programs that you are required to offer in connection with the operation of your Restaurant. You must also use designated or approved suppliers for tenant improvements, trade fixtures and architect and engineering services.
We or our affiliates also may license various paper manufacturers or distributors to produce branded or proprietary paper products that you must purchase for your Restaurant.
Collectively, the purchases and leases described above are approximately 95% of your overall purchases and leases in establishing the Franchise and 95% of your overall purchases and leases in operating the Franchise.
If you wish to procure any items from a supplier other than ones we have previously approved or designated, you must deliver written notice seeking approval of the supplier. We will use our good faith efforts to notify you of our decision within 45 days after we receive your request for approval and all requested back-up information. You may not use a supplier unless we have notified you of our approval in writing. We may revoke a supplier's approval for failure to comply with our requirements and specifications. We will disapprove or withdraw our approval of any supplier by written notice to you. Our criteria for supplier approval are not currently available to franchisees.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 43–49)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Marble Slab Creamery Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to specific inventory requirements. Marble Slab Creamery mandates that franchisees offer a specific brand and product mix as detailed in their manuals, dictating the percentage of inventory stocked or the percentage of the restaurant's retail space dedicated to certain items. These specifications and authorized products can be changed periodically at Marble Slab Creamery's discretion, with certain items designated as either optional or mandatory. Franchisees must offer all mandatory items and can only sell products in approved varieties, forms, and packages. If a product's approval is revoked, franchisees can only sell existing inventory of that product for up to 30 days, a period that Marble Slab Creamery can shorten if continued sales would harm their reputation.
Marble Slab Creamery also has the right to automatically order and ship "convenience shipments" of certain goods, including inventory and promotional items needed for limited time offers and special promotions, for which the franchisee is obligated to pay. The FDD anticipates approximately 4 to 6 primary promotions each calendar year that could involve these automatic shipments. While costs for in-store POP materials and signage are typically covered by the National Advertising Fund, franchisees are generally responsible for the costs of printing coupons and flyers, which count toward their local marketing spending requirement. Additional costs, such as ingredients for promotional products and special packaging, will vary based on sales volume and promotion duration, but are considered part of the franchisee's normal cost of goods sold and are not expected to be material to their operations.
To ensure brand consistency, Marble Slab Creamery requires franchisees to purchase and sell specified beverage items, products ancillary to menu preparation, and branded paper products and packaging from approved suppliers. These suppliers may be modified with written notice, and Marble Slab Creamery may receive rebates based on franchisee purchase volumes. Franchisees must also use designated suppliers for loyalty programs, tenant improvements, trade fixtures, and architect and engineering services. The FDD states that these required purchases and leases account for approximately 95% of a franchisee's overall purchases and leases both in establishing and operating the franchise. If a franchisee wishes to use a non-approved supplier, they must seek written approval, with Marble Slab Creamery having 45 days to respond after receiving the request and all necessary information. The criteria for supplier approval are not currently available to franchisees.