What is the target timeframe for Noodles & Company to complete its review of a proposed alternative supplier?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (c) We will use our good faith efforts to notify you of our decision within 120 days after our receipt of product samples from the proposed alternative supplier and all other requested information and will strive to complete our review within 60 days.
Nothing in this article shall require us to approve any supplier and, without limiting our right to approve or disapprove a supplier in our sole discretion, you acknowledge that it is generally disadvantageous to the system from a cost and service basis to have more than one supplier in any given market area and that among the other factors we may consider in deciding whether to approve a proposed supplier, it may consider the effect that such approval may have on the ability of us and other Area Operators to obtain the
lowest distribution costs and on the quality and uniformity of products offered systemwide. We may also determine that certain Non-Proprietary Products (e.g. beverages) shall be limited to a designated brand or brands set by us. We may revoke our approval upon the supplier's failure to continue to meet any of our criteria. If we approve the supplier, such supplier shall be designated an "Alternative Approved Supplier" for purposes of this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 99–350)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Noodles & Company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee wants to procure authorized Non-Proprietary Products from an alternative supplier, Noodles & Company will try to notify the franchisee of their decision within 120 days after receiving product samples and all other requested information from the proposed supplier. Noodles & Company also states they will strive to complete their review within 60 days.
This means that a Noodles & Company franchisee seeking to use a different supplier for Non-Proprietary Products should anticipate a review process that could potentially take up to 120 days. However, the company aims to complete the review in a shorter 60-day timeframe.
It's important to note that Noodles & Company does not guarantee approval of any supplier. The document states that having multiple suppliers in a market area can be disadvantageous to the system due to cost and service considerations. This clause allows Noodles & Company to maintain control over its supply chain and product quality, which could impact a franchisee's ability to source products independently.