Who manages the Noodles & Company Advertising & Brand Development Fund (ABDF)?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We may, at our sole discretion, establish and administer an Advertising & Brand Development Fund ("ABDF") for the creation and development of creative materials and programs to increase brand awareness and promote the Noodles & Company brand, which may include the production and creation of marketing, advertising and public relations related programs and materials and/or fees, including media, CTV, radio, outdoor, print, search and social media, digital menu board content, POP content, website, online ordering, App content and creation, press releases, brand articles, digital programming influencers, loyalty campaigns and execution, video, photography, copywriting, graphics design and production, local marketing strategies, new restaurant opening strategies, media buying and agency fees. ("Marketing"). We will use national and regional agencies as well as our in-house marketing and public relations personnel as we deem appropriate. At our discretion, the ABDF may also pay for consumer research and the production and deployment of marketing and public relations materials. We reserve the right to have our affiliate, or a related entity manage this fund.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 36–48)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Noodles & Company FDD, Noodles & Company may establish and administer an Advertising & Brand Development Fund (ABDF). The purpose of this fund is to develop creative materials and programs aimed at increasing brand awareness and promoting the Noodles & Company brand. This includes various marketing and public relations efforts such as media campaigns, digital content, and local marketing strategies.
Noodles & Company uses national and regional agencies, as well as their in-house marketing and public relations personnel, to manage the ABDF. The company also reserves the right to have an affiliate or related entity manage the fund. Noodles & Company has sole discretion over all aspects of programs financed by the ABDF, including media, public relations, creative concepts, and agency relationships.
The ABDF is accounted for separately from Noodles & Company's other funds and while the intent is to balance the ABDF on an annual basis, it may run at either a surplus or deficit. Noodles & Company did not collect any ABDF funds in their 2024 fiscal year. There is no franchisee advertising council that advises Noodles & Company on advertising policy; however, they may seek advice from owners of Franchise-owned Restaurants regarding the creative concepts and media used for programs financed by the ABDF.