Does Noodles & Company consider a franchisee's use of social media to be advertising and promotion?

According to Noodles & Company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, any use of social media by a franchisee with respect to their Noodles & Company Restaurant is considered advertising and promotion. This means that all social media activities related to the restaurant are subject to the advertising and promotion guidelines set forth by Noodles & Company.

This has significant implications for franchisees, as it means they must adhere to Noodles & Company's policies and standards regarding social media use. The franchisee must obtain prior written approval from Noodles & Company before promoting, offering, or selling any products or services related to their restaurant through social media. Noodles & Company may withhold this approval for any reason. Franchisees must also comply with Noodles & Company's social media policy, which may be modified periodically.

Furthermore, franchisees acknowledge that any copyright in their social media sites or pages related to the Noodles & Company Restaurant will be deemed owned by Noodles & Company. The franchisee agrees to sign any documents necessary to affirm Noodles & Company's ownership of the copyright. Noodles & Company may also provide content for the franchisee's social media sites and pages, and any changes to these sites and pages must be approved by Noodles & Company. This level of control ensures brand consistency and compliance across all franchisee social media activities.

In practical terms, a Noodles & Company franchisee has to be very careful about what they post on social media regarding their restaurant. They need to get approval for everything and understand that Noodles & Company ultimately controls the content and branding on those platforms. This is a common practice in franchising, where maintaining a consistent brand image is crucial.