Within what radius of a Noodles & Company Restaurant are franchisees prohibited from engaging in a Competitive Business?

According to Noodles & Company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, both during the term of the agreement and for two years after, franchisees are restricted from involvement with a Competitive Business within certain geographic boundaries. Specifically, without prior written consent from Noodles & Company, franchisees (and their owners) cannot own, maintain, advise, be employed by, consult for, make loans to, operate, engage in, or have an ownership interest in any Competitive Business.

The restricted areas include (1) the franchisee's Protected Area, (2) a 15-mile radius from the franchisee's Noodles & Company Restaurant, (3) a 15-mile radius of any Noodles & Company Restaurant, or (4) any Designated Market Area (as defined by Nielsen Media Research) where a Noodles & Company Restaurant is located.

A Competitive Business is defined as any business that operates or franchises one or more restaurants where sales of specific dishes (noodle, pasta, Asian, Italian, or Mediterranean dishes) constitute more than 10% of operating revenues, or that are substantially similar to the Noodles & Company concept, or that operate in a fast casual or quick casual format. However, these restrictions do not apply to the ownership or operation of other Noodles & Company restaurants, ownership of less than 5% of a class of publicly traded securities, or any restaurant concept with a per-person average check more than 50% higher or lower than Noodles & Company's.