What is the acknowledgement regarding the source of knowledge of the Southern Steer business operation, system, and promotion methods?

According to the 2025 Southern Steer Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees acknowledge that their understanding of the Southern Steer business, its operational system, and promotional strategies is derived from the franchisor's confidential information and trade secrets. This acknowledgement is part of the franchise agreement.

This means that Southern Steer franchisees recognize that the knowledge and methods necessary to run the business successfully are proprietary to the franchisor. Franchisees agree that any insights or expertise they gain regarding the operation of the Southern Steer business, the system, and its promotional methods come directly from the franchisor's confidential information and trade secrets. This acknowledgement likely aims to protect Southern Steer's intellectual property and ensure that franchisees understand the value and source of the business's operational knowledge.

By acknowledging that their knowledge comes from Southern Steer, franchisees are further bound to protect the confidentiality of this information. This obligation likely extends both during the term of the franchise agreement and after its termination or expiration. This provision reinforces the importance of the training, marketing plans, business strategies, recipes, and other confidential information that Southern Steer provides to its franchisees, emphasizing that these elements are integral to the franchise system and are to be treated as proprietary assets.