How many votes does each Noodles & Company restaurant have in the cooperative?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The bylaws of your cooperative will be made available for you to review. Each member of the cooperative (including us) will have one vote for each restaurant that is open and operating. We will administer the advertising cooperatives and collect your cooperative advertising contributions by automatic electronic withdrawal. The financial statements of the advertising cooperatives may be unaudited or audited as we determine, and the reports will be made available to you. Each Noodles & Company restaurant located within the local or regional area of the advertising cooperative will be entitled to one vote in the cooperative. Advertising conducted by the cooperatives may be in various media including television, radio, Internet, magazine, newspaper, billboards, transit and aerial advertising.
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 Franchise Disclosure Document, each Noodles & Company restaurant, including those owned by the franchisor or its affiliates, is entitled to one vote in the marketing cooperative. This cooperative is established in the franchisee's market area to manage local advertising and marketing efforts. Franchisees are required to participate in the cooperative if one exists in their area.
This voting structure ensures that each restaurant has an equal say in the cooperative's decisions, regardless of whether it is owned by a franchisee or by Noodles & Company itself. The cooperative's bylaws, which are available for review, govern how the cooperative operates and how funds are allocated. The franchisor administers the advertising cooperatives and collects contributions through automatic electronic withdrawals.
The funds contributed to the cooperative are applied toward the Field Marketing Funds (FMF) expenditures required by the Franchise Agreement. However, franchisees must also participate in and pay for any special local, regional, or national promotions initiated by Noodles & Company. These special promotion fees are in addition to the FMF contributions. The financial statements of the advertising cooperatives, which may be unaudited or audited at Noodles & Company's discretion, are made available to franchisees.
Advertising conducted by the cooperatives can include various media such as television, radio, internet, magazines, newspapers, billboards, and transit and aerial advertising. This system allows for a collaborative approach to marketing, where franchisees have a voice in how advertising funds are spent in their local market, while also ensuring participation in larger, company-wide promotional efforts.