Is a Noodles & Company franchisee required to comply with the Social Media policy, as modified periodically?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You may not promote, offer or sell any products or services relating to your Noodles & Company restaurant through, or use any of the Marks on, the Internet, social media, social networks or other future technological avenues (collectively, "Social Media") without our prior written consent, which we may withhold for any or no reason. You must, at all times, comply with our Social Media policy, as modified periodically. Your use of any Social Media relating to your Noodles & Company Restaurant is subject to our prior written approval. You may not establish an independent site or page on any
Social Media without our prior written consent. If we authorize you to have and/or design a site or a page on any Social Media for your Noodles & Company restaurant, your site and page may only be accessed from our site or page, and we may prohibit links between your site or page and any other site. Any use of Social Media by you with respect to your Noodles & Company restaurant is subject to the advertising restrictions in the Franchise Agreement. You must comply with any additional policies and standards we issue from time to time regarding Social Media. Any copyright in your sites or pages on any Social Media are owned by us, and you must sign any documents that we reasonably deem necessary to affirm our ownership of the copyright. If necessary, you must ensure that any web site service provider or web site hosting company with which you do business cooperates with us. On occasion, we may provide you content for your sites and pages on Social Media. We must consent to any changes to your sites and pages on Social Media.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 53–58)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Noodles & Company Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to the company's Social Media policy, including any modifications made periodically. This policy governs how franchisees can promote their Noodles & Company restaurant and use the company's trademarks on the internet, social media, and other technological platforms. Franchisees must obtain prior written consent from Noodles & Company before engaging in any social media activities related to their restaurant, and the company reserves the right to withhold this consent for any reason.
Noodles & Company maintains control over a franchisee's social media presence, requiring prior written approval for any social media use related to the restaurant. Franchisees are prohibited from establishing independent sites or pages without explicit consent, and any approved sites must be accessible from Noodles & Company's official online presence. The company can also restrict links between a franchisee's site and other websites. All social media activities are subject to advertising restrictions outlined in the Franchise Agreement, and franchisees must comply with any additional social media policies issued by Noodles & Company.
Noodles & Company retains ownership of copyrights for any social media sites or pages created by franchisees for their restaurants. Franchisees are obligated to sign documents affirming the company's copyright ownership and ensure that any web service providers or hosting companies cooperate with Noodles & Company. The company may provide content for franchisee social media sites and pages, and franchisees must obtain consent for any changes made to these sites. This level of control allows Noodles & Company to maintain brand consistency and manage its online reputation across all franchise locations.