Is Noodles & Company or its representatives permitted to inspect a proposed supplier's facilities for Noodles & Company restaurants?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you desire to procure authorized Non-Proprietary Products from a supplier other than one previously approved or designated by us, you must deliver written notice to our Purchasing Department of your desire to seek approval of the supplier, which notice must: (1) identify the name and address of the supplier; (2) contain the information requested by us or required to be provided pursuant to the Operations Manual (which may include reasonable financial, operational and economic information regarding its business) and (3) identify the authorized Non-Proprietary Products desired to be purchased from the supplier. We will, upon your request, furnish specifications for the Non-Proprietary Products if they are not contained in the Operations Manual. We will not be obligated to disclose the terms and conditions, including the pricing, to anyone as to Proprietary or Non-Proprietary Products. We may request that the proposed supplier furnish us, at no cost to us, product samples, specifications and other information as we may require. We or our representatives, including qualified third parties, will also be permitted to inspect the proposed supplier's facilities and establish economic terms, delivery, service and other requirements consistent with other distribution relationships for Noodles & Company restaurants.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 28–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Noodles & Company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee desires to procure authorized Non-Proprietary Products from a supplier not already approved, the franchisee must provide written notice to Noodles & Company's Purchasing Department. This notice must include the supplier's name and address, information requested by Noodles & Company or required by the Operations Manual (potentially including financial, operational, and economic details), and the specific Non-Proprietary Products the franchisee wishes to purchase from that supplier.
Noodles & Company may request product samples, specifications, and other information from the proposed supplier at no cost to Noodles & Company. Furthermore, Noodles & Company, or its representatives, including qualified third parties, are permitted to inspect the proposed supplier's facilities. They may also establish economic terms, delivery, service, and other requirements consistent with existing distribution relationships for Noodles & Company restaurants.
This inspection clause is a standard practice in franchising, allowing Noodles & Company to maintain quality control and protect its brand standards. The franchisee may also be responsible for covering the costs associated with these inspections. This ensures that all suppliers meet the necessary criteria before being approved to supply products to Noodles & Company restaurants.