Besides severe weather, does Noodles & Company have any obligation to extend the Development Schedule?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Within the time periods set forth in your Development Schedule, you must open and operate the cumulative number of Noodles & Company restaurants in the Development Area set out in that Schedule. We have no obligation under any circumstances to extend the Development Schedule, except in very limited circumstances involving severe weather, and then only for a very limited time. Your failure to develop and operate Noodles & Company restaurants in accordance with the Development Schedule will be a material breach of the Area Development Agreement; however, our right to terminate the Area Development Agreement will be our exclusive remedy for your failure to meet the Development Schedule in accordance with the Area Development Agreement terms.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 48–53)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Noodles & Company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Noodles & Company has very limited obligations to extend the Development Schedule outlined in the Area Development Agreement. The FDD states that Noodles & Company is only obligated to extend the Development Schedule in circumstances involving severe weather, and even then, only for a limited time.
For a prospective Noodles & Company area developer, this means adhering to the Development Schedule is critical. Failure to meet the schedule constitutes a material breach of the Area Development Agreement. However, the document specifies that Noodles & Company's exclusive remedy for failing to meet the Development Schedule is termination of the Area Development Agreement.
This policy places significant responsibility on the developer to proactively manage timelines and potential delays. While severe weather is acknowledged as a potential cause for a limited extension, other common issues like permitting delays, contractor issues, or financing shortfalls would not trigger any obligation for Noodles & Company to grant an extension. Therefore, prospective developers should carefully assess their capabilities and resources to ensure they can meet the Development Schedule, as missing it could result in losing their development rights.